What are your favorite strings and why

[Hounddog409]

DR black beauties on my LB-70 with .50(G) and .70(D).

stock strings on my 4003s. have no reason to change.

 

[whitedk57]

Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats

Easy on the fingers
Just as floppy (not as taut) as other flats
Warm tone

 

[jwilson67]

Ernie Ball Cobalt Rounds. They just make me want to play. That's the best way I can describe them. Big, aggressive and punchy but can be dialed back no problem with good technique. To boot they last me about 3 months on average.

 

[mindwell]

I hate floppy strings. Anybody have round or ground (or flats, what the heck) suggestions for a 5-string that are pretty tight?

 

[BassGreaser]

LaBella DTB "1954" set.. perfect tension on a short scale Gibson bass.

 

[portpc]

Fender 9120's on my Fender Highway 1 P Bass, Perfect for the Oldies , Jazz & related genres I normally play.
Very warm sound, easy on the fingers, I love them!

 

[Robert Sperling]

Depends on the bass...I've been enjoying DR Black beauties on my Jazzes lately, dulls down some of the single
coil brightness yet retains a nice growl when pushed. My new P/J is sporting good ol Fender light gauge stainless,
and it sings (it came with the Geezer p/ups so I don't know if it's the pups or the strings, but either way they
sound pretty nice). The Alembic gets Rotosound 66's, and the G&L IDK...can't remember!

 

[msiner]

Elixir nickel light. I love the way they feel and sound. I have been using a technique that involves more of the tip of my fingers and, consequently, the fingernails. The Elixirs feel much nicer for this than uncoated strings. I also like that there is no gunk buildup. If I didn't want coated strings, I would probably stick with D'Addario XL nickel light.

 

[39-Bassist]

Well I have tried ALOT of different strings and after going through the right gauges, feel, tones.....I actually settled on the GHS ML3045 Boomers.....(disclaimer: Yes I have an endorsement with them BUT, I went with them after trying out different varieties of strings)
I have been VERY happy with the tension/feel, tones and longevity of the strings.
That is why I play them...

 

[chaak]

for my Rock Fusion band my favorite set is the Ken Smith Burners 5 strings set (after trying out 9 different manufacturers)

for a project I am currently working on favorite Fodera Nickel Roundwound Medium 4 strings set (bass and synth only so bass takes centre stage)

 

[QweziRider]

how long have you been using them?

I don't even remember, it's been so long. Gotta be sometime after 2005, because I know I didn't use them that year before we moved to Vegas. Do you know when they even started?

 

[AztecViking]

I'll admit not being very adventurous in the string department. Always keep this style and gauge of Rotos on my G&L L2000 because I like the feel and sound. Even though they sometimes break. I did once try a lighter gauge Roto set and for me it really took the wind out of things on all levels so I stick with standard.

For my fretted Stingray 5 these Ernie Ball Regular Slinkys do it for me. I also tried the Super Slinky lighter gauge once. It did make "playing more notes" a bit easier but I like the sound I get better on the fretted bass using the regulars.

For the fretless Stingray 5 The Ernie Ball Super Slinkys have won out so far. I'd be interested to try some high end flats ( EB Cobalts or TI's ) on it but I somewhat fear losing a good fretless slap tone.

 

[14pounds]

Kallium Hybrids. Cause I play a 4string in A#, and I also dabble with my Bass VI so getting both those weird gauges from the same place is nice.

 

[armybass]

LaBella 760FL's and Low Tension Flats for my P's and J's with flats. DR Sunbeams for my basses with rounds. TI Jazz Flats on my Stingray.

 

[mellowinman]

Any strings I buy from BassStringsOnline.com

 

[blastbass]

d'addario nickle roundwounds 40 - 95, BT if i can find them, sound and feel.

 

[GnarwhalNick]

My favorite strings are Ernie Ball Power Slinky Strings. I've used every kind of slinky strings (even the cobalt) but I always came back to the Power Slinky's because of their size. I play rock/punk with a pick moreso than other genres, and along with my P-Bass's SD QP's, it creates a huge sound. The set of EB's Cobalts I used were in the 50-105 gauge (Regular) as opposed to the Power gauge (55-110) I'm usually accustomed to. I would like to go back to the cobalts and now that I'm talking about it I probably will the next time I need to change strings. The only issue I have with them is that they cost $37.99...

 

[Giga50]

TI flats all the way

 

[Bare Bass]

I play Fretless.

For Rounds: TI JR or Power Bass
For Flats: TI JF
For Tapes: Pyramid

(Thanks to TB threads for turning me on to these strings.)

 

[bhernco]

Ken Smith Slap Master Ultra Light 90-70-50-30 Stainless Steel Round Wound
Fast and Light, Easy on fingers

On my NXT 4
Over 30 years ago, Ron Carter came to La Bella Strings with a vision: a jazz string that captured the rich tone of gut and sustain of steel, but without the headaches of gut and overly metallic sound of chrome. Months of R&D alongside Ron Carter and Attila Zoller resulted in the formation behind the 7710N Black Nylon Tape Wound Double Bass set. Wound with a black nylon tape outer-wrapping, this unique string design is ideal for jazz pizzicato, particularly solos. The result is a bright attack with a warm tone, creating a set truly unparalleled by any other double bass set on the market.

• Black Nylon Tape Wound
• Rope Core