What are your favorite strings and why

[Doner Designs]

The B is my favorite by far but I also like the E string.

Ok, flats: LaBella, Pyramid, Ernie Ball, Daddario.

 

[Worldeeeter]

For my fretted basses, LaBella Hard Rockin' Steels. Been playing them for 24 years. They sound and feel great, play fast, and I can't seem to break them, unlike most other brands I've tried. Plus, I can get them CHEAP at Imperial Guitarworks (NY). I use D'Addario Chrome Flats on my fretless - love them too!

 

[bongostealth]

My absolute favorite strings WOULD be the DR Black Beauties. They have some of the lowest tension of all of the mainstream string brands. My only apprehension is that although they have very nice mids, they do sound a bit flat soon after use. That's my only gripe with them. But because of the low tension, they will not take a toll on your truss rod and neck.

 

[JimmyM]

Dunlop Super Bright Nickels have been my string of choice for a couple years now, and I totally love them.

 

[Brian Reihms]

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YMMV but for me, the 760RS feel smooth/soft, are easy on the digits, effortless playability, warm, but articluate/punchy as well, consistent volume across the strings, including G/C, a tad bright out of the packet, but warm up very nicely and long life. It was all about Sunbeams until I tried these.

 

[Black Sabbatical]

I did not intentionally become a GHS guy but my current favorites are:
P-Bass: GHS Precision Flats. IMO the best I've tried in the "traditional" flats catagory, clear, full and even, not as muddy or scooped as others.
Jazz Bass: GHS Pressurewounds. Nice feel, less string noise and annoying brightness, a nice low mid bump.

Totally agree on the Precision flats, sound great and are way cheaper than some other brands.

 

[dave64o]

DR Nickel Lo Riders have been my clear favorites for several years. I've tried other strings I like and others I don't like at all, but I find the Nickel Lo Riders the best overall for me. Love the tone, the feel, the high tension, and the long life. I've only tried a few different types of flats so far so my experience is probably too limited to give a good answer. However, I recently tried LaBella Deep Talkin' Flats and like them a lot more than I thought I might. They're deep and thumpy, but they're a lot clearer and articulate than I expected them to be after reading about them here on TB.

I'll give the Miss Congeniality honorable mentions to Dean Markley Nickel Helix's and Ken Smith Burners for rounds and to Chromes for flats.

 

[bassjnky1]

I like the Elixers because I can use them on all of my basses, they last a long time and they feel right.
I tried several brands and I was going nuts trying to figure out which brand/gage/type was best for every bass, type of music, etc,etc.
I quit being so picky and obsessive and just play...with the strings that have the best feel...to me. Also, I will leave a set on for years or until there is a problem with intonation or sound. If you have a few basses it can get pretty expensive to demand that they all by strung with new strings. I just wanna play.

 

[Hopkins]

DR Stainless Lo Riders. Perfect tension, brighter than nickle strings, but not a zingy as typical stainless strings, and they last a long time

 

[engedi1]

I have been using Dunlop super bright nickels 45-125 for over a year now. They have become my favorite string. I used Daddario's before that, and also Dr's but I like the feel and tone of these the best. Will sound fantastic with a pick, used a pick on 3 tunes on my bands latest record and they bring the rock n roll. I also love Ernie Ball Coblat flats and Labella Low tention Flats. But Dunlops are my go to string for most session and live work.

 

[JMacBass65]

TI Flats, 'cuz they sound good.

 

[oldfartatplay]

Wire-wound Rotosounds. They let my fingers grip the strings, even if sweaty. And I actually prefer the sound of dead strings to live ones.

 

[Broke]

I only use DR Black Beauties now. And I have no idea why really. I just like the feel and sound.

 

[Mike A]

TI Powerbass.

 

[rafitoprtx]

Dunlop SuperBright nickels in my Jazz. I want to try them in my pbass.

 

[Bob T]

I'm really interested in what strings most of you guys like and play with and why, I've been liking the 5 string Dr sunbeams nickel plated lately, might get a set of Dunlop superbright nickel plated soon Also if you guys have any suggestions of what I should try keep in mind I prefer nickel plated for soft feel on my fretting hand (im a pick user) and it's easier on my frets and but I'm open to any suggestions.

Maybe I'm a cheapskate, but I still like Fender 7250ML's just fine, I think they have a nice balance of durability, smooth feel and nice tone, and are of course, dirt cheap...

 

[Roxbororob]

Lots of good strings out there but I always go back to Rotosound 66..wow..I keep them in rotation in the Alcohol tank. For flats I use Chromes. Going to try some Kaliums.

 

[punchdrunk]

My favorite round is def the Fodera Nickels, followed by the DR Sunbeams.. Very similar strings, both are super smooth to the touch, and have great mid presence... the Foderas have a slightly firmer feel... I interchange both freely, but do prefer the Fods... For flats, I'm having really great results with the DR set, they have a textbook vintage flat wound sound, just thumptastic warmness right out of the pack (like broken in labellas) , they are rediculously smooth and easy playing, and not as stiff as a lot of the other flats I've tried.

 

[jerry]

I've been using Sadowsky steels for years, great deal and they play nice on my Lulls and Laklands.

 

[lbbc]

S.I.T. Power Rock....great for any style of music. They are on all my basses!