What bass strings are you using and why?

[thabassmon]

I have tried quite a few different sets over the years, and still do try sets out (Trying GHS Flats on my fretless at the moment).

I realised that I prefer smooth feeling, balanced low tension strings. I need the strings sound just as good in the higher register as they do in the lower register. I need clarity because I do play a lot of chords but not harshness or clankiness. Essentially I need strings that can deliver strong bass tones, beautiful chords as well as a clear tone for soloing that can articulate all given inflections.

For Rounds. D'addario Nickel Rounds because of the wide range of gauges available to customize a balanced Tension set.
I like the sound, feel, flexibility and durability.

For Flats. Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats, I like the sound, feel, flexibility and durability of these strings too. Chords sound almost keyboard like as the reduced treble also reduces the attack.

Both set types that I use without the low B and with a plain 0.020 or 0.021 string if a high F is needed.

How they are strung at present
Fretless Four EADG (Flats)
Fretted Five EADGC (Flats)
Fretted Six EADGCF (Rounds+Plain)

 

[alembicguy]

S.I.T Foundations ultra light stainless steel. Great low tension feel.

 

[woodyng2]

They died a little early for my liking. Good whilst they were still fresh.

I don’t seem to have that problem with ANY string.
Then again I don’t really like super zinginess from my stringsets.

 

[svlilioukalani]

DR low riders. Tome they sound the best. And they last a long time.

 

[shawshank72]

Original recipe Ernie Ball Flatwounds 50/65/85/110
Sound great
Feel great
And can buy custom sets.

 

[Bajo Clarkko]

GHS Bass Boomers or Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinkies for Round Wounds, because I like the way they sound when the zing gives way to that nice in-between/broken in tone. (Jazz Basses and StingRays.)

LaBella Deep Talkin’ Flats, because.... they’re pretty much close to perfection. ((P Bass)

With all that having been said, I have a set of GHS Pressure Wounds, that I’m about to put on my StingRay. The Hybrid Slinkies it’s been sporting are pretty much dead, and it’s time to try something different. No doubt there’s a reason they get a lot of love around here. My brother has them on his Nate Mendel P Bass, and he swears by them.

 

[bassbrad]

I have different sets depending on the bass these daze.
On my hot rod basses Taz and Goldie it's a custom D'Addario XL 35-55-80-100 with a 20 plain hi C on Goldie.
On my work basses Toney, Verdine, Blanco & Slyde it is 40-60-80-100 with a 120 Lo B on Blanco either GHS or D'Addario.
I have RotoSound TruBass 88 NylonTapewounds on my Washburn AB20 and Tyger.
D'Addario Chromes on my Harmony H22B. An ancient set of Kaman Kamflon Performers on my Peavey Foundation FL

 

[sheltjo6]

Lately, GHS Pressurewounds and Balanced Nickels have been my go to strings.
Why, feel and tone.

But, I still run DR hi-beams on a jazz bass because they sound good on that instrument.

 

[Standalone]

Roto 66. I like them new, and like them dead too. Once they have enough funk to start having odd intonation issues then they get replaced, or ***maybe*** if I have an important studio session or huge gig.

 

[Eric Swaim]

DR Low Beams or Low Riders on my Ken Smith basses. DR Hi Beams on my Fender.

Why? Because after 40 years of playing and using all types of strings, these are my favorite.

 

[Mildew Jones]

I used various DAddario's for years (loved the Slow Wound series), got real into Jim Dunlop Super Brights (love the lower tension), but I've switched to DR Pure Blues for over a year, lovelovelove them! The feel like Dunlops, but smoother...I tend to sweat a lot, and I would stick on the Dunlops, these DR's get slicker when I sweat on them, they last long enough in bright state, tension like the Dunlops, good price, I'm totally sold

 

[mambo4]

Currently Dr hi beams on my jazz , because I'm waiting on another set of TI Jazz flats. Then it likely will be all TIs forever. Why? Tone, feel, responsiveness, and lifespan. Cost twice as much, lasts 100 times longer.

 

[Stewie]

GHS Precision Flats 45-105 on my P basses, because I have since before half of you were born. I don't change because the few times I have tried other strings, I didn't like them

 

[Kro]

Another Chromes user. I like them because of how consistent they are once broken in (something that lots of strings can claim) but also because they retain a high-end crispness throughout as well.

They also sound very interesting, slot into a mix well, and I love their tension.

 

[kmon]

170 BTs, sound good, balanced tension seems legit, reasonable price. Honestly I'm not that fussy about strings, I can live with any of the better-regarded round wounds. But these have become the gotos.

 

[Thumpin6string]

Currently using D'Addario XL 32-130s on my 6er. They sound nice, are fairly inexpensive and don't seem to die too quickly.

 

[fermata]

Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Rounds. Because they have a supple (not floppy!) feel, they're probably the smoothest round available, they last a long time, and they have a rich, musical tone.

 

[Kaplan]

Switched from D’Addario EXL220-5 to La Bella RX-N5A. The sound is warm, juicy mids, less clanky in the treble. Good for fingerstyle. All strings are very well balanced tonewise. They are more rough and stiff than the D’Addarios. Allow to dig in.

 

[Jscriv]

Both of my EBMM sterlings - EB cobalts super slinky
Stingray- eb cobalt flats super slinkys
Jazz bass- cobalt flats SS
Jazz bass- EB super slinky
p bass - EB regular Slinkys (trying something different for that bass from super brites)
US sun sterling- no idea but soon to be DR hi beams
Yamaha rb250F- fender 9050 flats (broke a string and changing to I dunno what yet temporarily put an old set of cobalts on it)
Ibanez AGB140- old set of dunlop super brites
Ibanez 305- Chromes
Ibanez acoustic- EB earthWoods
Squier VM fretless on it's way with Dr low beams, haven't decided what's going it yet. Maybe tapes, maybe jazz flats, maybe cobalts, maybe Dunlop flats.

I've found that the cobalts give me exactly the cut in the mix I want when playing live on my sterlings

I tossed the flats in my ray just to try it and fell in love with them. The tone. The feel. Since it's an "around the house bass" for me the flats will last forever. This is always why I put them on a jazz. I enjoy then so much on this bass I figured id try them on that.

The Super Slinkys on my Jazz and Regular Slinkys on my P are just my go to strings. I've been using then for almost 20 years now. I loved the super brites on my P but wanted to try something different.

Put Chromes on the 5 to try em. They sound good but I don't like the feel.

 

[bassliner50]

Using round wound .050-.105 (medium gauge) StainlessSteels on my Precision. Because they last longer and I achieve the tone and response I like. I tried LaBella flats for a short spell could not learn to like them. RW strings can be made to approximate flats with EQ and the medium gauge steels add heft to the tone. For decades I used Dean Markley Blue Steels. They are no longer available so I went to D'Addario Stainless med gauge.