What excites you about strings?

[Yools]

I'm all about Kalium Strings. The whole deal with them is they make strings in all sorts of gauges, and you buy a set that gives you balanced tension in whatever tuning you want (they've got a calculator to help figure that stuff out). I play in a lot of low tunings, so it's a godsend.

Their newer steel strings are fantastic as well!

Hear hear! I switched to Kalium years ago (when they were still Circle K) and haven't looked back. I generally play standard scale (34") 5-strings tuned down a whole step (ADGCF), and the .142 set works great - the B string sounds good, and the even tension really seems to make a difference. I won't put anything else on any of my basses.

-Y

 

[pedroims]

I was a DR fan for years but couple of months ago I discovered Dunlop super brights, I love the sound and feel of these strings, I dont have any plan to go back to DR, maybe if they start selling their strings at same price as Dunlop does but that aint gonna happend so I will stick with the SB.

 

[sxwr]

some one mentioned la bella deep talking bass strings to me one time on here and i eventually bought a set. They are the best.

 

[EMoneySC2]

What gauges are you currently using?

I just ordered a set of strings for my new Dingwall that are: 0.166 (G), 0.124 (C), 0.094 (F), 0.073 (A#), 0.055 (D#)

Whatever tuning I'm in I try to stick to a 40ish pound tension.

 

[SteveCS]

For fretless I used to use Rotosound SuperWound 707 until they were discontinued around 1990. I bought as many as I could find and they lasted a few years. Switched to RS Solo bass last year but just recently I have tried Chromes and they are superb.

 

[Fingerpickingood]

I'm awfully fond of DR DDTs. I have them on both my 4 string Ibby (CGCF) and 5 string Jazz (either B standard or drop A). The string tension is beautiful, and the pitch stability is almost scary.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Nothing excites me about strings.
They're just another part of the instrument that requires maintenance and/or replacement.

I feel about strings/wire like I feel about the engine oil filter on my automobile.
I want it to last as long as possible w/o any fuss or muss.

Seeing as how I can't tell the difference between new flats & old rounds, I think I will just stick with what I have on mine for the foreseeable future.
Yes, my hearing is not that great.

 

[rico bass]

Love GHS bright flats and love the way flats look on any bass, plus that smooth feel also like those DR blackbeauties.

 

[MegaSwing]

The right strings bring muscle.

 

[okcrum]

As of last year, Dark Horse stainless steel roundwound bass strings were the best surprise I had playing a model of strings that I never played before. The way that traditional single coil bass pickups can have a sponginess to their sound, these Dark Horse strings have a fizzy plus rubbery sound. Soulful, harmonically rich, spitting or twanging on demand, and planted. That's the best I can describe them for now. I fckuing love those strings. They are rare, though. Right now the Dark Horse website is not working, so they might stay rare for a while.

Also recently, another good surprise for me was Curt Mangan flatwound bass strings. I tried some on a several-year-old Custom Shop Precision Bass and really dug them. Then I tried a second set on a handmade J of similar age that I was using to test sets of pickups. The Mangan flatwounds were great for J bass (I kept trying to cop old Bootsy Collins lines). When I decided I needed roundwounds on that J instead, for testing pickups, I swapped its Curt Mangan flatwound set onto a 1969 Precision Bass. Wow. With those strings on it, I heard that bass's voice completely for the first time. Expansive, open air surrounding thick, holographic low end. Huge. Pure, solid pitch. So nice. To quote Sarah Silverman, "So yeah... that's a good cheese."

DR still makes some of my bread and butter roundwound strings (Hi-Beams, and nickel and s.s. Lo-Riders), but they lost some business to Dark Horse last year.

I've been on the DH train too (endorser #3). Amazing strings.

FWIW, the DH website has been a constant headache - they're trying yet another web design company now. If you want DH strings, it's best to call them and ask for Maria. You're not the first one who's mentioned this issue.

Since they don't make flats, I also miss the Fender-made 9050 stainless. I have an old set on my fretless Jazz.

I just got a Bass VI, so we've been talking about core sizes and the like for those. I might try some tapers or exposed core strings there, since I've had good luck with tapered B strings on my fives.

I use various gauges, most in the medium range.

 

[GIBrat51]

Well, Okaayy:
1. Based on how many of my basses they get put on, "favorite" would be EB Hybrid Slinkys; 'cause if they're 34" scale, that's what all of them get - initially. But, I use them as a starting point, so they don't always stay...
2. It would really be nice to get the old Maxima brand strings, which were the early Rickenbacker "factory" strings. Yes, I know that Optima bought them, and they still make essentially the same string; but they're hex core, now; not round core like the originals...
3. With a few exceptions, for a 34" bass, I like 45-105s. For short scale basses, it's all over the map...
4. Can't think of anything, other than better information about the string. Yeah, tension info would be nice; but for me, core type is more important. And, for several of my basses, whether the strings have silk wraps - and where - is a concern, too.

 

[The BurgerMeister]

i like DR and Dunlop. nickel plated or pure nickel. they feel good and tickle my earholes just the right way. regular gauge is cool.

 

[Pudge Fish]

Changing strings is an easy, quick and inexpensive way to profoundly transform the sound of any bass and I enjoy that. I like the light gauge DR strings very much but I try all sorts of brands and makes because I can

I recently strung up some DR Fat Beams in 40-100 gague and I really dig the lighter strings. Amazing how much effort can be saved with a slight change in tension.

I don't like the 'new string sound' so I stick with what works, but it's good to try new things.

 

[lbbc]

There are so many brands out there and many, mentioned here, are excellent choices. It's really about the feel and resonance for me. I only use S.I.T. strings now. They are affordable and readily available at my local music store (they started carrying them when I asked). S.I.T. strings used to come standard on G&L basses and that's when I changed over completely.

 

[rogerbmiller]

Low prices excite me.

 

[twinjet]

Hey guys. Pretty random questions, here.

Give your thoughts on any of these, if you'd like.

Do you have a favorite string company?

Which discontinued set or defunct brand are you most bummed about?

What gauge of strings do you prefer? Light? Medium? Heavy? Regular?

What do you want to see in a set that hasn't been offered yet?

Nothing to lose or gain on this. Just curious.

Loving DR. Those strings last for a while! Loving their Pure Blues, medium gauge. Sound blissful on a P bass.

This is the demo I always show off. Take a listen.

DR Pure Blues!!!

 

[Ericnordicbee]

Really miss the old Dean Markley flatwound strings. Used them on my Jazz bass until the fell apart.

After getting the short scale picked up a set of GHS Stainless steel Precision Flats. They work well enough that I'm not searching for a replacement. Do wish they had a .100 E string. That might be the only reason for me to try LaBella.

Generally am not picky. Any flatwound works.

 

[FlaCharlie]

Nothing excites me about strings.

I like them. I've never been able to get a decent tone without them.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

They're a necessity, to be sure. I don't really understand all the obsessing about them.

 

[Nev375]

I love Elixirs because they last for ages.
I love Kallium because they offer weird gauges for any weird instrument I might imagine.

I like my strings a bit on the light side.