• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

What excites you about strings?

#81
Switched to light gauge 40-100 some time ago. On my fretless jazz bass switched to light guage La Bella Deep Talking from TI and I'm excited every time I play my bass. Therefore I'm excited every day. On my Pbass I gig with I use ligh guage Sunbeams so 2-3 times I get pretty excited although my fretless excites me more. Good to have good tools for the work we do.
 
#84
Elixirs are around 40 to 50 bucks per set, but they are nylons so they last for months on end! Got a pair of elixirs last Christmas and they still sound like they just came out of the box. Ernie ball and ghs are cheaper but don't last nearly as long as elixirs do
 
#86
At the moment I'm really digging my Thomastik Jazz Flats on my LB-100. I was quite amazed at the difference in evenness and tone when I put these on... they're expensive, but I like them.

On all my other basses I've pretty much always used D'Addario Halfrounds.
 
#89
I've tried lots of strings over the past couple of years.

For rounds I really like Dunlop SuperBrites and D'addario Nickel- Medium Gauge

For flats I like light Chromes on certain basses, but they can be finicky. I am finding GHS flats to be more consistent.

I tried to like the TI Flats, but they had too little tension for me and were too dark sounding.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Mattrill
#93
Cole Louis Allar said:
Elixirs are around 40 to 50 bucks per set, but they are nylons so they last for months on end! Got a pair of elixirs last Christmas and they still sound like they just came out of the box. Ernie ball and ghs are cheaper but don't last nearly as long as elixirs do
Click to expand...
Elixirs aren't Nylons. They're nickel or stainless with a fancy teflon coating. I love them and use them on all of my instruments. But, if you're paying $40-50 a set you need to check out www.bassstringsonline.com and save yourself some money.
 
  • Like
Reactions: smogg
#94
I think you have this backwards - you should excite the strings. ;)

Anyway ... I don't really find strings exciting, I prefer them to be kind of neutral sounding and not impart too much character or overtones. Old school rather than too bright and modern. New strings are troublesome; broken in and just a bit dull is where it's at. :)

Nickel rounds or LaBella white tape wounds work for me.
 
#95
On all my Fenders, I use DR Sunbeams, and they initially made me very excited, because they made my sound better. I am less excited now, because I just sort of expect to sound good. My Rickenbacker still has the strings that came from the manufacturer, and I may actually try out some Sunbeams on it, if I ever decide to change the strings.
 
#97
AEVAREX said:
Just some random answers, I'm a fan of DR strings. Lo riders in particular, mediun gauge 45/105. Recently switched from the nickel lo riders to the SS. As for discontinued strings, no concerns here, unless DR goes belly up which isn't likely. But if they were to go under I suppose I'd have to spend a lot of money buying as many sets as possible and sealing them all up to last. There nothing lost nothing gained.
Click to expand...

Strings I've had a really good time with (for reference I use Ernie Ball Super Slinkys for my "average" string (Green package)):

Warwick Black Labels (or Red Labels, I forget which): super incredibly growly mid-range strings that rocked my 4 string fretless glorious master-race Warwick

DR Black Beauty strings: Partially used for aesthetic reasons, admittedly (I lucked out and got a natural satin finish corvette, ebony fingerboard), but I find they give a really nice feel for fretless. The strings become super easy to play after an hour or two, as though they feel "soft" to the touch, even though their tension is pretty usual.

D'addario Lo-riders: These things rock the hell out of my precision. A lot of clarity, keeps a good amount of growl - I love them for funking around

Ernie Ball Cobalt flats: I hand-made my own electric fretless and I love them, but I can't say a lot about the tension or feel of them. They're very "uprighty" for me, but only because the thing practically is an upright. Note that I do play upright, so I'm not complaining about it. Thick neck, wide fingerboard, custom designed for BEAD tuning (down the octave),

===========

Suggestions aside, what excites me most about strings is getting them. I love servicing the instrument between changes. Taking care of things is what I like to do most
 
#98
Stringjoy strings and Dunlop Super Brights have been my straight "go to's" and I have no complaints. Both deliver a rich bright tone out of my Ibby preferably in Medium gauge.

I would try light gauge which was my preferred gauge but they break easily on me and bass strings aren't cheap!

Luckily my steinberger can handle the light gauges so it's not like I'm forever missing the feels of Light gauge strings :)
 
#99
because everything about Thomastik strings are amazing. I use three different sets my them
Jazz flats, jazz rounds, and power bass.
All uniquely different.
My only wish is TI would make different guages for their sets. Thomastik only make one guage for each and that is it
 
#100
Novv said:
I don't get too excited by strings. I use RotoSound Swing heavies (50-70-85-110) for the sole reason that I've never had a problem with them. They tend to mellow out fairly nicely after the initial zing, which I like.
Click to expand...
They also are awesome for short scale basses. They have the right tension for the shorter scale length. And they keep enough zing that you can't tell the difference between the short and long scale. They help give the harmonics? Overtones? That some short scales are lacking.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back