I used to love the d'Addario Prisms until they were discontinued. Now I mostly use Rotosound Swingbass 66LDs on my Rick, Swingbass 666LDs on my Ibanez, and Ernie Ball Slinkies on my Squire Fretless.
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What is your favorite all-around string, and why?
- Thread starter Dan_reeves
- Start date
The A string is my "money" string. E is for going low and the D & G are for upper register flair or accents.
I tried Chromes and remember liking them.
Unfortunately, they're very expensive in my country, like twice the price of GHS P-flats! Maybe the dealer is doing a bit of monopoly... 
I like a lot of different sets for different reasons but my favorite go-to all around string has to be the TI JF344s. They can do it all.
Many happy EB cobalt users here!
I guess it doesn't break or rust that frequent! (Too many bad reports i saw here and there)
Rounds: Elixir Nanoweb SS 45-105
Flats: recently I bought 3 different set to experiment:
EB group 2810
La Bella 760FL-TB
D'addario XL Chrome ECB84
I guess it doesn't break or rust that frequent! (Too many bad reports i saw here and there)
Rounds: Elixir Nanoweb SS 45-105
Flats: recently I bought 3 different set to experiment:
EB group 2810
La Bella 760FL-TB
D'addario XL Chrome ECB84
DR Hi Beams are my fave. But if you're talking "all-around" string (I'm assuming you mean strings that can cover a variety of music and still sound good), I would go with GHS Pressurewounds. Great "all-around" strings, IMO.
TI Flats - on all basses
don't like the sound and feel of roundwounds.
i think the tension is perfect. not too flubby and not to tight.
i also play Evah Pirazzi mediums E/A on my DB which have a similar feel.
worth the extra coins.
don't like the sound and feel of roundwounds.
i think the tension is perfect. not too flubby and not to tight.
i also play Evah Pirazzi mediums E/A on my DB which have a similar feel.
worth the extra coins.
Nickel rounds: Elixirs cause they're smooth and last long, don't burn fingers
SS rounds: DR Lo-Riders, very nice tone once used enough
Flats: GHS Precision Flats 45-95 for flexibility and tone but didn't try the Chromes yet
Hate : Ernie Ball and D'addario nickel rounds... the E string always get that weird "shooting gun" tone.
SS rounds: DR Lo-Riders, very nice tone once used enough
Flats: GHS Precision Flats 45-95 for flexibility and tone but didn't try the Chromes yet
Hate : Ernie Ball and D'addario nickel rounds... the E string always get that weird "shooting gun" tone.
For many years, I used Ken Smith Rock Masters (light; steel round-wounds).
Lately, I’ve used D’Addario EXL Balanced Tension Nickel rounds.
Lately, I’ve used D’Addario EXL Balanced Tension Nickel rounds.
Addendum - My 5-string bass came with Elixir nanowebs, and I really like them, too. Smooth and very long lasting.
I just bought my first set of Lo-Riders to try on my Fender p-bass. I’m looking forward to trying them.
Bailing twine most of the time. Sometimes I prefer yarn. I also have odd bits of string in the junk drawer, but it's not my favorite
D'addario Chromes. they help to give me the sound I'm looking for on my Fenders ( Precision, Mustang, Jaguar) I have not tried them on my other Spector, Martin or Dan-electro basses.
Completely agree. And also for me it's either Pure Blues (or D'addario NYXL nickels) depending on if I want to accentuate high or low mids. Both strings are stellar.
D'Daddario XL 170's. EB Super Slinky's 2nd. I've tried others, but keep coming back to the 170's. Best, overall balanced string along the tonal spectrum, IMO, plus, I like the zing you get from them.
It's difficult to give a single answer, as some instruments don't seem to like my 'favourite' string as much as others... but in general I'd say DR Fat Beams would be my go-to #1. However, DR Pure Blues and DR Sunbeams are close.
I go for Pure Blues when I want a more prominent midrange (and they lack the -to me- annoying 'zing' of fresh strings), and the nickel Sunbeams when the midrange is too strong (for example, my Precision and the Schecter Model T (P/J) wer better with Sunbeams than Fat Beams).
Sometimes I want something other than rounds. In that case, TI Jazz Flats are a great string, nice low midrange and not as dull as typical flats, so they are a bit more 'controllable'. Labella White Nylons are another nice string when you want a different flavour with less top end and focusing on the low mids.
I go for Pure Blues when I want a more prominent midrange (and they lack the -to me- annoying 'zing' of fresh strings), and the nickel Sunbeams when the midrange is too strong (for example, my Precision and the Schecter Model T (P/J) wer better with Sunbeams than Fat Beams).
Sometimes I want something other than rounds. In that case, TI Jazz Flats are a great string, nice low midrange and not as dull as typical flats, so they are a bit more 'controllable'. Labella White Nylons are another nice string when you want a different flavour with less top end and focusing on the low mids.
Sunbeams. Why? They sound and feel better than than the dozens of others I have tried.
