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What kind of strings do you use?

Preferred String Type

  • Roundwounds

    Votes: 5,505 69.2%

  • Flatwounds

    Votes: 1,868 23.5%

  • Nylons

    Votes: 142 1.8%

  • Compression, 1/2, groundwound (either or)

    Votes: 258 3.2%

  • Other

    Votes: 178 2.2%
  • Total voters
    7,951
#2,085
Even though I only use La Bella strings, I will try a new brand next:


elixir.jpg
 
#2,086
Recently restrung both my 4003 and Fender Elite P-Bass with GHS Pressurewound M7200.

Good results so far but early days yet and hoping for positive results once they're settled in.
 
#2,087
I didn't read through all 105 pages but I've skimmed through a LOT of them and I'm very suprised that I couldn't find a single mention of Pyramid strings??? They are my favourite brand by far.

The Pyramid Gold flatwounds are simply amazing. Anyone who likes flats and haven't tried them: DO IT! They feel a lot like double bass strings. They have that sliky smooth yet "rubbery" feel to them. I think I've tried all the most popular flatwounds strings except the TI (love their DB strings though) and for me personally the Pyramid Golds blow them all away. No contest. I use them on a 51 P-bass + a couple of shortscales (vintage Hagstrom, vintage Crucianelli, Gretsch Broadcaster). They are a bit expensive but they last forever. And I really mean literally FOREVER (over 20 years and counting for my oldest set).

For roundwounds I use Pyramid Rock a lot. They are probably my favourite roundwounds but it's not as clear cut as with the flats, more a matter of taste and depending on the sound I need for the job. I find that the Pyramids have a richer, more "refined" sound than most other roundwounds I've tried. A deep kinda piano string quality but not overly bright. A "big" sound rather than a "fat" sound. And not clanky at all. The only other roundwounds I can remember getting the same feeling from must be the DR Hi-Beams but I haven't used those for a long time so the memory is a bit foggy. I say "a matter of taste" because I can't see a D'Addario XL-fan liking Pyramids (personally I avoid the XLs like the plague, I don't like that "clank"). The Pyramids are more polite and perfectly balanced for my taste. I currently use them on two of my P-basses + a J-bass. The only negative I can say about them is that I've experienced some inconsistency as to how long they last. I've recently had two sets going dull within a couple of weeks. But to be fair, those two sets had been in my storage for a couple of years so not exactly factory fresh.

I also like the sound of the Rotosound Swing Bass 66. It's a slightly brighter and more aggressive sound than I need most of the time but I always keep 2-3 of my basses stringed with Rotos. Always my Rick 4003, I really like Rotos on a Rick! At the moment I'm trying Rotos on my Stingray too and I kinda like it (but active basses aren't really my thing to be honest, I just keep one around for versatility). I don't like how the Rotos feel under the fingers though, very rough, so I tend to only use them when I need THAT sound!

Generally my most used sounds (by far) are:

57 P-bass with Pyramid Rock (rounds)
51 P-bass with Pyramid Gold (flats)

I used to like the GHS Boomers too. One of the best allrounders I'v tried but they kept breaking prematurely too often to just be a coincidence. In 30 years as a bassist I've NEVER broken a string from another brand. Some of my flats have been in use for 15-20 years. The Boomers rarely lasted more than a couple of months before breaking so I gave up on them.
 
Last edited:
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#2,093
bryan bailey said:
Strings that is, I love pure nickel round wounds, and nickel plated round wounds. Whats yours?


EDIT BY JASONBRAATZ:

Post what kinds of string you use, what bass you use them on, and your thoughts on the sound.
Click to expand...
Currently Rotosound 77's heavies on a G&L JB, ebony fretboard. May switch to their rounds when I get enough bread together to afford 'em.
 
#2,096
Deleted member 271037 said:
I didn't read through all 105 pages but I've skimmed through a LOT of them and I'm very suprised that I couldn't find a single mention of Pyramid strings??? They are my favourite brand by far.

The Pyramid Gold flatwounds are simply amazing. Anyone who likes flats and haven't tried them: DO IT! They feel a lot like double bass strings. They have that sliky smooth yet "rubbery" feel to them. I think I've tried all the most popular flatwounds strings except the TI (love their DB strings though) and for me personally the Pyramid Golds blow them all away. No contest. I use them on a 51 P-bass + a couple of shortscales (vintage Hagstrom, vintage Crucianelli, Gretsch Broadcaster). They are a bit expensive but they last forever. And I really mean literally FOREVER (over 20 years and counting for my oldest set).

For roundwounds I use Pyramid Rock a lot. They are probably my favourite roundwounds but it's not as clear cut as with the flats, more a matter of taste and depending on the sound I need for the job. I find that the Pyramids have a richer, more "refined" sound than most other roundwounds I've tried. A deep kinda piano string quality but not overly bright. A "big" sound rather than a "fat" sound. And not clanky at all. The only other roundwounds I can remember getting the same feeling from must be the DR Hi-Beams but I haven't used those for a long time so the memory is a bit foggy. I say "a matter of taste" because I can't see a D'Addario XL-fan liking Pyramids (personally I avoid the XLs like the plague, I don't like that "clank"). The Pyramids are more polite and perfectly balanced for my taste. I currently use them on two of my P-basses + a J-bass. The only negative I can say about them is that I've experienced some inconsistency as to how long they last. I've recently had two sets going dull within a couple of weeks. But to be fair, those two sets had been in my storage for a couple of years so not exactly factory fresh.

I also like the sound of the Rotosound Swing Bass 66. It's a slightly brighter and more aggressive sound than I need most of the time but I always keep 2-3 of my basses stringed with Rotos. Always my Rick 4003, I really like Rotos on a Rick! At the moment I'm trying Rotos on my Stingray too and I kinda like it (but active basses aren't really my thing to be honest, I just keep one around for versatility). I don't like how the Rotos feel under the fingers though, very rough, so I tend to only use them when I need THAT sound!

Generally my most used sounds (by far) are:

57 P-bass with Pyramid Rock (rounds)
51 P-bass with Pyramid Gold (flats)

I used to like the GHS Boomers too. One of the best allrounders I'v tried but they kept breaking prematurely too often to just be a coincidence. In 30 years as a bassist I've NEVER broken a string from another brand. Some of my flats have been in use for 15-20 years. The Boomers rarely lasted more than a couple of months before breaking so I gave up on them.
Click to expand...
Need a recommendation for flats


Except my post.
Need a recommendation for flats
✌❤️
 
#2,097
Pitbull Strings are my favourite strings;
There are some amazing features. It has vacuum package for fighting to corrosion when the strings at the music shop rack. Other amazing feature is called Pitbull Bite. There is a different winding shape at the tuner side. The strings stay in tune. The bass strings are not nickel plated, the strings are nickel alloy. That's why the sound is little bit different from the nickel plated strings.There are some different gauges but I like the 45-128 Set.
You can check the other gauges on the string box.
45-128.jpg
 

Attachments

#2,099
michael_t said:
GHS Pressurewound ML7200 (44-58-80-102) + 128B for my newly-acquired active 5-string (Yamaha TRBX505).
GHS Pressurewound ML7200 (44-58-80-102) for my Fender Jazz.
GHS Balanced Nickels 4L-NB (40-56-76-101) for my Fender Precision.
Click to expand...

Time for another update...

GHS Precision Flatwound 3025 (45-60-75-95) - first test run on Fender P.
GHS Pressurewound ML7200 (44-58-80-102) on Fender J.
GHS Pressurewound ML7200 (44-58-80-102) + 128B on Yamaha.
 

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