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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
Maybe I just need to get used to this fat 120 string, i'm afraid it could kill me after 3 /4 songs during a gig.

Some strings are better suited for down-tuning due to their natural stiffness.

If you want a set of strings that can be used for C#G#C#F# without being too thick, try the GHS Pressurewound M7200 (44-62-84-106).

Here are their actual tension numbers, tuned to C#G#C#F#:

F# 044 - 38.6 lbs.
C# 062 - 43.3
G# 084 - 42.0
C# 106 - 34.1​
 
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Flats: Rotosound monel flatwounds 45/105, they are stiff and sounding brighter. There are no Labella, Thomastik or GHS flats in my country, so i go with Roto as the second best thing.

Rounds: Rotosound nickel roundwounds 45/105 which they stopped selling in my country. So i go with Daddario NYXL nickel roundwounds 45/105 as the second best thing.
 
I currently use D'Addario Chrome Flats on 3 basses:
1985 EMG equipped, Epiphone P Style bass.
2012 Ibanez SRX2EX2
2019 Fender California Series Kingman V2 (short scale)

I just ordered, through TalkBass, a set of LaBella 760FGS Deep Talkin’ Gold Flats / 45-105, for my 2018 Ibanez SR400EQM with quilted maple top in a Purple Space Burst. It currently has the stock D'Addario Nickel set that came on it.

The gold should really accent the fade and quilt in the middle of the body very well and they're flats. I'm slowly getting all my basses swapped over to flats. But for this bass I wanted to try something other than the D'Addario Chromes that I'm already using on 3 of my basses.

Here's some Sweetwater pics of the exact bass they're going on.
angle.jpg
headstock.jpg
 
P bass La Bella flats
P bass Rotosound swing bass
P bass DR Black beauties
P bass D’Addario Chromes
P Bass Rotosound jazz flats
P bass D’ADDARIO Prosteels
Rickenbacker TI flats
Jazz bass TI flats
Jazz bass Rotosound Jazz flats
Jazz bass D’Addario Prosteels
Jazz bass Rotosound Swing bass
Jazz bass GHS boomers
Hofner Beatle bass La Bella Beatle strings
Godin A4 fretless D’Addario Black nylon tape wound
 
6 strings:
D'Addario Half Rounds ENR71 (45, 65, 80, 100) + D'Addario Half Rounds singles C 30 & tapered B 130;
Stock SIT Strings 30, 45, 65, 85 + parts of Fender 82505 (tapered E 110 & tapered B 130);

5 strings:
D'Addario Pro Steels EPS220-5 (40, 60, 75, 95, 125);

Acoustic (5 strings):
D'Addario EPBB170-5 (45, 65, 80, 100, 130).
Updates since last post:
D'Addario EXP Coated Phosphor Bronze 45-65-80-100-130 on 5 string acoustic electric bass,
D'Addario HalfRounds 30-45-65-80-100-130T on 6 string fretted bass,
D'Addario Chrome 32-45-65-80-100-130 on 6 string fretless bass,
Elixir NANOWEB 45-65-85-105-130T on 5 string fretted bass,
D'Addario XL Nickel 30-45-65-85-105-130 on 6 string fan fretted bass.
third update in this thread:
  • D'Addario Chrome 32-45-65-80-100-130 on 6 string fretless bass,
  • D'Addario XL Nickel 30-45-65-85-105-130T on 6 string fanned fret bass,
  • GHS Pressurewound 28-40-54-76-96-128 on 6 string fretted bass,
  • Elixir Acoustic Bass 80/20 Bronze with NANOWEB 45-65-80-100-125 on 5 string acoustic electric bass,
  • D'Addario Flex Steels 45-65-85-105-135T on 5 string fretted bass,
  • D'Addario Chrome 45-65-80-100-130 on 5 string fretless bass, and
  • D'Addario XL Nickel 20p-30-45-65-85-105-130 on 7 string fretted bass.
strings waiting to be used:
  • Ken Smith Compressors CRL (40-58-80-102), C028 and C125-T singles,
  • D'Addario Tape Wound ETB92-5 (50-65-85-105-135) and TWB035 single.
fourth update:
  • D'Addario Chromes 130-100-80-65-45-32 on 6 string fretless bass,
  • GHS Pressurewound 128-96-76-54-40-28 on 6 string fretted bass,
  • Elixir Acoustic Bass 80/20 Bronze with NANOWEB Coating 125-100-80-65-45 on 5 string acoustic electric bass,
  • D'Addario Flex Steels 135T-105-85-65-45 on 5 string fretted bass,
  • D'Addario Tape Wound 135-105-85-65-50 on 5 string fretless bass,
  • Ken Smith Compressors 125T-102-80-58-40-28 with Burner Nickel Plated Steel 20p on 7 string fretted bass, and
  • Elixir Nickel Plated Steel with NANOWEB Coating 130T-105-85-65-45-32 on 6 string fanned fret bass.
Time for my 5th update of current strings line-up since last post in Oct 2016:

Ibanez EWB205WNE: Elixir Acoustic Bass 80/20 Bronze with Nanoweb Coating 45-65-80-100-125;
Ibanez BTB685SC: Dunlop Super Bright Stainless Steel Marcus Miller 45-65-85-105-125;
Ibanez SRFF806: Elixir Nickel Plated Steel with Nanoweb Coating 45-65-85-105-130tw;
Ibanez SRF705: D'Addario Nylon Tapewound 50-65-85-105-135;
Ibanez BTB7: D'Addario Plain Steel 18p and Elixir Nickel Plated Steel with Nanoweb Coating 32-45-65-85-105-130tw;
Ibanez SRC6: La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass Flat Wound with Stainless Steel 26-35-44-55-75-95;
Ibanez SRH505: D'Addario Chromes Flat Wound 40-55-75-95-132;
Ibanez SRAS7: Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Wound 45-65-85-105 and D'Addario Chromes Flat Wound 45-60-80.

Strings on standby:
Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt 32-40-60-70-95-130;
D'Addario Flex Steels 32-45-65-80-100-130;
D'Addario NYXL 32-45-65-80-100-130;
Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Wound 40-60-80-100;
Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Wound 30-45-65-85-105-130;
Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Wound 45-65-85-105-130T;
La Bella White Nylon Tape 50-65-85-105-135 Extra Long Scale;
La Bella White Nylon Tape 43-50-65-85-105-135 Extra Long Scale;
La Bella Copper White Nylon Tape 50-65-85-105-135;
Some single strings.
A year has passed, time for 6th update for this thread (last time was Nov 12, 2018):

Ibanez EWB205WNE:
GHS Pressurewound Bronze 42-54-74-92-120;

Ibanez BTB685SC:
Dunlop Super Bright Stainless Steel 40-60-80-100-120;

Ibanez SRFF806:
Elixir Nickel Plated Steel with Nanoweb Coating 45-65-85-105-130tw (not changed since my 4th update);

Ibanez SRF705:
D'Addario Nylon Tapewound 50-65-85-105-135 (not changed since my 4th update);

Ibanez BTB7:
D'Addario Plain Steel 18p and Dunlop Super Bright Nickel 30-45-65-85-105-130T;

Ibanez SRC6:
La Bella Deep Talkin' Bass Flat Wound with Stainless Steel 26-35-44-55-75-95 (not changed since last update);

Ibanez SRH505:
D'Addario Chromes Flat Wound 40-55-75-95-132 (not changed since last update);

Ibanez SRAS7:
Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Wound 45-65-85-105 and D'Addario Chromes Flat Wound 45-60-80 (not changed since last update).

Strings on standby:
Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt 32-40-60-70-95-130;
D'Addario Flex Steels 32-45-65-80-100-130;
D'Addario NYXL 32-45-65-80-100-130;
D'Addario NYXL 45-65-85-105;
Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Wound 40-60-80-100;
Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Wound 45-65-85-105-130T;
Dunlop Super Bright Nickel Wound 30-45-65-85-105-130;
Dunlop Flat Wound 40-60-80-100-120;
La Bella White Nylon Tape 50-65-85-105-135 Extra Long Scale;
La Bella White Nylon Tape 43-50-65-85-105-135 Extra Long Scale;
La Bella Copper White Nylon Tape 50-65-85-105-135;
Some single strings.
 
I recently got a new six string fretted.
It came with old D’Addario strings.
I replaced them with a lightly used set of GHS round ore Boomers.
But they will be replaced with a set of S.I.T.Power Steels.

I will use a seven string set on my fretted six so I can have the .025 as my high C string.
And .035 as my G.

Right now I have a set of Rotosound RS666LD’s on my fretless six.
 
I've used some strings. My first was a Ernie Ball Slinky Nickel standard gauge, pretty good but they decay very fast, never rebuy them.
Than i've used Maruszcyck .100 Stainless very affordable and long lasting (boiled than reuse them...) and on the same Maru bass i've tried Rotosound .98super stainless swing bass that are very very interesting, not too rought for a stainless because are not too big in session and quite bit long lasting.
On Yamaha A2 i've used the same Roto Swing but in normal gauge, a little bit rought little better nowadays the GHS Bassics Nickel, long lasting and good sound with progressive decay, not too bright not too dark.

On Steinberger the standard two balls are rought not too long lasting in standard gauge, a little bit well on .100 scale.

Many more to try, EB slinky cobalt, Ibanez Nickel, D'addario EXL 160 Stainless, Trace Elliott .35 Stainless steel, usually change strings a week before a live session with the band.
 
I just put on a set of S.I.T. Power Steels for 7 on my fretted six.
I have the .025 as my high C string.
And .035 as my G.
This way I have lower tension for chords and tapping in the "stratosphere"
20200123_162159.jpg

May do this for my fretless too.

(Now to figure out what to do with this extra .018 string)
 
Last edited:
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