What kind of strings do you use?

[Aussie Player]

SIT strings rule! Dammit mods, why haven't you moved this yet?!

Agree,best I have found over a range of basses and scales.
Main attributes are even volume and tone across the strings, east to set intonation and it is maintained and as the name states, Stays in Tune. Also has very clear bass notes on the E string and as much growl as the pick ups provide.

 

[gigetto]

I'm using d'Addario's EXL170 Nickel on my TRBX and they feels good and long lasting, only ha little bit hard in tension.

 

[Pimmsley]

I played rounds exclusively from 1992- 2012 when I discovered I liked flats on a certain bass in a certain band... never really thought to try in all those years and then bass forums happened and it was instant love when I put them on the Squier with a Lollar SCPB pup for funk, jazz and picked lines... can't get the same speed or as crisp articulation as on fresh/ish rounds.

In order of most gig time over last 10 years

2012 Squier 50s P SCPB 0.047 tone cap - GHS precision flats 45-105
1964 Fender L series Jazz Bass - 0.05 cap - Rotosound Roto bass nickel rounds 45-105
2013 SBMM Ray 34 - active EQ - EB Slinky rounds 40-100
New acquisition
2020 Fender Vintera P Bass - 0.1 cap - pre installed Fender nickel rounds 45-105
Only just got it.
Played through Aguilar TH500 + SL112 or pair of DB112 (no tweets) also Genz Benz Shuttle 9.2 gets the occasional go through the Aggies...
Fun stuff...

 

[DennyOnBass]

Both. Ernie Ball Cobalt Rounds on my EBMM Stingray 5.

I'm still kind of checking out different flats for my 76 P - have tried GHS Precisions, Cobalt Flats, LaBella Low Tension Flats, and now LaBella Deep Talkin' 45-105. The Deep Talkin' are my favorites thus far.

 

[NoiseNinja]

On my main Ibanez GSRM20 neck + GSRM20B body Mikro Bass, which I jave tuned in F# standard tuning, as in 2 half steps above regular 4 string bass E standard tuning, which I use for the musical project that currently has my main focus, a sort of progressive psychedelic stober/doom rock bass/vocals and drums/vocals duo, I use D'Addario XL roundwound nickle plated steel core strings, gauge .090 - .072 - .054 - .040, the 2 middle ones actually being guitar strings threaded through the cut off ball ends of bass strings, to not slip through the string retainer holes in the bridge.

 

[Clark Westfield]

Sadowsky Bright Nickels and DR Pure Blues and my only strings of choice.

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

Nickel Rounds. I've been using the Ernie Ball Slinkys for quite some time. I like the Rotosound and DR as well.

 

[michael_t]

No rounds, no flats... Just semi-rounds (rollerwound) and semi-flats (groundwound) for me.

GHS Brite Flats (45-98) on my P bass as of tonight. (They replace GHS Round Core Boomers 40-95.)
GHS Pressurewound (40-96) + GHS Progressive 130B on my Yamaha.
GHS Pressurewound (44-106) on my J bass, tuned to DGCF.

 

[bassist4dalord]

I can only use flats now! I put a set of D'Addario Medium XL's on my GSR200, and I can't imagine going back! I've tried playing rounds, but they stick and just downright feel strange... bummer (NOT!!!)

Right now I've got a set of Rotosound RS66 Swing Bass Strings on my Squier Affinity Jazz Bass V. They have way too much growl for what I play (praise and worship, classic rock, blues...) I think when I go homw for break in October (I'm at college right now) I'm going to throw a set of barely-used Ernie Ball Slinky Nickels on it. Good experience, though. My Affinity Precision is sitting at home, wearing Ernie Ball Slinky Nickles. Great strings.

Currently have Ernie Ball Slinky rounds on my main bass and on my other bass; Squier Affinity Jazz V and Affinity Precision, respectively.

D'Addario Chromes on all three of my basses

I just put a set of Rotosound Nickel-plated Steel RS66-LD strings on my Squier Affinity P, and they sound pretty great so far!

I voted flats a while ago, but I consider myself a new convert to Nylon Tapewounds. Particularly, those of the D'Addario flavor. Absolutely wonderful strings! They feel and sound amazing on my 5er. That, and they just plain look cool I'm sold. For sure!

I'm a D'Addario man myself. Currently have Tapewounds on my Squier Standard Precision V (Jazz electronics.) Just got a new Ibanez AEB5E, which currently has the stock bronze strings. I'm thinking I'll probably order D'Addario Tapewounds for it, but I'm also considering Chromes (my favorite metal string) or Half Rounds (never tried, but intriguing.)

Right now I've got La Bella Deep Talkin' flats on my Squier Standard Precision V and D'Addario Black Nylon tapewounds on my Ibanez AEB5E acoustic. Works for me!

My acoustic and my Fretless both have D’Addario Tapes. My Schecter has Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats. The D’Addario Tapes are my favorite string, hands down.

Wow, so neat to see my string (and bass) progression over the years!

Current stable:

1. Ibanez Roadstar II RB630 wears TI Jazz Flats
2. Ibanez AEB5E wears GHS Precision Flats
3. Schecter Raiden Special-4 wears D’Addario ProSteels

The RB630 is my number one and I just love the TIJFs. This set spent two years on my now-gone Squier VM Fretless Jazz Bass and have found a good home on the RB630. I’m not at all sold on the GHS Precision Flats but that bass is just for noodling around the house. I’ll swap them out someday. The D’Addario ProSteels are possibly my favorite roundwound but that’s not the sound I’m after right now.

 

[Deleted member 271037]

Only 3.2% of the votes for compression+groundwounds is a bit surprising with all the praise for the GHS Pressurewounds around here. But then again, it does seem to be the same posters repeatedly praising them again and again and again...

Personally I mostly use flats. TI Jazz Flats, Pyramid Golds and LaBellas are my favourites, depending on the tone I need.

I also like mellow roundwounds like Pyramid Pure Nickels and GHS Balanced Nickels.

Throw in a couple of sets of Thomastik Superalloys and Roto 55s for whenever I need a bit more bite and I'm ok.

Well, almost... I think I also might want a set of TI Jazz Rounds for that special thing they do... and the same goes for Roto 77s... both are great strings with a very unique tone. Perhaps not the most versatile but tons of character! Optima Chrome Flats are pretty good too.

Basically, I like SOME but never ALL strings from MOST string manufacturers. I could make a list of strings that I absolutely detest from EVERY string manufacturer out there too, lol.

I guess I'm a total string nerd. Don't even get me started on my GUITARS!

 

[michael_t]

Only 3.2% of the votes for compression+groundwounds is a bit surprising with all the praise for the GHS Pressurewounds around here.

I voted for flats, because that's what I was using at the time before I discovered the Pressurewounds. Can't change my vote now.

 

[michael_t]

Wow, so neat to see my string (and bass) progression over the years!

It would be interesting to see my string history, too. But way too many posts to go through!

 

[gigetto]

Currently on my basses I'm using the DR Covered Red Devil on my gig bass, D'addario's EXL 170 Nickel on my TRBX Black Nylon Labella extra light gauge 750 on AFR. Next turn I'll put on my TRBX D'Addario's Chrome regular light gauge.100.

 

[PWRL]

I used to keep D'Addario Balanced Tension super light nickel rounds on my MIM Jazz with Quarter Pounders in it. However, I recently decided to try Custom Light Gauge Chromes (100-80-60-40) and found them to be much more to my liking than the standard light gauge version. I don't care much for the pingyness that they have new, so they only sound better and better as they break in. I like them so much, I don't think I'd ever play the standard light Chromes ever again.

 

[gigetto]

After 33 years of rounds I've got a set of Chrome....

 

[trseal]

I've never seen them mentioned here so I tho't I'd give a shout-out to Stringjoy, a boutique string maker in Nashville. I haven't used their bass strings but I've used their g****r string and they're pretty awesome. They don't make flats but they do offer sets, custom sets and individual strings. Check'em out. Stringjoy.com.

Tim

 

[LoveThatBass]

I like TI Jazz Flats on my Jazz Bass and and love GHS Pressure wounds on my Gretsch Hollow-body bass and my 5 String ESP LTD bass
Jury is still out as to whether I want to keep pressure wounds on my Precision Bass or go back to TI Jazz Flats

 

[gigetto]

I'm in love with D'Addario's EXL 170 Nickel on my BBPH. Piano sound.

 

[gigetto]

I've bought Galli Nickel RSB .85 light....I'll try

 

[tindrum]

Dunlop Super Bright in both nickel and steel (depending on the bass) and DR Hi Beams on my Aria SB basses. I have a spare set of TI flats that I’ll throw on one of my P basses when I get an itch.