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What kind of strings do you use?
- Thread starter bryan bailey
- Start date
An update...
GHS Pressurewound (40-96) back on my P bass after 7 weeks with GHS Brite Flats (45-98). Done with half-rounds/groundwound for good after three trial runs.
GHS Pressurewound (40-96) + GHS Progressive 130B on my Yamaha. (unchanged)
GHS Pressurewound (44-106) on my J bass, tuned to DGCF. (unchanged)
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I've recently switched from Ernie Ball to Rotosound RS66LDN swing bass 45 65 85 105 roundwounds for my fretted bass, and Rotosound RS77LD jazz bass 45 65 85 105 flatwounds for my fretless. I was having a problem with Ernie Ball G strings breaking between the tuner and the nut, on both flats and rounds. No such problem with the Rotosounds, and they sound great, too.
I finally got around to trying some D'addario Chromes on my p bass and I have to say, they really sound great. This coming from a guy who has never liked any flats he's tried.
I used to be, in the 80s and 90s, a loyal Rotosound Swing 66 Bass, stainless RW user.
Since I started playing bass again almost 10 years ago I've been using nickel covered steel roundwounds. There are things about stainless RW strings that I don't like or prefer now; mainly, extreme brightness, finger feel and noise, and extra fret wear. I used D'addario and DRs nickel/steel RWs for some years then I tried regular Dunlop round nickel wound strings last year. I've used several packs since. I can get them for a good price and there's been nothing about them that I haven't liked or found objectionable.
There may better stings out there, that I would like more, but I don't know... haven't found them.
Since I started playing bass again almost 10 years ago I've been using nickel covered steel roundwounds. There are things about stainless RW strings that I don't like or prefer now; mainly, extreme brightness, finger feel and noise, and extra fret wear. I used D'addario and DRs nickel/steel RWs for some years then I tried regular Dunlop round nickel wound strings last year. I've used several packs since. I can get them for a good price and there's been nothing about them that I haven't liked or found objectionable.
There may better stings out there, that I would like more, but I don't know... haven't found them.
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Blue Steels kick butt. They have their own unique tone and kinda loud compared to others. They're bright but mids are even.
I was really pretty surprised with how versatile they are. I generally hate flats but heard people raving about Chromes for years. If you're a slapper, you could probably find something better suited to you but I find they work well for everything from traditional flatwound thump to a more than usable pick style rock tone. For me, they sound fine doing everything I play. I'm not the most "modern" of player though, to be fair.
I’ve always loved the tone of low gauged Chromes. The only issue I’ve had with them is that the E string can get a bit lost in a mix.
What do you dig most about the DTFs? I’ve been curious to try those and GHS flats. I’m currently using LTFs.
Pressurewounds = semi-rounds. Their tonal character is more roundwound than flatwound, but with a smoother feel than typical rounds.
The GHS flats are a great starting point for getting into flats, IMO. They're kind of a middle of the road string - I think that once you decide what you like and dislike about them, there are a few different directions that you can go to find a string that will better serve your needs. I hope that makes sense. And, of course, if you dig them then you're all set.
I really liked the Low Tension Flats, but it turns out that the neck of my 76 P is a bit screwed up and it was pretty difficult to set up the bass and not get some sort of buzz somewhere. I thought those strings had nice character, but I was sometimes having to do quite a bit of additional EQing to make it all sit right with the kick.
Once I got the Deep Takin' Flats on, there was still that detail going on, but the bass just sat better in the mix and with the kick. I use a Broughton HPF, Keeley Compressor Pro, and a Two Notes Le Bass preamp when I'm playing live, but I've found that I can show up anywhere with just the bass, plug into whatever is available, and still be incredibly happy with the sound that I'm getting. That really wasn't the case until I got the DTF on the bass and raised the action. I still prefer the sound with the extra pedals, but it's great even without them.
The other key for me was to get the action up a bit. They just sound better with a decent amount of space between the string and fretboard and digging in a little bit.
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