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What kind of strings do you use?
- Thread starter bryan bailey
- Start date
I have 9 basses and there’s been a lot of experimentation:
‘92 Roscoe SKB 5 string - Ken Smith tapercores. I read here that those strings were great for slapping on a Roscoe I really liked the combination!
‘11 Prat Single cut NT 6 String - D’Addario Half Rounds. The bass now has a FlexCore Preamp and I like the combination of the half rounds with the FlexCore.
‘93 Sadowsky NYC Modern - Sadowsky Black Label Bright Nickels. Like these for slapping and with nickel I like to think they help preserve the frets.
‘97 Ken Smith BMT 5 String - Ken Smith Tapercores. It seems like Ken Smith strings really bring out the Smith tone…
‘87 Ken Smith BT 6 String - Ken Smith tapercores. Tried Labella Super Steps, liked them but love this bass better with the Tapercores.
85 Pre-Gibson Tobias Classic 6 String - Labella Super Steps. I actually had half rounds on this one but didn’t like them with the TCT Preamp so I put the super steps and got what I was looking for tone-wise.
88 Modulus TBX Fretless 5 string - Ken Smith compressors. These strings really pair nicely with the EMG electronics.
LowEnd LEJ 5 - I haven’t found what I’m looking for with this one. Currently I have DR Nickel Lo-Riders but I’m thinking I’ll probably try some Sadowsky steel strings next or maybe some Smith strings.
‘77 Fender Jazz - DR Nickel Lo-Riders. The frets on this baby are LOW so using nickel to preserve what’s left. A prior owner replaced the electronics and I have no idea what pups were on there so I took a chance and swapped them for some Alleva Coppolo pickups and WOW! I find myself playing the 4 quite a bit now! I’m debating whether to switch over to some Sadowsky nickels because I do love the tone I get on NYC Modern!
Lots of experimenting to get to this point. It’s a journey; not a destination…
‘92 Roscoe SKB 5 string - Ken Smith tapercores. I read here that those strings were great for slapping on a Roscoe I really liked the combination!
‘11 Prat Single cut NT 6 String - D’Addario Half Rounds. The bass now has a FlexCore Preamp and I like the combination of the half rounds with the FlexCore.
‘93 Sadowsky NYC Modern - Sadowsky Black Label Bright Nickels. Like these for slapping and with nickel I like to think they help preserve the frets.
‘97 Ken Smith BMT 5 String - Ken Smith Tapercores. It seems like Ken Smith strings really bring out the Smith tone…
‘87 Ken Smith BT 6 String - Ken Smith tapercores. Tried Labella Super Steps, liked them but love this bass better with the Tapercores.
85 Pre-Gibson Tobias Classic 6 String - Labella Super Steps. I actually had half rounds on this one but didn’t like them with the TCT Preamp so I put the super steps and got what I was looking for tone-wise.
88 Modulus TBX Fretless 5 string - Ken Smith compressors. These strings really pair nicely with the EMG electronics.
LowEnd LEJ 5 - I haven’t found what I’m looking for with this one. Currently I have DR Nickel Lo-Riders but I’m thinking I’ll probably try some Sadowsky steel strings next or maybe some Smith strings.
‘77 Fender Jazz - DR Nickel Lo-Riders. The frets on this baby are LOW so using nickel to preserve what’s left. A prior owner replaced the electronics and I have no idea what pups were on there so I took a chance and swapped them for some Alleva Coppolo pickups and WOW! I find myself playing the 4 quite a bit now! I’m debating whether to switch over to some Sadowsky nickels because I do love the tone I get on NYC Modern!
Lots of experimenting to get to this point. It’s a journey; not a destination…
Elixir nickels. I tried to love Rotosounds for years because all my hero’s used them, but I honestly can’t stand them. I love the slick feel of Elixirs, love the sustain they have and they last me all year.
D'Addario EXL 170 Nickel, because I can get a .120 for my B-string. Also, they're just really comfy to play.
I am currently mostly playing 2 - 5 strings. On my ESP LTD RB-1005, I currently have TI Jazz flats. They’re starting to break in, and I’m liking it. On my Schecter Stiletto Elite, I have GHS Precision Flats. They’re well broken-in, and sounding good.
Chrome flatwounds on most of my basses because they are one of the few brands I can get in NZ regularly and are the chepaest here.
Black tapewound D'addario's on my fretless, because they were the only one's I could find in NZ.
Can't remember what brand are on my 8-string but they were the only one's I could get online worldwide in the same gauge as the originals which were no longer made.
Basically, my options are very limited living here in NZ..... and at the prices we pay I really can't afford to just try out a stack of different strings.
Black tapewound D'addario's on my fretless, because they were the only one's I could find in NZ.
Can't remember what brand are on my 8-string but they were the only one's I could get online worldwide in the same gauge as the originals which were no longer made.
Basically, my options are very limited living here in NZ..... and at the prices we pay I really can't afford to just try out a stack of different strings.
LaBella DTB, White Tape Wound Strings. The White is semi-opaque and I bought the white to go with my White Jazz Bass. Bought them because I saw a string comparison online where the different strings were used on the same bass and amp playing the same riffs. I was surprised they sounded so good. I had worn out a pair of DR Black Beauty strings to the point they were DR Mottled Gray strings with bright, shiny lines on the back where they contact the fret.
I bought a set from the TB store here an put them on my Jazz. I had played flats originally in the 60's and then moved to Fender Nylon Tape Wound in the 70's. Then in 1976 my bass was stolen along with all my touring gear. in 1985 I finally found another Jazz with the same neck shape, profile, and radius and bought it. It's an 82' Jazz with white-bound maple neck white pickguard, white pickups, white strat-type knobs, and 70's pickup spacing (4" center to center). It came with Dean Markley Blue Steel round wounds. Replaced those twice and then tried the DR Black Beauty round wound strings. Wore those out and bought the LaBella Deep Talking Bass White Tape Wound strings.
I was surprised how much more zing they had than other flats I used and/or heard played. I really liked that. I also liked the slippery-smooth feel of them and they had the best balance of sound from string to string. If I need to play an octave E or octave A etc., I can actually play those on the D and G strings if it's more convenient to do so instead of going up to the 7th fret of the A or D string to play them. By comparison the round wound strings I'd been using sounded tinny and thin at those locations. I think I've used them for 4 years now and they still sound great with plenty of upper harmonics in them. These are the ones I'll continue to buy for the future.
DR Pure Blues for rounds (love the tension, feel, tone), I have TI Jazz Flats and LaBella LTF for flats, I like both.
MJ
MJ
DR Nickle Lowriders 45-125 on all basses- they're just what I settled on...
just got a Ray 5 and I'm trying E.B. Cobalt Flats on it just to try flats...
and we'll see what happens from here.
just got a Ray 5 and I'm trying E.B. Cobalt Flats on it just to try flats...
and we'll see what happens from here.
My prefered Bass string is a roundwound .105", .085", .065", .045",
Fender Pure Nickel 7150's, and then after that,
Nickel plated steel core Fender 7250's.
These Bass strings sound great, last forever and are a great buy price wise.
I just found out that Fender closed the string factory in Mexico,
so all Fender strings are now being made by D'addario, in USA.
Fender Pure Nickel 7150's, and then after that,
Nickel plated steel core Fender 7250's.
These Bass strings sound great, last forever and are a great buy price wise.
I just found out that Fender closed the string factory in Mexico,
so all Fender strings are now being made by D'addario, in USA.
I thought I’d post an update. Since last July, I’ve been playing GHS Bass Boomers on my new Spector Euro 6LT. At this time I still have DR Pure Blues on my Spector NS4CRFM, which are excellent strings, but I’ll most likely replace those with Boomers down the road.
I have Rotosound Swing Bass 66’s on my P-Bass, and I’m really liking them. I bought a set of GHS Super Steels to try out on it next.
And, as usual I have GHS Pressurewounds on my Ristola Exotic 6-string. The PWs match up perfectly with that particular bass.
I have Rotosound Swing Bass 66’s on my P-Bass, and I’m really liking them. I bought a set of GHS Super Steels to try out on it next.
And, as usual I have GHS Pressurewounds on my Ristola Exotic 6-string. The PWs match up perfectly with that particular bass.
'Addario ENR71 Half Round Bass Guitar Strings, Regular Light, 45-100, Long Scale
Installed on a sub Ray 4
Installed on a sub Ray 4
Update for me, as I change a lot.
Regular Slinkies on everything except my ABG which I am about to try some Martins on and my Bass VI which have some Kaliums due to wanting a thicker gauge E string.
Regular Slinkies on everything except my ABG which I am about to try some Martins on and my Bass VI which have some Kaliums due to wanting a thicker gauge E string.
I'm considering trying a set of La Bella 750G gold white nylon tape wound on my Fender P, any thoughts or advice. Has anyone tried them.
