I was too, I stopped sometime in the nineties and tried them again a few years ago as I had also read that they had fixed that problem, it was like going back home again. There's nothing like them.
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What kind of strings do you use?
- Thread starter bryan bailey
- Start date
I was too, I stopped sometime in the nineties and tried them again a few years ago as I had also read that they had fixed that problem, it was like going back home again. There's nothing like them.
I am currently trying out Elixir nanoweb nickel plated steels. Mostly because I am a serial tinkerer but also because, at least on paper, they should do what I want. Which is a NPS rounds sound with less finger noise and just general comfort.
I honestly don’t have that much time to practice (and don’t really want to anyways) so my callouses aren’t the greatest. So this seems to be a good option if I want to sit down and play in relative comfort. I realize flats also to be an option but my tastes are swinging away from the flatwound sound at the moment.
I honestly don’t have that much time to practice (and don’t really want to anyways) so my callouses aren’t the greatest. So this seems to be a good option if I want to sit down and play in relative comfort. I realize flats also to be an option but my tastes are swinging away from the flatwound sound at the moment.
The Elixir nanoweb nickel plated steels are the strings that I have on my bass guitar. I really like. And it lasts long, keeping the same sound for months and more.
Time for an update...
Ken Smith Compressors 40-58-80-102-125T (BB435) - First time trying them.
GHS Pressurewound 40-54-76-96 + GHS Progressive 130B (TRBX505) - Unchanged.
GHS Brite Flats 45-56-77-98 (Jazz) - Fourth time trying them, first time actually liking them.
Ernie Ball Group IV Stainless Steel Flats 40-60-70-95 (Precision) - First time trying them.
Ken Smith Compressors 40-58-80-102-125T (BB435) - First time trying them.
GHS Pressurewound 40-54-76-96 + GHS Progressive 130B (TRBX505) - Unchanged.
GHS Brite Flats 45-56-77-98 (Jazz) - Fourth time trying them, first time actually liking them.
Ernie Ball Group IV Stainless Steel Flats 40-60-70-95 (Precision) - First time trying them.
Update: I was using 3 different types of strings on my various long scale basses. I was trying to put the "perfect" set of strings on each bass. I had basses with Super Slinky rounds, Regular Slinky rounds, and EBMM Cobalt Flats. Now I'm running Super Slinky rounds on everything. For me, it's just easier to only have to buy one kind of string. I also appreciate that the basses now feel more similar to each other. I also took the Regular Slinky short scale rounds off of my SBMM Short Scale Stingray and replaced them with D'Addario EXL 280 Piccolo strings.
I've spent some time experimenting and I've found combinations that really work with my style and my basses.
StingRay:
Stainless steel rounds, in my case Rotosound RS66's, have been the best in my experience. I've had a myriad of flats on this bass trying to chase Bernard Edwards' CHIC tone, but I've found a set of played in Roto's just belongs on this bass.
Fretless Jazz:
Same with the 'Ray. This one is a Frankenstein work by myself, and I'm thinking of getting a new Warmoth neck perhaps but with this pickup configuration the Roto's win for me once again
SX P:
I had rounds on this for ages, tried flats for a second, but I've actually settled on D'addario tapewounds. This particular bass has EMG's, so it can get fairly bright when I need it and super dark as well.
Guild Starfire:
At the moment, LaBella Flatwounds are great on this, and although lacking a little in the top end for my liking I don't think that's really what this bass is meant for.
StingRay:
Stainless steel rounds, in my case Rotosound RS66's, have been the best in my experience. I've had a myriad of flats on this bass trying to chase Bernard Edwards' CHIC tone, but I've found a set of played in Roto's just belongs on this bass.
Fretless Jazz:
Same with the 'Ray. This one is a Frankenstein work by myself, and I'm thinking of getting a new Warmoth neck perhaps but with this pickup configuration the Roto's win for me once again
SX P:
I had rounds on this for ages, tried flats for a second, but I've actually settled on D'addario tapewounds. This particular bass has EMG's, so it can get fairly bright when I need it and super dark as well.
Guild Starfire:
At the moment, LaBella Flatwounds are great on this, and although lacking a little in the top end for my liking I don't think that's really what this bass is meant for.
DR Lo-Riders 45 - 105. I don't like floppy strings, and these feel nice and stiff with a great sound on most of my basses.
I've heard Warwick Black Labels are quite stiff, so I'll give them a try. They feel quite rough in the packet, but I'll still give them a go. Hopefully they sound good......
I've heard Warwick Black Labels are quite stiff, so I'll give them a try. They feel quite rough in the packet, but I'll still give them a go. Hopefully they sound good......
I use Elixir 040-095 on all my basses.
I like the clear sound in these. Also long life. Great for slapping.
Tomorrow I will try changeing to custom Elixir set/mix 032-050-070-085-105 on my five string Jazz bass.
Tomorrow also my newly ordered Sire Marcus Miller jazz bass 4 str arrives. I will also use Elixir 023-085 on that bass.
I like the clear sound in these. Also long life. Great for slapping.
Tomorrow I will try changeing to custom Elixir set/mix 032-050-070-085-105 on my five string Jazz bass.
Tomorrow also my newly ordered Sire Marcus Miller jazz bass 4 str arrives. I will also use Elixir 023-085 on that bass.
I really like D'addario EXL170 but recently put a set of Ernie Ball cobalt flats on my Lakland Skyline 44-51 and now it sounds better than all my other basses. Flatwound feel with roundwound crunch.
Four basses, four different brands and four different types ...
Rotosound Ultramag (Alloy 52 roundwound) 40-60-80-100, plus GHS Progressive 130B (TRBX505)
Ken Smith Compressors (Alloy 52 rollerwound) 40-58-80-102-125T (BB435)
GHS Brite Flats (Alloy 52 groundwound/half-rounds) 45-56-77-98 (Jazz)
Ernie Ball Group IV (stainless steel flatwound) 40-60-70-95 (Precision)
Rotosound Ultramag (Alloy 52 roundwound) 40-60-80-100, plus GHS Progressive 130B (TRBX505)
Ken Smith Compressors (Alloy 52 rollerwound) 40-58-80-102-125T (BB435)
GHS Brite Flats (Alloy 52 groundwound/half-rounds) 45-56-77-98 (Jazz)
Ernie Ball Group IV (stainless steel flatwound) 40-60-70-95 (Precision)
I'm almost entirely converted to D'addario Chromes. 6 basses with Chromes. One with D'addario tapewound. One with Tomastik nylon core. One with mystery flats. ABG with LaBella Gold tapewound.
Update time.......
After reading rave reviews, i've been trying the GHS Pressurewound M7200 (44-106) lately and really like them. They do feel nice under the fingers & the sound is pretty "spot on". However.....
....would they replace my #1 string - DR Lo-Rider 45-105? Short answer, no. The Lo-Riders sound slightly better to my ears & are $15 cheaper for a set.
Still, I'm going to enjoy playing them until they need replacing
After reading rave reviews, i've been trying the GHS Pressurewound M7200 (44-106) lately and really like them. They do feel nice under the fingers & the sound is pretty "spot on". However.....
....would they replace my #1 string - DR Lo-Rider 45-105? Short answer, no. The Lo-Riders sound slightly better to my ears & are $15 cheaper for a set.
Still, I'm going to enjoy playing them until they need replacing
Lo-riders are great. Have you tried D'addario EXL170 strings? They are pretty much the same strings as the Lo-riders but with slightly higher tension and smoother feel. They also aren't as raspy sounding (to my ears) as the Lo-riders.Update time.......
After reading rave reviews, i've been trying the GHS Pressurewound M7200 (44-106) lately and really like them. They do feel nice under the fingers & the sound is pretty "spot on". However.....
....would they replace my #1 string - DR Lo-Rider 45-105? Short answer, no. The Lo-Riders sound slightly better to my ears & are $15 cheaper for a set.
Still, I'm going to enjoy playing them until they need replacing
My experiences are the exact opposite...at least with the Nickel Lo-Riders, which are noticeably smoother in texture compared to the D'A XL Nickels and also smoother (= less harsh) in tone. Even the stainless steel LRs are more pleasant to play on than the D'A...at least for me.
No i haven't. I'll read a few reviews and check the pricing compared to the DR Lo-Riders. I kinda like the raspy sound personally
I haven't tried the Nickel Lo-Riders. Only the stainless. Hmmm......got me thinking now....do i need to try the Nickel? I kinda like the "harshness" of the S/S
