What kind of strings do you use?

[May Cassidy]

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.

I've shifted my collection around a little and some string choices have changed.

My StingRay still has Roto rounds, and I've got a set of those back on my SX P bass, which has since gotten a brass nut and been used for down tuning. The Starfire still has the LaBella's which are getting to be almost a year old. I go back and forth about whether I want to put tape wounds on the Starfire, but it's pretty noisy as is. In lieu of the fretless Jazz, I have acquired a 2010's MiM Fender Jazz Bass, which had Rotosounds for a little but now has LaBella's, which I think I prefer. I went with the slightly lighter 43-103 set, which retains just a little more brightness than the standard set as well as being lower tension, but not too floppy.

 

[trseal]

So, I've tried not to make a hasty conclusion on trying new strings. Can't say that I've experienced a broad cross-section of what's out there but I have pretty much settled into being all-in on Fender flats. I am a flats kind of guy, mostly. I had some TI's on a Ric and I liked them. I just don't think they are SO good to justify their price. After I sold the Ric I haven't bo't any more TI's.

I have a VOX Teardrop that has an unknown flat wound on it that I think are very nice But I'm not sure what they are. They have a kind of royal blue silk on both ends. They have a great mellow sound and are quite comfortable to play. Wish I knew who makes them.

Then there's this AVII '66 Jazz bass I put Roto 77 flats on. May be too early to tell for sure (they've been on it for only a few months) but not crazy about them. For flats, they are not that smooth to the feel and they sound a bit clanky for my taste.

The rest of the fretted basses, a Mod Shop J (PV '74 pups), a MIJ '51 RI P and a Am. Performer P all have Fender flats except for an Aerodyne Special J that I have, so far, left the stock Fender rounds on for a radical change in vibe.

The Am. Perf. P has had the same Fender flats on it now for over 3 years and they now sound the way I have always wanted a bass to sound. That bass has a PV '63 P pup and a PV '62 J bridge pup. It just sounds glorious! The others seem to be settling in nicely so far.

My Am. Prof. J fretless has Fender tape wounds.

So anyway, I've tried a few of the big names in strings but haven't found any I like better than the Fenders.

Tim

 

[27Dreams]

DR DDT 55-130 on a 5 string

 

[foal30]

I’m liking these LaBellas on my Jazz Bass

Smooth tone but still a touch of ping if required. The closest comparison I can think of to another string is the old Sadowsky Blacks.

 

[foal30]

I now do not have any of my 6 Basses strung with roundwounds.

Chromes x2
LaBella x2
Sadowsky Black
Sadowsky Blue

The other flats I really like are GHS Precision

 

[michael_t]

Rotosound Ultramag (Alloy 52 roundwound) 40-60-80-100, plus GHS Progressive 130B (TRBX505)
GHS Super Steels 40-58-80-102, plus Super Steel 126B (non-tapered) (BB435)
GHS Pressurewound (Alloy 52 rollerwound) 44-62-84-106, tuned to DGCF (Jazz)
Ernie Ball Group IV (stainless steel flatwound) 40-60-70-95 (Precision)

A quick update...

Rotosound Ultramag (Alloy 52 roundwound) 40-60-80-100, plus GHS Progressive 130B (TRBX505)
Ken Smith Compressors 40-58-80-102-125T (BB435)
GHS Pressurewound (Alloy 52 rollerwound) 44-62-84-106, tuned to DGCF (Jazz)
Ernie Ball Group IV (stainless steel flatwound) 40-60-70-95 (Precision)

 

[gary mitchell]

I use good old Fender Flatwounds

 

[trseal]

I use good old Fender Flatwounds

Me too! They don't seem to get a lot of love around here tho'. I'm experimenting with a couple of different styles and flavors on a couple of my basses right now but Fender flats are my string of choice.

Tim

 

[WG Plum]

Switched to La Bella black nylon tapes on my fretless (also added Bartolini original series pickups) and I'm much happier with how my fretless sounds.

 

[michael_t]

I use good old Fender Flatwounds

Me too! They don't seem to get a lot of love around here tho'...

There are plenty of Fender 9050 fans around here, including myself.

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/fender-flats.1524360/

I have two sets of 9050L on order as we speak.

 

[Lowlou17]

I have Rotosound Jazz Bass 77 Flatwounds on my Sterling StingRay5, I have La Bellas 760FS on my Squier PJ Bass, Dunlop Nickel Plated Mediums on my Ibanez. I can't remember what I had my Marcus Miller restrung with, my luthier gave me a set of round wounds on it and they sound real nice. The fender Player came with Fender (7250 nickel?) round wounds and I hate them. The only thing I like about the Fender strings is it does bring out a nice PBass growl. Too bad the strings are so noisy. Too bright and too much finger noise. I'm replacing those with La Bellas 760 also.

 

[Iofflight]

Switched to La Bella black nylon tapes on my fretless (also added Bartolini original series pickups) and I'm much happier with how my fretless sounds.

Man having had some Bartolini's that I really loved before I would think this would be an awesome combo.

 

[Karlo.kc]

P-bass: currently old (6-7 years) Chromes, which were on and off throughout the years - but will change them to some rounds (probably pure nickels)

Jazz: 3 years old DR SS Hi-Beams and I'm very happy with that tone!

PJ fretless: DR SS Lo-rider, bought them initially for the P-bass but wasn't happy with them - they are fine on the fretless though

Bass VI: La Bella 767-6N

 

[michael_t]

Rotosound Ultramag (Alloy 52 roundwound) 40-60-80-100, plus GHS Progressive 130B (TRBX505)
Ken Smith Compressors 40-58-80-102-125T (BB435)
GHS Pressurewound (Alloy 52 rollerwound) 44-62-84-106, tuned to DGCF (Highway One J)
Ernie Ball Group IV (stainless steel flatwound) 40-60-70-95 (Am Std P)

My Highway One Jazz has been reunited with Fender 9050L.

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)
Fender 9050L Flatwound (45-60-80-100) (Highway One J)
Ernie Ball Group IV Stainless Steel Flatwound (40-60-70-95) (Am Std P)

 

[RestlessBoom]

Recently picked up a Sire D5 and put some Dogal Hellborg flats on it. Sounds phenomenal

 

[The Hook 1988]

An update for me...I was using XL chromes on a fretless Sire M7 and a Carvin LB75F and Labella low tension flats on my Ibanez portamento 705... I would NEVER have flats on a fretted bass. Now,no flats at all for me! I tried Elixir coated rounds on the M7..Wow! what an upgrade!. Feels so much better(absolutely hate the feel of flats!), and sound 100% better and far more responsive. All 3 fretless have them now. I was considering a new pre or pickups for the Ibanez. Not needed, these strings have given me the sound I was looking for!
As for the fretted basses mostly still D'addario Balanced tension, but depending on bass and # of strings some Rotosound, GHS boomer, Dunlop. C- string= 28-32, G string= 30-40 , D string=50-60, A string= 65-75, E string 90-100,
B string= 115-125.

 

[deathbreath88]

DR Hi-Beams. Had them on my Squier P-bass for a little over a year now. Sound could be compared to rubber bands covered in hardened yogurt, if that's helpful.

 

[Josh Ryan]

I am still using Dean Markely sr2000s. I had a hard time finding them during the pandemic and switched to LaBella Super Steps, which are great, but now that SR2000s seem to be normally available I've switched back.

 

[allboutbass]

It really depends on the bass and the application ... for a 75 Jazz Bass I love Fat Beams 45-105 so I thought to try same set on a Stingray ... well they are not that great, that Stingray loves Labella Flats.

I have two other precisions and they love Dadario XL, also Labella Flats.

 

[trseal]

On my '51 P RI, Fender flats. Quintessential vintage sound.
AVRI '66 Jazz, Roto flats--they have a bit more "thwack" than the Fenders flats.
Mod Shop Jazz w/PV '74 pickups, LaBella tapes. Sound nice but jury still out.
Am. Perf. P w/ PV '63 P pickup and PV '62 J bridge pickup, Fender flats. Maybe my all around favorite.
Aero. Sp. Jazz, Fender Pure Nickel rounds. Very nice modern sound without the harsh "clank" of the stock strings
Am. Pro. Fretless Jazz, Fender tapes. VERY nice fretless "MWAA."
NS Design Omni Bass, stock flats.
Vox (MIJ) Teardrop, came with flats. Don't know whose but they're very nice.

Tim