My favorite strings are Omni Bass Strings which are Flatwound Strings designed more like Double Bass Strings (Stranded Steel Core wound in Metal) and I use those on my Ibanez UB805 so that it acts like a Mini EUB
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What kind of strings do you use?
- Thread starter bryan bailey
- Start date
I am back with SIT Power Wound nickel 45-105 on my 51 Reissue P Bass and SIT Acoustic Bass strings for my Fender acoustic bass. Coming from Daddario XLs. I just honestly like the SIT strings better. Nothing wrong with others these just fit what I’m doing these days. I recently sold some basses as I wasn’t playing them so it was a good time to change up strings.
I've been using DR Pure Blues 45-105 for a long time now. I have flats on one of my J basses. DR Legends maybe. I don't remember.
D'Addario XL Nickel-plated hex steel core roundwounds for my regular E1 standard tuned basses, balanced tension gauge .095 - .070 - .055 - .040 set.
Elixir Nanoweb coated nickel-plated hex steel core guitar roundwound strings for my 28.6" tenor basses. approximately balanced tension single guitar strings of the gauges: .074 - .062 - .046 - .036 - .026 for my 5 string tuned in Ab1 standard tuning / .068 - .052 - .038 - .028 for my 4 string in B1 standard tuning.
Elixir Nanoweb coated nickel-plated hex steel core guitar roundwound strings for my 28.6" tenor basses. approximately balanced tension single guitar strings of the gauges: .074 - .062 - .046 - .036 - .026 for my 5 string tuned in Ab1 standard tuning / .068 - .052 - .038 - .028 for my 4 string in B1 standard tuning.
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I like flat strings and a chunk of foam, I really prefer a big fat 70s sound. A few years ago I gave a pack of round strings a try but I hate them. Worst mistake I could have made. They sound bright, loud and boingy and they make my tone sound like a cross between Flea and the Seinfeld guy. Even gently plucking sounds like I am playing slap. Hate it hate it hate it, I am a big tone chaser and this sound drives me berserk.
The round strings also allowed my fretting callous to get softer until I ended up suffering from blisters again, first time in actual decades. Flat strings keep it toughened up and that really helps to protect my fingers.
So right now I am waiting on a new pack of flat LaBella Deep Talkin Bass (standard length & gauges) and I can't wait to re-string. I should have done this a lot sooner!
The round strings also allowed my fretting callous to get softer until I ended up suffering from blisters again, first time in actual decades. Flat strings keep it toughened up and that really helps to protect my fingers.
So right now I am waiting on a new pack of flat LaBella Deep Talkin Bass (standard length & gauges) and I can't wait to re-string. I should have done this a lot sooner!
I hadn't gigged with flats since the late 70's.
After reading all the glowing reviews of TI Jazz flats here at T.B. I really wanted to try a set of flats again, but I was always put off by their price.
Then, awhile back, I ran across a string website that had TI's flats on sale at a remarkably low price.
Bought a set, put em on my back-up Jazz, used them off and on at live band jobs for roughfully 5 months in order to give my ears and hands time to adjust to them.
The flat sound/tone and playability just wasn't for me.
Missed the clarity and playability of the Nickel rounds 40 to 100's. Missed the way they set and cut in the mix of the group I'm with and the type of material we play.
I'm back to using the Dunlop Super Bright Nickel's again on both my Jazzes.
After reading all the glowing reviews of TI Jazz flats here at T.B. I really wanted to try a set of flats again, but I was always put off by their price.
Then, awhile back, I ran across a string website that had TI's flats on sale at a remarkably low price.
Bought a set, put em on my back-up Jazz, used them off and on at live band jobs for roughfully 5 months in order to give my ears and hands time to adjust to them.
The flat sound/tone and playability just wasn't for me.
Missed the clarity and playability of the Nickel rounds 40 to 100's. Missed the way they set and cut in the mix of the group I'm with and the type of material we play.
I'm back to using the Dunlop Super Bright Nickel's again on both my Jazzes.
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Al Kraft
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- May 2, 2016
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Nice review and without trashing a product you were able to help others get a sense for how the strings might work for them. My favorite reviews are like this one. Someone shares what they were thinking and looking for and then tells us why it did or didn't work for their particular use case.
I have been wanting to try super light gauge strings so I bought a pack of DR Hi-Beams in 30-90 thinking it would be crazy. Well, it is, but they’ve been on the bass for about 5 days now and after a day or two of overdoing it (I was like a child in a fast car, flooring it like an idiot), I’ve grown accustomed to how much less effort is required for them to sound good.
And they’re making me want to play this one bass all the damn time. It’s addicting. And Hi Beams are PUNCHY. That’s the other thing. I’m a lifelong nickels player and these are steel and I’m not hating the feeling of the DRs. And I don’t notice any loss of low end as my usual 45-105s.
I ordered a custom set which I’m interested to try: 36-55-65-90, which is the set the Pino fretless Music Man comes with. It sounds right up my alley and might be just a fraction more stable on that G string.
And they’re making me want to play this one bass all the damn time. It’s addicting. And Hi Beams are PUNCHY. That’s the other thing. I’m a lifelong nickels player and these are steel and I’m not hating the feeling of the DRs. And I don’t notice any loss of low end as my usual 45-105s.
I ordered a custom set which I’m interested to try: 36-55-65-90, which is the set the Pino fretless Music Man comes with. It sounds right up my alley and might be just a fraction more stable on that G string.
Anybody on this thread have experience with half rounds or ground round wounds? I haven't played flats since the early 70s, when I discovered Rotosounds. I play DR High Beams these days. I had a several year layoff and have been playing again for a little over a year, but I don't have really good calluses any more and would maybe like to try some half rounds to see if they would keep the brighter sound without being as rough on the finger or noisy as round wounds. Anybody have experience in this area or have any recommendations to make? Thanks!
If you want a roundwound tone with a smoother feel, try the GHS Pressurewound, which is "rollerwound", where the outer round wire is compressed into an oval shape instead of ground down to a flat surface (half rounds). I've tried half-rounds before but found their tonal character to be closer to flatwound than roundwound.
Products - PRESSUREWOUND™ - GHS Strings
Since 1964, GHS Strings has been expertly winding high-quality electric guitar strings in the heart of southwestern Michigan. As a leading manufacturer, we blend tradition with innovation to produce a wide variety of strings for electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitars, classical guitars...
www.ghsstrings.com
DiAddario Chromes Flats 45/65/80/100
They just feel very nice to my hands, smooth and fast.
They sound like flats, but a bit more lively than some other flats out there, and I like that.
If I want something other than flats the GHS pressure-wounds feel good for a "roundwound" string and they keep finger noise/zing to a minimum. They also sound good the way they come, and also good with a bit of foam by the bridge.
They just feel very nice to my hands, smooth and fast.
They sound like flats, but a bit more lively than some other flats out there, and I like that.
If I want something other than flats the GHS pressure-wounds feel good for a "roundwound" string and they keep finger noise/zing to a minimum. They also sound good the way they come, and also good with a bit of foam by the bridge.
One thing about the Pressurewounds is they're on the stiff side compared to typical rounds, so choose your set accordingly. I personally use the L7200 (40-96) for EADG and M7200 (44-106) for DGCF.
You need them for 5-string? You can always get the .128 as a single to go with any of the 4-string sets. They're definitely stiffer than Hi Beams.
So the new strings got here a couple of days ago and I have been testing them out since Thursday afternoon. I am in total shock at what a miracle these things are. I should have tried this brand & type YEARS and years ago. LaBella DTB 45-105 standard scale & medium gauge.
They took away my pain. I play professionally and have logged in a LOT of playing time, which had left me with sore hand tendons and frequently stiff fingers on top of all the years it took to overcome the cubital tunnel problems in my elbows. On the old round strings (many different brands) I had 1 fret finger and 2 plucking fingers that were chronically blistered and stained gray at the tips. On other brands of flat string my hands bled. There were nights when practicing felt like I was sticking my hands into a blender. IT ALL INSTANTLY STOPPED WITH THESE STRINGS. They feel very smooth, soft and actually warm. It feels like you are sliding your hands around on a warm ceramic plate, like at restaurants where they heat the plates for you before they bring out the food. It must be the pure unwound steel retaining the heat of your hands or something. And the smoothness is absolutely perfect. I tried playing through a couple of Tony Franklin covers and it honestly felt just like fretless.
The tension is much less. I used to have to STRANGLE the neck. Now I just gently touch it like typing on a laptop, yet the volume I get is at least double my loudest volume playing on round strings! My poor tired amp can finally catch a break now.
THIS TONE.
I sound like a Motown session cat now. The boinging is GONE and so is the echo. No more harsh brightness either. I no longer sound like the Seinfeld guy. My gentle finger playing doesn't sound like slap anymore. These strings are better than 25 lbs. of foam.It actually sounds like I spent thousands on a brand new full stack high tech Japanese amp. I can crank my volume way down and still be heard.
They look good...so sleek and vintage.
I am sold. I will never use another brand or type again. I will endorse these things if they ever contact me about it. I just cannot believe the quality of this brand!
edited for typos
They took away my pain. I play professionally and have logged in a LOT of playing time, which had left me with sore hand tendons and frequently stiff fingers on top of all the years it took to overcome the cubital tunnel problems in my elbows. On the old round strings (many different brands) I had 1 fret finger and 2 plucking fingers that were chronically blistered and stained gray at the tips. On other brands of flat string my hands bled. There were nights when practicing felt like I was sticking my hands into a blender. IT ALL INSTANTLY STOPPED WITH THESE STRINGS. They feel very smooth, soft and actually warm. It feels like you are sliding your hands around on a warm ceramic plate, like at restaurants where they heat the plates for you before they bring out the food. It must be the pure unwound steel retaining the heat of your hands or something. And the smoothness is absolutely perfect. I tried playing through a couple of Tony Franklin covers and it honestly felt just like fretless.
The tension is much less. I used to have to STRANGLE the neck. Now I just gently touch it like typing on a laptop, yet the volume I get is at least double my loudest volume playing on round strings! My poor tired amp can finally catch a break now.
THIS TONE.
I sound like a Motown session cat now. The boinging is GONE and so is the echo. No more harsh brightness either. I no longer sound like the Seinfeld guy. My gentle finger playing doesn't sound like slap anymore. These strings are better than 25 lbs. of foam.It actually sounds like I spent thousands on a brand new full stack high tech Japanese amp. I can crank my volume way down and still be heard.They look good...so sleek and vintage.
I am sold. I will never use another brand or type again. I will endorse these things if they ever contact me about it. I just cannot believe the quality of this brand!
edited for typos
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It's been exactly 6 mths since my last update.
SIT Power Wound Nickels 40-60-80-100-130T (TRBX505).
Ernie Ball Stainless Steel Flats Group IV (40-60-70-95) (Am Std Precision).
GHS Pressurewound 44-62-84-106, tuned to DGCF (Sandblasted Jazz).
GHS Super Steels 40-58-80-102 (SR650E).
GHS Pressurewound 40-54-76-96 (American Special Jazz) - unchanged.
Fender Flats 9050L (45-60-80-100) (Highway One Jazz) - unchanged.
Getting in here with string change day!
Nordy Acinonyx:
DR Legends(love)-> GHS Bal Nickels.
NS Omnibass:
DR Legends ;-) -> OG omnibass strings, D’addario, E-C.
EBMM Cutlass Bass:
Recent change to Labella Gold Flat. Jury still out.
Nordy Acinonyx:
DR Legends(love)-> GHS Bal Nickels.
NS Omnibass:
DR Legends ;-) -> OG omnibass strings, D’addario, E-C.
EBMM Cutlass Bass:
Recent change to Labella Gold Flat. Jury still out.
My go to for a few years has been DR Pure Blues for rounds on bass and guitar. They feel really excellent under my fingers, great tone and they have a real smooth high end that I especially love on guitar.
I also have an Epiphone Rumblekat with very well broken in DR Legends. Dank city!
I also have an Epiphone Rumblekat with very well broken in DR Legends. Dank city!
