What kind of strings do you use?

[togo002]

Addario XLs

 

[-Ju-]

Labella Supersteps or daddario XL' s

 

[Bo_H]

Dean Markley Blue Steel, .050-.105. If I can't find those, I use Rotosound, .045-.105.

BB

 

[Sippy]

Knucklehead Fattys!

 

[emblymouse]

Just discovered TI jazz Flats,Yow! They're on my Lakland Jerry Scheff. Before that D'Addario XL's.

 

[OnlyMe]

Always been using roundwounds (Rotosounds), but I'm planning to try flats one of these weeks.

 

[TerriKayBass]

I'm using gut strings on my C-1 Kay Bass. I am a new bassist in a bluegrass/old-timey/gospel group. I have a four-string wash-tub bass and a rescued Kay Bass. I wasn't sure I really liked the gut strings until my husband changed to some cheap, flat-wound, steel core, majestic strings. Totally changed the woodsy tones of my upright and made it too loud for the venue we were playing at the time. Oh, he re-strung my old gut strings. Love that growly, rumbly, woodsy tone!!!!

 

[Sagaris]

I've just discovered a new liking for Flatwounds. I've been trying fast string crosses on my Fretless which I just can't seem to make sound right on my Fretted and it's definetly got something to with the ease of "slipping" on and off Flatwounds compared to Roundwounds.

 

[WillBuckingham]

I'm using gut strings on my C-1 Kay Bass. I am a new bassist in a bluegrass/old-timey/gospel group. I have a four-string wash-tub bass and a rescued Kay Bass. I wasn't sure I really liked the gut strings until my husband changed to some cheap, flat-wound, steel core, majestic strings. Totally changed the woodsy tones of my upright and made it too loud for the venue we were playing at the time. Oh, he re-strung my old gut strings. Love that growly, rumbly, woodsy tone!!!!

Wow. I really can't believe that you're upright was too loud. That's great . . . I assume you're playing acoustically or you'd just turn the amp down . . . I wish I could get that kind of volume outta my bass . . . I use spyracore flatwounds.

 

[IronMaiden]

I use roundwounds.(Black Diamonds)

 

[morfine]

piano string design rotosound
i use them a on p/j configuration and it has to the best bright sound

 

[Larzon]

I have switched back to Rotosound Swing Bass 66 ...they are unbelievable.

 

[tZer]

Gang;

I have been using Roundwounds for ever. Mostly because the first bass I owned in 1984, a nice Fender P (I miss it dearly, did not know what I had til it was gone... ) - came with some dead strings. Being a new bassplayher, I did not know how much difference 'new' strings would make. So my first experience with new strings was GHS Boomers, Ground Roundwounds. From that day on, I purchased nothing but roundwounds of some sort.

I play rock, pop, and some experimental fusion/rock/jazz stuff. My influences are JPJ, Victor, Geddy, Chris Squire, and recently has expanded to the greats like Chuck Rainey, James Jamerson, and so on...

It seems my original rock/prog-rock influences and my new RnB - Jazz influences call for 2 very different string types... So I ask you who have gone from Round to Flat - what sort of impact does that have on the Rock/Prog-rock/ bright, and upfront-ish tone of your bass?

BTW - my basses are MMSR5 and Spector DLX 5.

Thanks!

 

[micko]

smiths

 

[doucebass]

Elixir (taper wound on E and B). I get used to the coating but wasen't easy... Sounds like the very first day after a month of heavy playing.

 

[JameelRS]

I've got Elixirs on my Schecter.

But usually I use D'Addario steels when I'm feeling punchy. And Fender nickels when I want growl.

 

[Carver]

Labella Slappers are my favorite

 

[LoveThatBass]

I try to keep it simple. Medium gauge Boomers on both the Rick and the Squire. I used to use heavy gauge, but found the mediums made things sound a little crisper. I'm not particularly loyal to Boomers, usually keep a few sets of cheaper medium gage around for emergencies.

I presently am using the .050-.115 Boomers and agree with your statement. The only thing I wish GHS would do is use a .050 for the G string as it has too much change in tone from the others.
I believe I will go back to the medium gauge fairly soon.

 

[Thunder Lizard]

I use Elixers on my EDB 605 and Bass Blasters on my 600. The blasters are great for grunting out rock, last well for the price, and haven't given me too many issues.
I play anything "finessey" on the 5 string, and I enjoyed the Elixers it came with, so I stuck to them.
All basses strung Med Lite.

 

[Calaverasgrande]

DR low riders on my Tobias 5 and DR hi beams on my Ovation 4. I used to worship Rotosound stainless but they changed the length of the silk wrap and it was coming down over the nut! Then I went to D'Addario for a while and they did the same thing. I bounced around to different brands until a pal showed me DRs. That was about 10 years ago.