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What kind of strings do you use?

Preferred String Type

  • Roundwounds

    Votes: 5,505 69.2%
  • Flatwounds

    Votes: 1,868 23.5%
  • Nylons

    Votes: 142 1.8%
  • Compression, 1/2, groundwound (either or)

    Votes: 258 3.2%
  • Other

    Votes: 178 2.2%

  • Total voters
    7,951
Seeing as the flats were out of my budget I decided to go with the XLs again. After not playing on XLs for about 4 months I'd forgotten just how bright they are, so once these things go (which should be a few months thanks to Oklahoma's effed up weather) I'm either going to get some DR high beams, like my Ibanez has, or the D'Addario flats.

Sidebar: how are DR's flats?
 
I use Rotosound '66 Swing bass (5 strings - 130-45) since years and I'm satisfied with it, but would like to try an even better string!

Which would you suggest me?

Have you ever tried Newtone or Elixir??? What do you think about them?
 
anybody use Elixers?


When I first received my Sadowsky-5 it came with Black-label medium stainless strings. Then I tried the Blue label versions. I thought they were like barbed wire on my finger tips. I also noticed considerable fret wear. I could barely afford the guitar let alone the cost of a fret dressing. For the "zing" and the fretwear alone I am avoiding the stainless versions. I then tried the Blue label nickels. Much better although it took considerable tweeking to get the sound I wanted. I may be going back to them but am not sure.

Then, this summer I attended a concert of several groups. One bass player stood out above all others. His guitar looked like a Sadowsky from a distance, but not quite. His sound was awesome. You could hear every note clearly with a lot of punch. Afterwards, I asked him what he played. It was a newer Fender 5-string with ... Elixir strings. I quickly went out and purchased a set of medium nano-webs for my Sadowsky.

The jury is still out regarding the evaluation of the sound. I'm not yet sure what to think yet as I play through different setups. My practice "amp" at home is Tascam Bass Trainer". Its sound is sub-par so I have to wait until I play through my Mesa amp to fully evalute these strings. The slap sound isn't bad, especially since I use that technique so little.

I had to initially develop new practice-exercises to get used to the slippery strings. I made too many mistakes. I am now adjusted and actually like the smoothness ("slipperyness") of the strings as my personal technique utilizes many slides and glissandos.

One thing that disappoints me is that the coating is starting to peel off - after only 1-1/2 months of playing. Does anyone else know how to clean this off of these strings (without completely stripping the coating)?