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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
I mainly use D'Addario strings. A while back, I ordered half-rounds (heavy), prosteels (heavy), and nickel wound (heavy). I switch between them every now and then, usually when I want my fingers to get a break and when I clean my bass (the perfect opportunity to swap strings).

I actually ordered a set of Chromes (medium) just this morning. They can't get here soon enough!!
 
I have a Spector Legend Classic 5 string with EMG HZ pickups. It is fretless as well.

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I currently use Ernie Ball Super Slinkies. I like the strings, but not on this bass. What strings would bring out this bass's tone best? The bass just doesn't sound right with the Ernie Ball's. I'm thinking I need some strings with a bigger deep sound. Any ideas?
 
:hyper:Slinky Cobalt only!!!!!!!!!! Man are they have the best clarity u would not believe it.

BTW I have a question. I first played in high school and now I am 63 and trying to pick it back up.

What is the difference between long scale and short scale. I have an Epiphone bass EB-3 I think but the strings that fit on it are to long for my Epiphone Viola and my Hofner viola like Paul McCarthy.
SO how do I solve this problem?

And what are the numbers on the packages like 2731, 2732, 2733, 2734, 2735 and 2736. are the 31 - 36 the length of the string?

I am also looking for someone to help me get started with the bass. We do bluegrass, rock and roll, and blues.
Well that's enough for me for now.

If u can help let me know.

Bill
 
I will never use La Bella's again. Last summer while putting a new set of La Bella Beatle Bass flat wounds on my German Hofner the G string broke where it was joined to the end bead while tuning. I was a bit shocked as I have never broken a bass string before and especially was surprised with the tiny machine heads a Hofner has that it could happen. This was the first bass string I ever broke in my life and I have been playing since 1968. About two months ago the exact same thing happened at the same place with the G string on a set of La Bella flat wound full scale strings. I was putting them on my 1972 precision at the time. I swore I would never buy a pair of your strings again, but broke down yesterday when I needed flat wounds and La Bella's were the only brand the store carried. I put a set of full scale flat wounds on my American Standard P bass last night. While playing today the E string broke where it goes over the bridge. When I complained to customer Service they said send back the string and they would relace it. You have to be kidding me. I have been playing since the 60s and only ever broke three strings all La Bellas, all this year, and all on diffent basses. Beware!
 
I presonally use Fender steel core nickelwound strings on my USA J-Bass, I used to use stainless steel strings, but they were a bit too bright, I like the slightly mellower sound, but a lot of my playing is based around slap bass, so I didn't want to lose all of the punch.

That said, I'm using Rotosound sm77 Flatwounds on my fretless, and I love them. I could never get it to produce a tone I liked before, and now I couldn't be happier :)
 
So far I like D'Addario Black Chromes on my Ibanez SR-755. But I used to use Rotosound Flatwounds and liked them a lot too. I keep trying different strings and each one is hard to tell apart for me. I've been going by feel, and flatwounds feel good to me, especially on the neck of the SR-755.
 
I keep seeing "never again" posts from players who found one bad string. But all my favorite strings have bad ones every once in a while. In particular, I get bad strings in sets of TI flats, LaBella M45, and RS66 (which I used before discovering M45s). I'll put up with such things to use my "magic" strings.

I pull on my strings, which lots of folks loathe. I yank on that string. Sometimes I pick up the bass by the string and shake it. If it's gonna break, I want it to break at home. I haven't had one break on a gig or in rehearsal, so I guess it works.

I make sure the strings aren't twisted and massage 'em across the bridge and nut breaks, then I listen to the string unplugged when it's quiet, then I listen to them through a Cafe Walter practice amp paired with Sony MDR-V7. This setup highlights every flaw. If an error in winding makes the string warble, or if the string's dead, I trash it.

I don't send bad strings back for refund. Caan't be bothered. It's just the way things are. I spend more on strings than equipment. The string is the tone generator. The wood and electronics are just filters. If the string doesn't vibrate at a certain harmonic frequency, the wood and electronics can't add it.