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What kind of strings do you use?

Preferred String Type

  • Roundwounds

    Votes: 5,514 69.2%

  • Flatwounds

    Votes: 1,875 23.5%

  • Nylons

    Votes: 142 1.8%

  • Compression, 1/2, groundwound (either or)

    Votes: 259 3.3%

  • Other

    Votes: 178 2.2%
  • Total voters
    7,968
#1,365
on my:

Ibanez SR506 (6-string)... D'Addario EXL 165-6 Nickel (reg. light/medium bottom), but for the low-B string, I swap out the .135 that comes in the set and replace it with an EXL .145-single (which I have to order online, unfortunately). Totally worth it though... best combination I've ever found for my 6-string and will probably never change it.

Ibanez BTB575 (5-string)... so, that leftover .135 B-string (that I don't use for the SR506) gets strung on this bass. Then I just buy a 4-string set of D'Addario EXL170 Nickels (reg. light), which works out perfectly, because the make/material is exactly the same for all of them.
 
#1,367
on most of my basses I'm using DR High Beams. Though I've been experimenting with SIT's on a couple of basses. The SIT's are very bright sounding but they go dead quicker than the DR's.

I do have one bass in particular that I use Rotosound's on but I'm prob going to switch back to DR Lo Riders because I'm tired of getting dead or flat sounding strings out of new packs of Rotos.

I'm also thinking of trying some flats too.
 
#1,371
hey guys i play a 5 string fender jazz with a country band, what is the best string that you like for that low kind of dull thump sound, kid of like music from g strait maybe, just a good low sound that you feel the thump on when you play, maybe xl chromes flat wounds daddario or something, im not to sure what to get.
 
#1,374
SIT are the best brand strings I have found. High quality, superb performance, long lasting, perfect tension, smooth feel, and all at a lower cost than the competitors. Nothing else comes close. I use SIT strings on all of my instruments. For bass, I generally go with hex core nickel rounds.
 
#1,376
Does anyone actually read 50+ page threads full of conflicting opinions like this one? I suspect more likely everybody just looks at the poll, chimes in with their opinion, and moves on.

Usually Stainless rounds, 90 or 85 E. For fretless, 90 E Half/ground round, or Ken Smith Compressors.

90 E Optima Golds on one bass, can't afford to put them on more.

8 And 12 strings only use Rotosound 85 E sets for the fundamental strings, and the thinnest octave strings I can find. Used to use La Bella M10s, out of production now so I try to match the gauges with custom sets if I can.
 
#1,377
:bassist:
NecroticImbecil said:
Does anyone actually read 50+ page threads full of conflicting opinions like this one? I suspect more likely everybody just looks at the poll, chimes in with their opinion, and moves on.

Usually Stainless rounds, 90 or 85 E. For fretless, 90 E Half/ground round, or Ken Smith Compressors.

90 E Optima Golds on one bass, can't afford to put them on more.

8 And 12 strings only use Rotosound 85 E sets for the fundamental strings, and the thinnest octave strings I can find. Used to use La Bella M10s, out of production now so I try to match the gauges with custom sets if I can.
Click to expand...

I've never anything as light as 90. Did you play something heavier at first then switch? Was it hard to adjust, I mean did you lose any right hand speed, and were there any tonal improvements?
 

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