I played Rotosound 66s because they were cheap and easily available. Then I played GHS Boomers because they had a .115 set and I was down tuning to D, which in 1991 was a big deal.
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First bass came with some rotosound rs66 that had been on there for almost a couple years (yamaha BB300 Sonic Blue, I have yet to see another one anywhere and my stupid 15 year old self ended up sanding it, poorly defretting it, and selling it...). First time I bought strings would be Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky's and I used those for a while until I started experimenting with different strings.
D'Addario Chromes. After over two years of trying several other brands of strings (sometimes twice a month), I found and switched to Ernie Ball Super Slinkies.
Whatever came on my used Ibanez GSR200, not sure to this day what they were. After that though, I got some light gauge D'Addario Prosteels, then some GHS Bass Boomers (heavy gauge).
Now, if I had to pick a string company it would likely be DR, and my main strings would be Lo-Rider steels. Honorable mention for GHS Precision Flats, I love them on vintage style basses.
Now, if I had to pick a string company it would likely be DR, and my main strings would be Lo-Rider steels. Honorable mention for GHS Precision Flats, I love them on vintage style basses.
- Jul 30, 2006
- 2,315
- 453
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist:Regenerate Guitar Works Carvin, Micheal Kelly Guitars
The first strings I bought were DR Hi-Beams. I didn't know what I was looking for, so I mostly picked a set at random. It may have helped that Marcus Miller was a DR endorser at the time 
.
I think Hi-Beams would be too bright for me now. But I have no "objective" criticisms of them.
.I think Hi-Beams would be too bright for me now. But I have no "objective" criticisms of them.
Started w/ the Roto Swingbass 66 on the first string change and stuck with those for many years. I think the first time I moved beyond those was to a set of flats (can't even remember which) on my old Mustang. It's only in the last decade or so that I've really started trying a lot of different strings - but that's when I dramatically increased my number of basses too so I guess it makes sense. Some favs I've come to: DR Black Beauties, TI Flats (great but expensive) and the ones I'm really in love with right now are the GHS Pressure Wounds.
Rota 66 Swing followed by D'Addario nickel grounds, Rotosound 707 Linea PSD, Roto 55 Solo and now graduated to Chromes. Happy Days.
Started with 'no name' tapewound strings on a very secondhand Hofner 182 short scale. Put Rotosound Swing Bass 66 strings on my '73 Rick 4001, with no ill effects to the neck except that they ate the frets, and used Rotosounds for years before switching to D'Addario ProSteels - which I still use today.
The cost of them is getting a bit much with our stupid exchange rate at the moment. Just yesterday, I restrung my main 5 string, and it's backup 5 string and it cost me £60 for the two sets of strings.
The cost of them is getting a bit much with our stupid exchange rate at the moment. Just yesterday, I restrung my main 5 string, and it's backup 5 string and it cost me £60 for the two sets of strings.
When I started out I really enjoyed Ernie Ball Slinky's. Currently I have Roto 66's on my Sterling and Dunlop Super Brights that Marcus Miller gave me on my Yamaha. Sadly, not a huge fan of the Super Brights.
Dean Markley Blue Steel (I think) for a number of years when I stated playing. I came back to these stings just a couple of years ago, despite their harsh feel and ridiculous twang out of the package sound.
Sometimes you just come back to that first love.
Sometimes you just come back to that first love.
The first strings I ever bought were Bass Boomers. I still nearly always use them on my No. 1 bass today, although I've tried countless strings over the years. In general, they are versatile enough to cover everything I need, they feel better than most rounds on my fingers, and they are inexpensive.
1st bass was a borrowed Hofner clone, 2nd was a Kent clone of the Rivoli and the 3rd was a brand new 67' Fender P Bass. On them I just used the strings that came with them.
4th bass was a 67' Guild Starfire that I traded the P Bass for. Changed the strings from the originals to GHS 3060 tapes. So the first strings I bought were those. I've used them ever since and still have them on a couple of basses. Unfortunately GHS has decided to discontinue them.
4th bass was a 67' Guild Starfire that I traded the P Bass for. Changed the strings from the originals to GHS 3060 tapes. So the first strings I bought were those. I've used them ever since and still have them on a couple of basses. Unfortunately GHS has decided to discontinue them.
I have no idea what strings the factory had on the bass back then, but the first set of bass strings I purchased was GHS Boomers. Solely because I went into the guitar store on Encinitas blvd and asked for the set with the lowest price.
Here we are almost 37 years later and I'm still using Boomers on that bass. The only disappointment is these strings are no longer the lower cost ones in the store.
I'm sure that guitar store is long gone.
Here we are almost 37 years later and I'm still using Boomers on that bass. The only disappointment is these strings are no longer the lower cost ones in the store.
I'm sure that guitar store is long gone.
Rotos because Ged used them.
Moved on to many brands, settling on Webstrings a loooong time ago.
Why? Because I'm a cheap %$^^#%@. And they do the job for me.
