what strings did you use when you first started playing?

[Pops OB]

I wish people would choose their basses like they choose their strings. THIS is what I like, this is the sound I want.

 

[el_Bajo_Verde]

Green DR Neons to match my Green Dean Custom Zone! *shudder*

 

[JTE]

I started with Fender 850s,the stock strings on a long scale Fender in 1976. Used them for a couple of years then went to D'Addario HR-72 their original nickel half-rounds.

I managed a guitar store so I tried just about everything on the market; GHS (Boomers,Brite Flats,Super Steels , Gus pure nickels ), RS66 (hated both sets), Sterlingworth Slicks, Dean Markley (Ground Round Wound, Half-Flats, rounds), Fender Studio Bass (flat and rounds). Quit retail 1989.

Now it's mostly DR Sunbeams with GHS Precision Flats on two basses, and D'Addario balanced tension on one, and a set of TI flats waiting for a home.

 

[Pops OB]

I started with Fender 850s,the stock strings on a long scale Fender in 1976. Used them for a couple of years then went to D'Addario HR-72 their original nickel half-rounds.

I managed a guitar store so I tried just about everything on the market; GHS (Boomers,Brite Flats,Super Steels , Gus pure nickels ), RS66 (hated both sets), Sterlingworth Slicks, Dean Markley (Ground Round Wound, Half-Flats, rounds), Fender Studio Bass (flat and rounds). Quit retail 1989.

Now it's mostly DR Sunbeams with GHS Precision Flats on two basses, and D'Addario balanced tension on one, and a set of TI flats waiting for a home.

Send those TI flats to me, I have a home ready for them, lol!

 

[gjohnson441496]

Rotosound rounds

 

[GwenOnBass]

My purloined Wayback Machine (TM) drops me in L.A. circa 1980, where I am buying Rotosounds. They are roundwounds, I suppose they were Swingbass, who knows. It's what everybody is using and I am good for the everybody wagon. That is, until I discover the Rotos are good for about three days before they lose their distinctive zing. If they last three days.

And we talk a great deal about strings, as if that is important. Perhaps it is, we all have opinions and i sample all manner of strings on friends' basses. Tapewounds, flats, who knows. I settle on Dean Markley roundwounds, whatever they were called back then. I remember they have gold silks. I like them lots because they have a great sound (so i believe) and last longer than the Rotos. I'm playing six or eight hours a day and I am getting a lot of play out of the Dean Markleys.

Now back in this groovy Here and Now (TM) and totally smitten with pink DR Neons. They tame my 'Ray nicely, I get just the tone I've always imagined without the edginess of full-blown roundwounds. Big deal, I don't slap no more, I'm digging the mellowness 'cause I mellowed too. But i still get the edge and I"m totally pleased. Neon pink too, hey. Diggin' it. Real far out and groovy!

 

[totallywink]

GHS Boomers then Dean Markley Blue Steels to currently DR Low Rider Nickels

 

[okcrum]

I always used Rotosound Jazz 77s, but I was playing a lot of R&B and funk then.

 

[Slough Feg Bass]

I started with Boomers.
I got a Dean Markley endorsement in the 90's, so I used those for many years and loved them.
Since then, I have used so many different strings, and found so many good ones!
Roto's, D'Addarios, some weird off brands. Truthfully, I have not been consistent with strings for a few years now.
I've gotten great advice here and tried stuff that I liked, but for recording, I usually will get a fresh pack of blue steel mediums.

 

[cnltb]

what strings did you use when you first started playing?
D'Angelico.

 

[rufus.K]

No one started on gut strings?

 

[39-Bassist]

D' Adarrio's, wanted to like but had some strings break on me a couple of times (once in the middle of a show) and said enough is enough...now I am with GHS Boomers and have never looked back...

 

[Felken]

I don't know where my strings came from.

 

[Pops OB]

Gut strings. Sorry, I'm not quite old enough to be a caveman (never played a double bass either).

 

[thunderstation]

so what strings did you use when you first started playing bass, and are you still using them or have you moved to other strings? and why?[/QUO
My 1st bass was from Sears' so Lord knows what strings were on them - cast of telephone wires probably. Then I got a Fender Precision and used Fender medium gauge - but they didn't seem to have the ton
e I was looking for so I soon moved to D'addario half rounds which I used for 30 years. they fit my playing style (except on my Ric they sounded horrible on that). just last year I bought a Fender MP Jaguar and had D'addario Chromes -they had the right brightness - not to trebely but they cut through and still had the bottom end so I immediately restrung my Precision & recently my Namm Mustang.

 

[hopwheels]

First strings were GHS Boomers till I broke an E string and switched to Rotosound Swing 66's which I played for years.

 

[crucislancer]

GHS boomers
Then Dean Markley Blue Steels.

Weird. This is exactly what I did. Boomers to Blue Steels, then experimenting for years before settling with one brand for a while.

 

[bassbenj]

GHS flats (burst with tort pickguards). Later changed to GHS brite flats (ground wound) on my short scale bass. In those days all I used were GHS. Still use GHS flats or bright flats on most my fretless basses today.

 

[radioface]

when i first started playing, i used rotosound swingbass 66's because my buddy in the band i had been singing for always used them. i didn't love them, but i didn't hate them, either. over time, i've moved toward different strings.

so what strings did you use when you first started playing bass, and are you still using them or have you moved to other strings? and why?

I used the strings that came with the bass and didn't care what they were.

 

[bumperbass]

Whatever factory flatwounds that came on my 1968 EB-3. Never changed them in the 4 years I had it.