What strings for BC300 Bass?

[bassista6]

Okay so I have a cheap bass. We had a house fire 3 1/2 years ago in which all of our instruments were destroyed guitars, basses, keyboards, etc. Anyway one of dad's friend's son-in-law works for Stagg and was able to get his company to give us a new bass for free BC300 [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

It sat in my dad's closet for two years and then I decided to start using it. He ended up giving it to me and I've been playing consistently since January. It came with strings that sounded pretty dead, but I used them for about 3 months until the G string unraveled then a friend gave me a set of his GHS strings. I 'm not sure what model they are. They sound much better than the strings the bass came with, but they're tearing up my fingers. I keep getting blisters which I've never had before and my fingers really hurt after playing for only an hour. I'm wondering what strings I should buy that would sound the best, feel the best, and be the most versatile on this bass? I play almost any style of music, but mostly Funk and R&B. I was leaning towards Ernie Ball 2831 Slinky Round Wound Power Bass Strings, but then I heard somewhere that these strings might be to heavy a gauge for certain basses. My bass is by no means top quality and I don't want to put strings on it that will compromise it's quality anymore. What would you suggest?

 

[darkstorm]

Your playing rather heavy handed to be getting blisters from GHS strings. Learn to play with much lighter touch. You'll become more expressive, nimble, and overall better player. And wont get no more blisters either. GHS is one of the smoother feeling roundwounds made. I hate to think what condition your hands would be in if youd been useing rotosounds my fave brand.

 

[bassista6]

I don't know. I really try to play gently and turn the amp up a little louder rather than playing more forcefully. I know the GHS strings are thicker than the strings that came with the bass and that probably has something to do with it. I'll probably get used to it. Also I've been having problems with the action on my bass. I had the bass set up back in March and it felt great for about a month and then the action got harder again. I started playing last summer, but not consistently until this January and I didn't start getting blisters until last month. I only get them on my pinkies though. Maybe it's because I didn't play as consistently when I had the factory strings on the bass. My fingers are very soft and even though I've been playing an average of three hours a day I don't callus. I wish I could get calluses, so that my fingers wouldn't be as sore, but I just don't. Even after I get a blister my fingers still won't callus. It could have to do with the fact that I play congas as well and I'm constantly putting lotion on my hands because the skins dry them out so much. I don't know I guess I'll just try the Ernie Ball's and see how I like them.

 

[darkstorm]

Ahhh. the problem then may be largely that the action needs to be lowered. Sight down the neck from body end toward headstock. If you see more then slight hint of upward bow, the truss rods needs adjusting. If thats fine then the string saddles need to be lowered for lower action.

Ernie Ball strings will be right around the same feel as GHS. Are you useing 45-105 strings or heavier then that? If the latter, switching to lighter gauge may also help.

If your fingers dont callus, you could assuming you play with fingers rather then pick, tape your plucking fingers with that cloth medical tape most places sell in first aid dept.

 

[bassista6]

The action on the bass might be the problem. I had it fixed when I got the bass set up, but it seems like it got higher again. Soon I should be able to afford a new bass, but until then I'll have to work with this one.

The GHS strings were given to me. They are 45-100. I guess he put them on his bass, but didn't really use them. The E and A string are very short and could only wrap around the tuning post twice. The D and G strings are normal length. Could that have anything to do with it? I didn't see a bow in the neck, but that might just be my eyesight. I'll probably end up bringing the bass back to the music store anyway because my cable jack is loose. The guy at the music store fixed it and put a washer inside, but now it's loose again and the cable falls out sometimes. It's really annoying. If I even tap the cable it falls out and then I have that awful feedback sound.

I play finger style, but I don't get blisters on my striking hand fingers. I only get blisters on my fretting hand fingers. Occasionally I will get a callus, but it's gone within a day or two. Eventually I guess the pain will go away. At least I hope it will.

I want new strings even if they won't feel better on my fingers because my strings are too short and kind of weird to tune. I've heard that Ernie Ball's sound really good, so that's why I was leaning towards them. Do you think they're a good choice?

 

[darkstorm]

Two wraps around tuning peg for E & A strings is fine. Id normally do 2 to max of 3 for them myself. And I go for 3 to max 4 winds around post for D & G string. I do like ernie balls for basses that want a little more crunch factor. GHS is little smoother but not mellow. They dont add to or detract from crunch like some do, whereas ernie balls add a little more crunch.

 

[darkstorm]

One habbit some people sometime develope is slightly sliding the fretting finger a little toward the fret as they hold the note. Not enough to actually affect the tone. But enough to kinda grind the finger along string. But if all else fails including action. Then you may have to start looking at taperound string or other coated type. A few people are sensitive to some metals/ Any evidence of this for you? If so and playing stainless, then try nickels. Or try stainless if the prev have been nickels.

But yes over lotioning hands is problematic. Have you talked to other drummers for handrum stuff. They might be able to point out something youve overlooked. To include type of skins on the drums your useing.

 

[bassista6]

I think I might be doing that sliding thing you talked about. If I play one finger per fret it's a bit of a stretch for my pinky to reach the fret and I do notice it sliding sometimes. I also do that with my index finger at times and both my pinky and index finger are the ones that cause me the most pain. That might be why I'm getting the blisters. I thought that it might have more to do with my technique, but I've really been trying to play the right way. The crunch sounds nice. I like the smoothness of the GHS strings for some music styles better than others. I know if I don't try the Ernie Balls I'll keep wondering about them, so I might as well. How can you tell when your strings need changing?

Dry hands pretty much come with the territory when it comes to hand drums and if you don't moisturize your hands you wind up with splits all over them. I haven't developed any calluses from hand drumming either which is kind of weird. It might just be that my skin doesn't really callus. Maybe I can eliminate the lotion problem if I play my bass first and then play my congas and cajon later on. It's worth a try. Thanks for all the advice.

 

[darkstorm]

See if you can find a music gear store that sells "fret ease". Its an aerasol spray you spray on fretboard and strings and if desired back of neck. Helps eliminate drag on back of nitro necks and can make rougher feeling strings feel less rough. Its also supposed to help preserve string life. Spray on light across whole fretboard over strings. Wipe lightly up and down neck with soft clean cloth. Not to remove but rather to even it out with just any excess getting wiped off. Same for back of neck if draggy feeling.

I used to use it regular back when I played basses with nitro necks and it did make the strings (rotosound) feel little smoother for easier glides when I was doing that sort of playing regular.

I allmost never use my pinky. Occassionally is only when doing two string bar on D & G string with next finger ussually adding support. Most of the time I'll use finger next to pinky for D & G strings barred across both or singly. Pinky occassinally giving little bit of support to that finger. Useing tech book correct finger and hand placement can be detrimental for some. Focus more on doing your fingers, hands and wrists as works best for you. As a hand drummer your gonna do it a little diff then others cause of your natural and habbitual ways of useing hands on the drums. Your hands are held open more then most peoples.

This detriment to useing absolute optimum by the book fingering come from people getting stuck in the rut of conservative thinking and formality of the music it sprung from imo. It occurs most frequently from piano players. Theyre proper playing technique isnt as good as ones led to believe. The msot rip it up keyboard players dont use it much except to the extent of some basic principles. With guitar and bass playing it springs from classical guitar stuff. Again the most rip it up classical guitar players stray from a lot of the traditional classical guitar fingering things.

One thing that might further help yur fretting hand is how you wear your bass. If your not currently wearing it so that it points skyward (doesnt need to be fully straight up and down, but more skyward then horrizontal for sure). Then try lengthnening your strap a notch so it rides little lower and little more upward pointing. This can make for easier and more natural for the player, fretting. I find a 45 degree or little more upward best for most peoples body mechanics. Cause of how it repositions hand/wrist/finger angles for fretting. Compared to those who wear their bass or guitar high and pointing more horizontal. One of the most dextrous guitar players was John Mclaughlin with Mahavisnhu Orch slinging his doublenecks. You can notice he swings the doubkenecks skyward when getting intense with his playing. Its not posturing, its better hand mechanics for that sort of play.

Normally I dont suggest products like fret ease. But nitro necks and your problem make it worth trying. As afr as pinky goes. Try not useing it much if at all. One can do 2 and 3 string playing without just fine with small adjusments. You also dont have to use an exact part of your finger for the fretting and held at an exact angle. Its better to be more flexible and not so much getting in ones own way as it where. Lol. And yeah be careful bout that possible grinding finger forward on string. Glides are lightlty done guitar trick style rather then rough and hard. But for held notes not at all. Less preassure also makes for better sustain in note fades.

 

[bassista6]

Thanks I will look into that fret ease. It sounds like it might help me out.

This detriment to useing absolute optimum by the book fingering come from people getting stuck in the rut of conservative thinking and formality of the music it sprung from imo. It occurs most frequently from piano players. Theyre proper playing technique isnt as good as ones led to believe. The msot rip it up keyboard players dont use it much except to the extent of some basic principles. With guitar and bass playing it springs from classical guitar stuff. Again the most rip it up classical guitar players stray from a lot of the traditional classical guitar fingering things.

I definitely get what you're saying. I play keyboard as well, but I only had about a month and a half worth of lessons when I was a kid so my technique isn't typical of a classically trained pianist. I do a lot of things by the book, but some things don't work for me. It's really annoying when people say I'm not a musician because I play piano mostly by ear. I have been working on learning to read music though. Both keyboard and Bass. Bass music is much easier to read since there's only one clef and I'm improving much quicker with it than I am with regular notation.

One thing that might further help yur fretting hand is how you wear your bass. If your not currently wearing it so that it points skyward (doesnt need to be fully straight up and down, but more skyward then horrizontal for sure). Then try lengthnening your strap a notch so it rides little lower and little more upward pointing. This can make for easier and more natural for the player, fretting. I find a 45 degree or little more upward best for most peoples body mechanics. Cause of how it repositions hand/wrist/finger angles for fretting. Compared to those who wear their bass or guitar high and pointing more horizontal. One of the most dextrous guitar players was John Mclaughlin with Mahavisnhu Orch slinging his doublenecks. You can notice he swings the doubkenecks skyward when getting intense with his playing. Its not posturing, its better hand mechanics for that sort of play.

Thanks I was looking at posts regarding how to hold your bass. I notice it's much easier to play when I'm standing up and kind of awkward when I'm sitting down. I guess that's cause my wrist is in an unnatural position when I'm sitting with the bass more horizontal. Whenever I'm standing I hold the bass more vertical as you mentioned and everything is easier. Unfortunately I injured my shoulder last summer and I'm not able to play standing for very long without having really bad pain in my left shoulder. I'll have to figure out how I can position the bass better while sitting. If I can figure that out I believe I'll see more improvements.

Normally I dont suggest products like fret ease. But nitro necks and your problem make it worth trying. As afr as pinky goes. Try not useing it much if at all. One can do 2 and 3 string playing without just fine with small adjusments. You also dont have to use an exact part of your finger for the fretting and held at an exact angle. Its better to be more flexible and not so much getting in ones own way as it where. Lol. And yeah be careful bout that possible grinding finger forward on string. Glides are lightlty done guitar trick style rather then rough and hard. But for held notes not at all. Less preassure also makes for better sustain in note fades.

I meant to get to the music store today, but I forgot. I'll probably go next Tuesday. Hopefully someone there will be able to fix the issues I've been having with my bass. I'm also going to make sure that I really pay attention to the amount of pressure I put on the strings when I'm fretting. Thanks again for all your help.