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What strings sound the brightest in your opinion?
- Thread starter Bensboy
- Start date
Rotosounds die really fast for a lot of people. If you want a brightness that lasts for more than a few weeks, you should look into coated strings.
Go for it! Rotosound Stainless Steels are the zingiest. Be prepared to buy strings every week, but if zing is your thing, Rotos are your bass meat. $1040 per year in strings is your bass meat tenderizer. Sprinkle liberally.
I love DiAddario Pro Steel strings.
They have that rotosound growl, but last much longer than the Rotos do, (Rotos die quickly and leave a thud) plus they are cheaper!
I have always been very hesitant to endorse any product, and have turned some down in my past. But I think this is one product I would actually consider endorsing, as I feel that strongly about them. Just a very good string set.
They have that rotosound growl, but last much longer than the Rotos do, (Rotos die quickly and leave a thud) plus they are cheaper!
I have always been very hesitant to endorse any product, and have turned some down in my past. But I think this is one product I would actually consider endorsing, as I feel that strongly about them. Just a very good string set.
For a sound similar to Rotos, try the Marcus Miller Dunlop Super Brights.
Daddario exl165’s, which are great, but not what I am looking for in this instance
Then try the D'A ProSteels, as suggested above by @JGbassman. Nickel vs. Stainless Steel.
Gotcha, since both you guys recommend it, I’ll head down to guitar center today and pick up a set and I’ll tell you how it sounds.
When I use Rotosound steels, I keep the same set on for 3-6 months, because I think they sound great _after_ losing the zing.
Ahhh, but to keep that sizzelicous zing you need to pop open a fresh pack every day with your morning coffee. I think Rotosound has a handy 365 pack.When I use Rotosound steels, I keep the same set on for 3-6 months, because I think they sound great _after_ losing the zing.
When I use Rotosound steels, I keep the same set on for 3-6 months, because I think they sound great _after_ losing the zing.
Might as well get pure nickel strings, they sound like that fresh out of the package and feel much nicer!
I've been using DR lo riders for a while. Their "broken in" sound is pretty bright and clear, I think they're perfect for a modern active jazz kind of sound. They also make "high beams" which are too twangy for me but might be just the ticket for you.
I don't recall ever hearing a bass brighter than my first Ibanez BTB bass strung up with a fresh set of Elixir strings.
D’Addario Pro Steels and DR Stainless Low Riders are my 2 choices.
Rotos are old school bright and hold up today. There are so many companies making stainless rounds that you may have to experiment. Ernie Ball, SIT, Dunlop and more to consider. My Elixir stainless rounds came in today. I should have them up and running this weekend.
I’ve used them on my four and five string basses, and they have a balanced tension set I use on one bass, but I think that set is nickel.
I used Roto 66’s for years, and just loved that sound. Once I started getting dead E strings straight out of the package a few times, I hesitantly started looking for a replacement set.
The SS Pro Steels seem to combine the best traits the Rotos has, but were refined as well. The string flexibility is the same, but a touch smoother feeling than the Rotos. That brilliant zing it there, but they also have a nice gutty growl when you dig in the Rotos don’t have.
The best attribute is how they age. The Rotos are awesome, but quickly die, leaving them dull and thuddy, and the E will die a lot faster than the others.
The Pro Steels will lose that shimmer, but age much slower. There is a second life where the top end zing comes off, but they get a really nice upper mid clarity and growl that I’ve only found with these strings. The bottom end does not get muddy, and the strings age evenly. For that reason, I can get a lot more out of the strings before I replace them. At least three times the lifespan of the Rotos were.
And they are cheaper.
I used them when I toured professionally, and loved them. A nice perk being Guitar Center carries them, which makes it easy to grab a few spare sets to keep in your kit when touring. It might seem minor to someone that plays locally, but it’s a huge relief knowing you can find what you need nationally.
Id share and issues, but there aren’t any. In my case, SS RW strings won’t eat up your frets. I’ve got a Spector I played over 700 shows with using the Pro Steels, and where it could stand a light fret dressing and polish, it’s nothing major. I also have an older Frnder P bass I’ve used SS rounds on most of its life of over 30 years. While is could used a fret dressing job, it still plays great.
Give them a shot, you might just love them.
I just recently discovered EB cobalt flats, which are now my go to flat wound string as well, so never stop trying gear out.
I hope you find what you are looking for.
