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Which strings?

M

Misty Mountain

Apr 17, 2012
228
3
Jackson Hole
#1
Background: I play a Cirrus BXP 4 in a blues band, and I am looking for that low "round" sound without all the metallic overtones. I need the bass to sit low in the mix as my guitarist spends a lot of time playing slide so the screechy mids need to be gone. I usually run with the highs on the bass cut way down, and the mids rolled off some as well, but I still get some overtones that don't work in this context. If I was playing in a Rush or Yes cover band, I'd be right there with my sound now...
So, flatwounds? I haven't played any flats since the 90's, and I never much liked the feel of them (used to play more guitar than bass), but if they will help get the sound I'm after, I'll deal with it. I'd like to keep the cost of the strings down in case I decide that I can't deal with them, or switch genres. Recommendations?
Thanks!
 
#4
I suggest flats. You'll get used to the feel, and they will give you exactly what you say you want.

I had a Cirrus, and really liked flats on it. I suggest Chromes (get the Super Long set), GHS or La Bella flats. That's a 35" scale bass, I believe, and I have had better luck with light gauges on 35" scale basses.
 
#5
old strings. ive had the same set of ernie balls on my cort for 18 months now, they keep on getting better :P
make sure you buy good ones in the first place tho. splash out on a really good set, and theyll "age" better (and last longer!)
 
#6
The Cirrus BXP is a 34" scale. My strings are already old, but they are still pretty bright, I don't dirty them up much - I change guitar strings about every year or two and they still sound great when I take them off - so I don't really want to wait years to have them go dead. The strings that are on it were there when I bought it, no idea how old they are although I know they weren't new then, and I've been playing it just about every day since December and they haven't gone even a little dead. Chromes it is, as that is what I was leaning towards after doing some TB reading, although I've been a huge EB fan (guitar strings) for a long time, anyone like their Flats?
 

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