Why do people consider EB Slinky's bright sounding?

[Dincrest]

Big name artists like Justin Chancellor and Flea often change their strings every show (or in the case of Justin, a couple of times per show) so they're only (and always) getting that "new string zing." Lamb of God's guitar and bass tech Carlos Gunn says he changes the strings on the instruments daily regardless of whether they get played or not: Lamb of God on Tour with ESP

We don't have that luxury. We can't afford to change our strings daily, weekly, or even monthly. After all, bass strings cost 4-6 times more than guitar strings, so those of us in the trenches look for a string that holds a tone we like for a while. That's why many of us like DRs. Steel Lo-Riders and Hi-Beams still sound amazing a year later... for me, at least.

A lot of people love that fresh GHS Boomers "new string zing" tone but hate that it goes away after a few days. On the other hand, plenty of people love that GHS Boomers break in quickly and hold that broken-in tone for several months before going ploppy dead. With Flea's endorsement deal with GHS, they keep him supplied with all the strings he wants, so he can have that fresh Boomers "new string zing" tone every show.

Then, on the other hand, I've heard there are session pros who favor the sound of dead steel rounds.

 

[Swipter]

Slinkys are too bright for me. I have tried a lot. I thought those died fast along with DR strings. I use d'addario EXL170 on my jazz, now. I love the sound and they last a long time for me.

 

[Dyerseve14]

Big name artists like Justin Chancellor and Flea often change their strings every show (or in the case of Justin, a couple of times per show) so they're only (and always) getting that "new string zing." Lamb of God's guitar and bass tech Carlos Gunn says he changes the strings on the instruments daily regardless of whether they get played or not: Lamb of God on Tour with ESP

We don't have that luxury. We can't afford to change our strings daily, weekly, or even monthly. After all, bass strings cost 4-6 times more than guitar strings, so those of us in the trenches look for a string that holds a tone we like for a while. That's why many of us like DRs. Steel Lo-Riders and Hi-Beams still sound amazing a year later... for me, at least.

A lot of people love that fresh GHS Boomers "new string zing" tone but hate that it goes away after a few days. On the other hand, plenty of people love that GHS Boomers break in quickly and hold that broken-in tone for several months before going ploppy dead. With Flea's endorsement deal with GHS, they keep him supplied with all the strings he wants, so he can have that fresh Boomers "new string zing" tone every show.

Then, on the other hand, I've heard there are session pros who favor the sound of dead steel rounds.

Buy Warwick Red Label strings - that way you can afford to buy new strings every week. To me they are lovely and bright and sound great - (IMHO) 90% of the sound of D'addarios at 30% of the cost!

 

[Swerve]

Slinkys are too bright for me. I have tried a lot. I thought those died fast along with DR strings. I use d'addario EXL170 on my jazz, now. I love the sound and they last a long time for me.

Funny, I switched to Slinkys because the I find the XL's much brighter. But I'm also using 110-55 gauge and a P bass, plus there's a ton of other variables that make strings sound different from person to person.

Even watching YouTube string comparison videos where the player uses the same bass and setup you can go to the comment section and find wildly different opinions. It's fascinating really.

 

[Dincrest]

@Dyerseve14

I've heard that Red Label nickels are actually pretty good and punch above their weight class. However, they're not the easiest to get in the US.

I'm someone who changes their strings annually. That's one reason I love DRs. Steel Lo-Riders and Hi-Beams sound damn good a year later to me.

 

[HaphAsSard]

However, they're not the easiest to get in the US.

Either Thomann (I guess it would make sense if you're also getting something substantial from them),
or the Warwick and Framus USA direct distribution outlet:
Warwick Strings

 

[Swipter]

Funny, I switched to Slinkys because the I find the XL's much brighter. But I'm also using 110-55 gauge and a P bass, plus there's a ton of other variables that make strings sound different from person to person.

Even watching YouTube string comparison videos where the player uses the same bass and setup you can go to the comment section and find wildly different opinions. It's fascinating really.

I have the rounds on squier p I'm trying to sell. I like rounds on a P. I have Labella on my other P. 110-55 is quite a string set.

 

[GIBrat51]

To my ears they are the darkest sounding nickel wound strings I know of (besides maybe GHS), and that is what I like about them when I want that broken in rounds sound quickly.

I just installed a brand new set of Power Slinky's 110-55's on my Fender P and even with the tone knob dimed they were still darker than a set of XL's that are several months old with the tone knob nearly rolled off. D'Addario, Fender, DR, Roto, Dunlop, are all much brighter out of the box than Slinky's.

I saw that recent Rig Rundown interview with Justin Chancellor of Tool and he only plays Slinky's. He mentions their bright tone and how he uses two packs per show. I'm thinking to myself if he used just about any other NPS he'd get a brighter sound for an entire show, maybe several.

If you're talking about EB Cobalt Rounds? Sorry; don't use rounds at all - except for a short scale set of TI Jazz Rounds on a Gretsch Broadkaster. That thing sounded like pure with any other strings I've ever put on it - in 12 years of putting strings on it. All the 26 other basses in my herd wear flats - or tapes... So, if you say they aren't bright? I'll take your word for it...
EB Slinky Cobalt Flats, OTOH, pretty much are the brightest sounding of the bunch - not counting brand new D'Addario Chromes. When those break in, though, they're still kinda bright - for flats; but not as bright as the Slinky Cobalts. Personally, I don't care for bright flats - not much brighter than Fender 9050Ls - or TI Jazz Flats, anyway. I had a very well broken in set of the Chromes on a G&L ASAT Bass for a while. Not... bad, but I replaced them with other flats when they died. Most of the stuff I play, needs flats that sound like flats - not flats that're pretending to be rounds...

 

[Pier_]

That's why many of us like DRs. Steel Lo-Riders and Hi-Beams still sound amazing a year later... for me, at least.

I can say exactly the opposite I've used DR for a while, and I had to change them after every gig, because they went dull and dead in two hours, and I'm not a fan of "fresh strings", but my chemistry kills the DR in a 2-hour show, and the next day they sound just dead.

ironically, the strings that lasts more to me are Ernie Ball, Rotosound and GHS, which are often considered not lasting.

talking about "brightness", we were discussing this argument in another thread:

"brightness" is a concept that changes for everyone, because we consider "bright" different areas of the spectrum.
FE: to me a string is "bright" when the component between 500 and 1000hz is louder, so that they sound clearer and cut through.
others consider "bright" the frequencies up to 5000hz and more, the "click" frequencies.

plus there's a lot in between, because there's the LACK of other frequencies that makes the brightness.

also, the BASS makes the difference, considering it's strengths and weaknesses that are going to match with the strings.

so there's no actual rule to string's longevity and brightness.

 

[Dincrest]

Body chemistry is a big thing. A lot of people on TB love Dunlop SuperBrights, but when I tried a set of SB steels, they went plop on me in less than a month. And I normally favor steels because they last a LOT longer for me. My body chemistry dulls out nickels.

That being said, my "gotta try 'em all/ string pokemon" GAS is still seeking out potential nickel strings that last as long for me as steels, so I'll be trying those Dunlop "red box" hybrid nickels on one of my basses for its annual setup later this year.