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Year long string "crisis"

CTC564

CTC564

Supporting Member
Mar 7, 2011
2,431
503
Toms River,NJ
#1
For the past year, I've been flip-flopping back and forth between flats and rounds...nickel and steel...and I just can't justify blowing anymore cash on this "shot in the dark" mentality of mine!!!

I've used D'Addario Chrome flats...DR Flats...Dunlop Nickel Rounds...Sadowsky Blue Label Nickel Rounds...DR Lo Beams...DR Hi Beams and GHS Pressurewound

Can anyone give me any suggestions?

So far I do like the Pressurewound strings on my "new to me" SR5 but I'm looking for something that's reasonably high tension and not too clanky bright for my Lakland 55-94

Thanks...
 
#2
I've got a set of Warwick blue label steel rounds they were giving out as a promotion, and I'm really surprised with how nice they are. I don't know what they've done to them but they're the softest steel strings I've ever played, they feel like nice smooth nickel's but retain the appropriate trebly ring. That brightness might not be your bag of chips, but there's always a tone knob.
 
#3
Put the Dunlop nickel strings on your Stingray 5, set the highs and mids flat, then boost the low end just a little. I used to think EB slinkies were the best for a Ray. I don't anymore. It's just my opinion, of course. I can't speak on what would work best for the Lakland. I would try the Dunlops again. I'm a big fan of the feel and the sound of those strings.
 
#4
Have you tried GHS Boomers? I too have been experimenting with strings for my Jazz 5'er and after trying this, that and the other thing I keep going back to the Boomers. I like them because for me, the tension isn't loose but at the same time I wouldn't call them stiff either. They also have a real nice feel to them, almost like they're coated to some degree but they're not. Tonally, I find them not too bright but not too dark either. They're also reasonably priced.

I know a lot of people don't like them and that's fine. But they seem to work pretty good for a lot of folks out there!
 
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#5
I am also in the same predicament and have been for a while. I have not been able to decide between Rotosound stainless steels, nickel, and I am now actually going to try some of their flatwounds. Of course I haven't been able to play Rotosound much due to their short life span and with someone like me who likes strings brand new out of the box, I am forced to use Elixirs because they can last forever with that brand new feel I like (IMHO of course) and use Rotosounds on performances and occasional rehearsals.
 
#6
I don't know. Looks to me like you've gotten a lot of suggestions. You've tried all of the most highly recommended strings that have been talked about here.

If you liked the Pressure Wounds then why not just put them on you Lakland too? You finally found one you like so use it.
 
#8
Fender Flats 9050CL "balanced" set. The middle gauges are a tad lighter, 45-60-80-105, so they have just a tad less tension overall, more like a typical round set. They growl instead of ping or thump. They are absolutely consistent string-to-string and up the neck. They switched me from a roundwound guy of 37+ years playing bass, after dealing with twangy roundwound G strings and E strings that die after the first gig. The price is right. IMO, the best "all-round" string out there after playing everything made looking for "the" string over the years.
 
#9
Have been in the same boat for the past year. Am resigned to the fact that I'll need to change strings according to the gig I'm playing and/or my mood. :)

Going mainly to RotoSound Jazz 77's on my P-bass has been a good compromise between a bright roundwound sound and flatwound thump, but I keep sets of D'Addario Nylon Tapewounds, D'Addario XL Nickels heavy gauge rounds, and GHS Boomers rounds around when looking for a different sound.

On my Jazz bass it's between a couple of different types--D'Addario XL Nickel light gauge rounds when slapping, GHS Boomers medium gauge rounds for finger-style only playing, and Chromes light gauge flats when looking for a little darker tone and more thump.
 
#10
Love the one you're with...

Seriously, though, go play with your friends / bands / gigs and get in the groove. After half an hour of good mojo, I'll bet you won't be thinking about strings any more.

No, though, really, seriously, those new Fender flats really are the BUSINESS! Got a set on my p and they're great for everything - you can even get a little slap out of them. I haven't even thought about strings since I put a set on this bass. Everyone who picks it up comments on them.
 
#11
Had Chromes on one bass. They were my first flats and they were OK but a little stiff for me. So after more research I found that the TIs had the lowest tensions of the flats and retained some mid clarity as they aged. They were so expensive that I was afraid to try them. I eventually took a shot and am very happy with them so far. I've only had them for about a month so I don't know the long term decision but right now I'm very happy.

I used to be a roundwound guy who changed his strings twice a week (denatured alcohol). it's so much less hassles to keep a set on all the time that doesn't lose it's tone.
 
#13
I was in the exact same boat. I've finally settled on D'addario XL220's. They sound great, last a long time, and you can get twin packs cheap. Most importantly; they feel great, and I can get whatever sound I need from them. My search is finally over :hyper:
 
#14
right there with you . . . probably going back to elixers on my Jazz, because i know they will sound normal for slap/funk . . . will start with labella steels on the p when it's ready
 

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