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Your Favorite Round Wound Strings for Jazz Bass ?

#21
D'Addario XL 220's used to be my go to strings for my jazz and I still believe they're a good middle of the road nickel string. But having said that I tried a set of GHS Boomers recently and while they sounded ok on the p bass, they sounded really good on the jazz. So much so that I think my next set will either be a set of roundcore Boomers or nickel Super Brights that everybody, well almost everybody, seems to really like.
 
#22
hsp-sandiego said:
interesting - are pressure wound strings best for fingerstyle only? or good for modern slap tone as well? I play funk, disco, smooth jazz / Variety Dance Band.
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I'm not a slapper, but if I were one, I would probably take the Sunbeams over the Pressurewounds. The SB would be better-suited for slapping (I would imagine) due to their full, warm bottom and crisp yet not too zingy top end as well as the round-core suppleness.

The only reason I prefer the PW for my personal playing style (95% finger-style) is the overall tension (stiffer than the SB) feels closer to the flats I'm used to playing (Fender 9050L).
 
#23
brendanbassix said:
anyone like D'addario XL170s? I've had them on my jazz awhile and they seem to go dead fairly quickly plus they don't get alot of love around here any reason for this?
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I've used them exclusively since 1979, love em! Only this past year when I bought more basses have I tried other strings.

Elixir,EB Power Slinkys etc. are good too,but the Xls always go back on eventually.
 
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#26
michael_t said:
DR Sunbeams (45-65-85-105) USED TO BE my favorite rounds on my J...until I swore off all rounds completely.

I'm really digging the GHS Pressurewound (44-58-80-102) I've been trying out for the last month. I liked the Sunbeams because they were just about the smoothest-feeling rounds I'd ever tried, but I actually like the overall tension on the Pressurewound better for their slightly stiffer feel, not to mention the fact they're even smoother than the Sunbeams.
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Alternately, I prefer the slightly more flexible feel of Sunbeams, and opine that they feel smoother than Pressurewounds. :-)

Both good strings to be sure, and I like them both on a Jazz bass.

For me, runners up also include GHS Super Steels, which have a pleasantly harsher tone good for cutting through a bit more, and DR Fat Beams, which are fairly mid-scooped compared to Sunbeams, but for some styles of music I could find that preferable.
 
#27
Another vote here for Sunbeams - totally balanced in all respects - tone, feel, price, lifetime. Absolute fav. Don't like pressurewounds - they seem sticky to me.

The D-A 160 and 170 XLs are great value, but a bit zingly, and don't last as long as the Sunbeams.
 
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#29
Matthew_84 said:
Right now, I'm loving DR Stainless Steel Lo Riders. They're high tension, which I like a lot, and they're bright in the upper mids, very growly, yet still retain a good fundamental. Also, their windings are somewhat compressed to give them a smooth feel (like DR does with all of their strings).
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I also love stainless steel Lo-Riders! One of the best strings on the market for modern rock. They kick ass...but in a refined, polished sort of way. :bassist:

MM
 
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#30
BazzTard said:
I've used them exclusively since 1979, love em! Only this past year when I bought more basses have I tried other strings.

Elixir,EB Power Slinkys etc. are good too,but the Xls always go back on eventually.
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ok cool i do like them on my bass but i do think they tend to die quickly but sound good before hand plus they are the cheapest decent strings around but you never hear "NBD....can't wait to put some XL170s on it!"
 
#33
I do not suscribe to the idea that all Jazz Basses are born equal and sound similar. A set may be great in one and not work in another bass. I tried many different brands and styles in the various Jazz Basses I have owned. I'd say definitely Stainless in a dark sounding alder/rosewood bass. My fav being DR Fat Beams or Hi Beams or the new Dunlop Superbright SS. IMO the worst strings for a dark sounding bass are D'Addario XL's.
On a brighter sounding bass such as ash/maple I use my favorite Nickel strings, EB Slinkies or Dunlop Superbright Nickel but I switch to the SS forementioned if I want to really cut through or slap.
In general though, I favor stainless strings for a passive bass.
 
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#37
brendanbassix said:
anyone like D'addario XL170s? I've had them on my jazz awhile and they seem to go dead fairly quickly plus they don't get alot of love around here any reason for this?
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I recently started using XL165s on my Precision. They still seem to be pretty snappy after 3 weeks.

For my Jazz basses, I use Roto RS66s on one, and the other has Fender 7250s right now, though that's a bit of a place holder for the moment. Maybe I'll put XL165s on the next time I buy strings. Still mulling that over.
 
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