Your Go-To Strings Aren't Doing It....Now What?

[DrBnz]

When in doubt, install TI strings..... They have saved many a bass from the auction block in my house.

 

[Nev375]

I typically have a list of things "on my radar" that I'm curious about that I've never tried. The next thing on my list are the Ernie Ball Cobalts.

But I've been happy with my Elixirs for over 15 years now. I doubt if I'll ever know what the Cobalts are like because I don't try to fix what ain't broke.

 

[mikewalker]

I'd go over to that little cabinet that says "In Case Of Emergency: Break Glass" and then hit the 'search TalkBass' button inside...

 

[Jason Sypher]

Because strings are expensive and running through them wastes a lot of energy and time that could be devoted to becoming a better musician I voted for just stick with them and plow through. If it’s a new instrument I would first make sure it is set up by a super pro. After that I’d give myself about a month of practicing with the instrument and then, if you still think the strings are to blame, venture very cautiously into the string game.

 

[BlueRock]

Because strings are expensive and running through them wastes a lot of energy and time that could be devoted to becoming a better musician I voted for just stick with them and plow through. If it’s a new instrument I would first make sure it is set up by a super pro. After that I’d give myself about a month of practicing with the instrument and then, if you still think the strings are to blame, venture very cautiously into the string game.

This ^^^ is the best advice. Get your instrument set up by someone really good and play what you have for at least a month. My money'd be on this solving the problem.
If you do try different strings give them at least 2-4 weeks before you **** can them.

I

In regards to cycling through, I don't have the scratch to buy 10 different pairs of strings and just try them out until I find one I like, so experimenting with strings is a big decision for me.

These days dropping money on strings you're not sure about is a big decision for a lot of people. Unfortunately trying a set of strings is the only way you'll ever know if they work for you. If you decide to experiment try to clearly articulate exactly what's not working about a particular set of strings (as in too bright, too loose, too percussive, too much string noise, wrong color silks to match your headstock etc etc etc). Then people who have tried a lot of different strings could probably help you reduce the experimenting from ten sets to one or two. Someone may have mentioned this already but if you want to try flats they have resale value so look in the classifieds for them used. If you buy new flats don't cut them so they keep more resale value if you decide don't like them.

 

[KevInDaBassment]

This ^^^ is the best advice. Get your instrument set up by someone really good and play what you have for at least a month. My money'd be on this solving the problem.
If you do try different strings give them at least 2-4 weeks before you **** can them.



These days dropping money on strings you're not sure about is a big decision for a lot of people. Unfortunately trying a set of strings is the only way you'll ever know if they work for you. If you decide to experiment try to clearly articulate exactly what's not working about a particular set of strings (as in too bright, too loose, too percussive, too much string noise, wrong color silks to match your headstock etc etc etc). Then people who have tried a lot of different strings could probably help you reduce the experimenting from ten sets to one or two. Someone may have mentioned this already but if you want to try flats they have resale value so look in the classifieds for them used. If you buy new flats don't cut them so they keep more resale value if you decide don't like them.

I don't think you were necessarily saying this, but yeah this was just me posing a (hopefully) amusing premise for everyone to chew on, I'm pretty set between my DR rounds and GHS flats. I was just curious how other folks troubleshoot a tonal issue via strings.

Also the silk color made me LOL...that really grates on some people lol

 

[groovaholic]

I didn't pick an option because I don't have "go-to" strings.
I have different basses because I want them to play and sound differently.

For each bass, I had to figure out what the baseline character of the bass is, then do I want to enhance that, or balance it out?

Lately I've been having the best results by balancing things out - GHS Pressurewounds on my bright, EMG-equipped PJ bass, SIT Power-Wound Stainless on my Dingwall to keep its Bartolinis from getting midrangey, DR Fat Beams on my P-Bass to keep it warm, but clear.

 

[mambo4]

When in doubt, install TI strings.....

Since I my "go to" strings are TIs this has not been an issue for me either, they always seem to "do it".

But partly it is also the fact that I tempered my expectations around tone
giving up "perfect" for "pretty good" and spending time and money on other things

 

[micguy]

A couple of years, ago, I bought half a dozen different flavors of string that I could get in my preferred gauges. I've been trying them out on my various basses, and it seems like I'm boiling down to 2, maybe 3 different kinds of strings that I really need to keep my little herd strung up with a decent amount of sonic diversity. Yes, that kind of experimentation ultimately means you will throw out a string set or two here or there, but in the long run, knowing you've got the right strings on every bass seems worth it.

 

[Topkat13]

Maybe try a different brand?

 

[mdogs]

The idea that one type of strings should work on every bass is not one that I have ascribed to since I’ve been able to own a number of basses at the same time. Unfortunately, it can be expensive to begin with, but after a while when you know the strings you can make some intelligent guesses about what might work best. There is no magic or short cut.

 

[eriky4003]

In 2019, I got a new bass and based on my readings here I suspected that the bass would have an aggressive tone so I toned (see what I did there) down the strings I bought from my go-to's in the hopes that I would nail it right away. Wrong! First, tried the stock strings, which I did not like and were gone maybe 2 weeks after receiving the bass. My hail-mary strings sounded good but were too loosey. Went to my go-to's, rocked my world, but after some time realized they were too loosey. So went to plan b strings which I loved and I'm there! Based on your likes - I say go with DR Fat Beams to give you a lot of what you (hopefully) like with Hi-Beams but with BOOOOOTY!

 

[Dust2Dust]

IF the stock strings don't work then my go-to is Ernie Ball Super Slinkys They've always come through for me.

If ever they didn't do the trick, I would just suck it up.
I spent a [Cuss word] fortune trying to find my strings.
I ain't doing that again

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

IMO while experimenting with different brands isn’t cheap, when I found my ideal set, it was very well worth the cost.

I buy all of my strings from Jason at Fret Nation. His prices are very good, IMO, and over the years he’s suggested a few different brands for me to try. His advice about the tone and feel of every set that he’s suggested has been spot on.

Also, there’s a big thread on this forum about GHS Pressurewounds. I’ve always preferred roundwounds, but as I read about the tonal qualities of PW’s, so I thought I’d give a set of them a try. And low and behold, they ended up being the ideal set for one of my main basses.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

IF the stock strings don't work then my go-to is Ernie Ball Super Slinkys They've always come through for me.

If ever they didn't do the trick, I would just suck it up.
I spent a [Cuss word] fortune trying to find my strings.
I ain't doing that again

For nickel plated roundwounds, I’d say I’m in the same boat, only GHS Bass Boomers are my go-to set.

But over the decades that I’ve been playing, I’ve bought plenty of sets of EB Slinkys and D’Addario XLs, and both brands have served me very well.

 

[Jev1]

Each of my basses has a particular set of strings that I prefer on it. They don't all get the same brand. If I have a gig coming up I'll be particular and string the gigging bass with its preferred set. No gigs coming up, no rules. I'll change em often enough that I'll experiment with brands if it's just for practice or rehearsal.

 

[fakeneckplate'65]

I have played SIT Nickel Power Wounds almost exclusively for 20 years. However, when I tried a set on my 5 string Jazz early this year, I couldn't get the B string to intonate at all...adjustment screw just wasn't long enough. Thought I had a bad string, so bought another set. Same thing. Did some research and ended up with some D'Addario NYXL strings, put them on and bingo; no more intonation problems. I still use the SITs on my Carvin LB-70, because they still work great for me there.

Maan, I love SIT Powerwound Nickel strings they're the only strings I've used for several years. Recently, I've had two separate basses, a Rickenbacker 4003 & Peavey Millennium USA 35" scale length, that have had very dead sounding " E " strings. I replaced the " E " on the Peavey with the same results. This really has be contemplating trying another string brand, maybe D'Addario?

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I was thinking about this just yesterday (due to a new bass arriving today). A lot of people (myself included) usually have a go-to string brand or even type/gauge for their basses. They might even use different brands based on whether they are rounds or flats. For me when it's rounds, I use DR SS Hi-Beams or Lo-Riders, and flats it's GHS Precision Flats.

In regards to cycling through, I don't have the scratch to buy 10 different pairs of strings and just try them out until I find one I like, so experimenting with strings is a big decision for me.

Let's posit that something isn't jiving with your go-to strings on a particular bass. You've tried a new (condition) pair, cleaned them, adjusted pickup height, tweaked your EQ, experimented with different tunings, and tried different amps but things just aren't working...what's the first thing you try when buying different strings?


EDIT: The implied issue is not being satisfied with the tone on a newly-acquired bass or one you haven't used in a certain context (live mix, recording, etc.) and don't find your typical go-to strings work well with that particular bass.

No matter what I try, I always end up pulling them off for elixir nickels. I leave them on for about 8 months. Anything else I put on my basses get ripped off in the time it takes for a new set of elixirs to reach my door. Longest would have to be boomers. They made it 2 weeks once.

 

[JimmyM]

I don’t think that ever happened to me.

 

[JACKSON JS1XM]

Never really had a problem with D'Addario XL170S. Solid products for strings, they feel great sound great & they're durable too.