Your go to strings

[Jscriv]

I'm sure this topic has been discussed a million times over but here goes one more. I've been a loyal Ernie ball super slinky player for the last 16 years. And for some reason I'm finding myself very gun shy on decided on trying something new. I love the tone I get out of the slinky's, but I wonder if there's something out there just just sounds better. As vague as that is, what's your go to strings and why?

 

[saabfender]

I just put some nickel D’Addarios on my P-Bass. I’d usually use Swing Bass 66 on it but I had those laying around. I’ll never go back to the Rotosounds for it. Just love the D’Addarios on that bass so much. A new favorite.

 

[Gorn]

After a few years of playing TI jazz rounds exclusively I’m incapable of playing anything else. I like everything about them.

 

[soulman969]

Depends on the bass and what I want from it.

I like LaBella or GHS Flats on my PBass. GHS Pressurewounds on my Jazz and currently I have DR Pure Blues on my G&L 5 string although that could change. Overall I prefer somewhat mellower rounds and old school "thuddy" flats.

 

[michael_t]

GHS Pressurewound ML7200 (44-58-80-102). Plus, a 128-B for my 5-string.

Round-ish tone with added punch and crunch, but without the round-ish annoyances (ie zing, twang, squeak and screech).

 

[west al]

The only strings I use on my Ric 4003, and a USA Geddy Lee Jazz, D'Addario ETB92 Nylon Tapewounds.

 

[CryingBass]

I just put some nickel D’Addarios on my P-Bass. I’d usually use Swing Bass 66 on it but I had those laying around. I’ll never go back to the Rotosounds for it. Just love the D’Addarios on that bass so much. A new favorite.

Never say never, especially here.

 

[Linnin]

GHS 'The String Experts'.

 

[tom-g]

If you like your strings, just stay with them. Ernie Ball are great strings!

 

[JGbassman]

I'm a big fan of Diaddario strings, usually pro steels or chromes for flats, but I've got a set of nickel wounds (EL220BT) that I'm really liking for a particular bass. I will also use rotosound '66's and their flatwounds on certain occasions, but DiAddario is definitely my go to string company.

 

[dave64o]

I’ve never gone wrong with nickel Lo Riders for rounds or D’Addario Chromes for flats. They both pretty stiff feeling strings, which I love. They also have a warm tone and clear highs that aren’t harsh. They’ve sounded fantastic on every bass I’ve ever tried them on. And they both last a really long time.

And, if the gun is to my head and I don’t have to consider rounds vs. flats, then the Lo Riders.

 

[jefff100]

Use what you like, not what someone else likes.

I like DR Legends Flats. They sound good and I like the way they feel. Its ironic that they are made here in NJ yet I end up paying shipping costs to have them brought in from out of state.

 

[electrichead]

Played DM Blue Steel for a few years but then changed over to EB Slinky. After 10+ years of that I decided to try out a set of Blue Steel again. Switched all my basses over to the Blue Steel a few months ago. Can't for the life of me figure out why I stopped using them in the first place.

 

[michael_t]

Played DM Blue Steel for a few years but then changed over to EB Slinky. After 10+ years of that I decided to try out a set of Blue Steel again. Switched all my basses over to the Blue Steel a few months ago. Can't for the life of me figure out why I stopped using them in the first place.

Are you saying you don't share the views expressed in this thread regarding the Blue Steels?

Blue steel went to hell.

 

[Folmeister]

Sunbeams. 100s. Nothing else comes close for me

 

[Spent]

I just put some nickel D’Addarios on my P-Bass. I’d usually use Swing Bass 66 on it but I had those laying around. I’ll never go back to the Rotosounds for it. Just love the D’Addarios on that bass so much. A new favorite.

Been using them for years. Every once in a while I try something else, but I always come back to them. They seem to last forever, which is a big plus.

 

[gitfiddl]

My "go to" strings of late are La Bella RX Stainless rounds. They last, sound good, and feel better to my fingers than most other stainless rounds. That said, my all-time favorite bass strings were the old D'Addario XL Reds back in the late 80/early 90's. The outer windings were copper or copper-coated. They were laser-bright for the first couple weeks and then mellowed nicely. The copper would develop a patina that would turn your fingers and frets green like cheap jewelry, but as they aged, the strings got a very flat-wound dark woody tone.

 

[Aqualung60]

D'Addario XL170's.

 

[tradernick]

Rotosound RS66LD forever. My tech loves me because I have to get my frets dressed so often, but I find it hard to switch after all these years. I change them less often than I used to. They've got the grind I need.

 

[JSandbloom]

Dean Markley NPS