- Jun 6, 2012
- 4,837
- 6,859
- Disclosures
- I don't wait 30 minutes after eating, to go swimming.
Dunlop stainless steel Super Brights. I used to use Pro-steels but the Dunlops seem to last longer.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
I never thought that flats would ever be the right choice for my style of playing until I tried Ernie Ball slinky cobalt flats. Such crisp mids. I'll probably never go back.
Interesting. I hadn't seen this thread. Thanks for the heads up. In the last few months while I was refitting my basses I did notice several differences in silk color as well as a pack with no silks and one of the packs I got was the old style box as opposed to the newer envelope style. Aside from cosmetic differences I haven't noticed a difference in tone from the strings. I have them on 5 basses currently. 2 Jazz, 1 P, and 2 active preamp Ibanez 5s. They sound good on all. I will certainly be paying close attention moving forward.
I have " go to" brands...GHS and DR. I switch back and forth between various strings from those two brands, and try new ones when they're introduced.
Not to hijack the thread, but do y'all remember when every pack of strings came with a sticker or two?
D’Addario XL for decades now. They get it done, don’t cost a mint, and sound and feel consistently the same from pack to pack. No manufacturing errors or issues for me, either.
For some dumb reason, I settled on Jim Dunlop flats in the .045 gauge, but I like Chromes too.
For some dumb reason, I settled on Jim Dunlop flats in the .045 gauge, but I like Chromes too.
Nickel plated Elixirs.
I’ve used them all, these last the longest and sound the best.
Part of my tone!
I’ve used them all, these last the longest and sound the best.
Part of my tone!
I was pleasantly suprised by DR Black Beauties:
Doesn't feel or sound like any other coated strings I've used.
The coating is definitely there, you can feel it, but just barely. And they sound great to my ears. A little pricey, but if you want strings that last and don't have the drawbacks of other coated strings, they are worth a try.
And they look damn cool since the coating is entirely black for the full length of the string.
Doesn't feel or sound like any other coated strings I've used.
The coating is definitely there, you can feel it, but just barely. And they sound great to my ears. A little pricey, but if you want strings that last and don't have the drawbacks of other coated strings, they are worth a try.
And they look damn cool since the coating is entirely black for the full length of the string.
Used to be DR Sunbeams, but about 5-8 years ago I gave DAddario XLs (45-100) a whirl, and they bring out certain midrange grunge that I really like on my bass, and also have the right amount of softness to the touch.
Depends on the bass. 64 Jazz gets Roto flats for the JPJ sound, 50’s P gets Chromes for clicky pick sound, 60’s P gets La Bella, 51 P has Prosteels, GL Jazz has Roto Swing bass, 75 jazz has Daddario Nickels. I have a frettless Jazz with chromes but not happy with them on there, want a brighter flat for that bass. PJ with Thomastik, a 70’s P with Prosteels but want something brighter for Entwistle sound and Rotos lose brightness too quick, another P with GHS Boomers
Rotosound RS66LD rounds.
Rotosound RS77LD flats.
Ken Smith Compressors.
EB Super Slinkys on the SG.
Rotosound RS77LD flats.
Ken Smith Compressors.
EB Super Slinkys on the SG.
La Bella 760Ms are my go-tos: classic heavy flats. I don't care too much what gauges the G and D strings are, but I really don't like playing anything with a low E smaller than .110, and an A string that matches it well for tension. It doesn't feel solid to my right hand for the way I usually play. The Rotosound Steve Harris set is my fallback. It has an advantage in that it can be bought in person in most chain music stores, while I have to mail order the La Bellas (most people in music stores haven't even heard of La Bella). The Harris set is plenty fat with it's .110 E string, and they sound great, especially on my short-neck bass (a Musicmaster). I wish they had the Harris .110 set in short scale, so I wouldn't have to wind the "meat" of the low strings around my tuner posts.
