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Post subject: String Talk
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:13 pm
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I'm new to the bass arena and wanted to see if I could get a discussion going about the strings everyone here prefers to play. What brand do you use? Size? Do you prefer flats or roundwound? It will be interesting to see what people are using for different musical styles.
Thanks!

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Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 12:53 am
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D'Addario Pro-Steels (45-65-80-100), which are stainless steel roundwounds, very bright in colour and comparable (if not brighter still) to Rotosound Swing Bass Steel Roundwounds.

Tend to be better value than Rotosound and invariably well made - never had a duff string and they last a good length of time.

Two words of warning: Pro-Steels are rough on the skin until you are used to them (after which, they are dead easy to play). Secondly, for my tastes, they are TOO bright initially and need to played for at least two hours to bed down. In other words, don't put them on just before that gig-of-a-lifetime-opportunity!

PLUS you may get advice about roundwound strings wearing down your frets and fingerboard over time. My take on this: if this happens it means you have played your bass almost constantly, over a long period of time. Which means you are either a star or someone in a really good gigging / recording situation. So take the fretwear as the price paid!

I play in a guitar-bass-drums trio so there is a lot of space for the bass and the bright sound of stainless steel roundwounds helps in this context. Not too sure these strings work so well in blues / R&B / Motown style of music, where a deader sound may be more suited.


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Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:54 am
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Right now im using the cheap (£11) Rotosound 45-105 set which comes in a pink box, i really love them, they are only cheap because they dont have cloth at the ends, but they are incredibly good, i would like to try out flatwounds eventually, but bass strings are getting VERY expensive lately!

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Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2009 8:00 pm
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I have been using DR Sunbeams in Medium Light for the last 4 years. They have a very unique warm/bright sound that sounds great on a Fender Jazz. They were originally designed for fretless bass palyers, but they sound awsome on a fretted bass.

Having said all of that, experimentation is your best friend. Strings good for me or anyone else might suck for you.

Also, I agree with nrlincoln, fret wear from round wounds are just the price you pay for the sound you might be looking for from round wounds. But fear not, most fret wear can be dressed out several times before a re-fret is necessary.

Good luck, and don't be afraid to experiment.


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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 9:33 pm
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I mostly play Precisions, an active Ibanez SRX700 and one P/J Frankenbass. I use the following strings on the following instruments.

1954 Precision highly modified electronics with medium jumbo frets and 70's P-bass bridge: Thomastik-Infeld EB344 POWERBASS Rounds (My favorite strings on my favorite bass. This gets played 95% of the time at gigs and the only bass I've ever actually named.)

1995 Ibanez TRB70 highly modified: Thomastik-Infeld EB344 POWERBASS rounds. (This bass has Bill Lawrence WILDE P/J pickups with a PIO Vitamin Q 0.047 cap. Amazing vintage sound. These EB344's sound like a velvet hammer on this thing and while I've just completed the overhaul it is now my number 2.)

1951 Precision Reissue: Lindy Fralin Split Coil, Fender Deluxe Bridge: GHS 3025 flats. (Love these flats, perfect tension...not too high and not too floppy with real thump like the ultra high tension Labella 760 flats. This is #3 and used in place of #1 when the single coil on #1 is too noisy for the environment.)

2006 Fender Precision stock: Infeld IN344's. (I do NOT recommend these strings as they are not even close to the EB344 PowerBass, I'm taking them off soon and replacing with EB344's. #4 used mostly to look good.)

2005 Ibanez SRX700 stock: Thomastik-Infeld JF344 Jazz Flats. (Jazz Flats are the favorite sting of thousands of pro bassists. I think they sound good but the tension is so low as to be too floppy if you switch between instruments a lot during gigs and they don't take well to over playing. Great sound when played correctly. #5 used for recording and sometimes I take it as a #3 backup. I really like this bass but again the Jazz Flats low tension can be a problem if you are heavy handed.)


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:43 am
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anybode here ever used D'addario Flatwounds (45-100)???? i might buy some, but i want to know what ppl think :D

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Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 3:13 pm
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I've been looking to change my strings soon so thanks to those who have posted here. I was thinking about using the standard Fender roundwound strings. Does anyone have any feedback on those?

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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 3:24 pm
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if those are the ones that come on the standard basses, from the shop, then i think they are brilliant, the set lasted me for ages, and they had a very good sound :P

i would recommend them :D

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Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 3:40 pm
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Well about that time to get some new strings. I have been looking at two types.

1. Some Rotosound type
2. D'Addario EXL160TP or EXL170TP

I plan on getting these strings after I get a BA II bridge(I have finally decided). Any thoughts on these strings woulld be great.

To contribute- I have some Dean Markley blue steel strings. They are pretty bright I will say. Only thing is I'm pretty sure I put them on wrong :roll: haha. They also tear up my fingers but hey, I want tougher fingers.


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Post subject:
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:18 pm
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i would probably say the rotosounds, but i havent really used D'addario, also depends on what type of sound ur looking for :wink:

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Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 6:08 pm
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Very true. I'm looking for kinda a rockish jazz sound...If you've ever heard of a band called Chase or Bill Chase. I'm looking for that kinda bass sound


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2009 6:38 pm
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sulley107 wrote:
I've been looking to change my strings soon so thanks to those who have posted here. I was thinking about using the standard Fender roundwound strings. Does anyone have any feedback on those?


Sure, I play them all the time at Guitar Center. They are on every new Fender bass. Ok strings.


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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2009 2:06 pm
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I am hearing good things about the Dean Markley SR2000's. Is there anyone who can give me some feed back?I am using Roto's at this time.I am playing a 62 Jazz ReIssue with Custom Shop PUP"S.


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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 8:51 am
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The first time I bought the bass (2moths ago) I changed the original strings to rotosound pressurewound 40-100. After a week I changed to swing bass 66 40-100. then 2days ago i put back the original fender strings, w/c i guess was a 45-100 ML. I guess, there s problem on my fingers w/ regards to string's tension. I am now confortable w/ the tension of the original fender strings. Might try rotosound swingbass w/ 45-100 guage someday. =)


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Post subject: Strings
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 4:37 am
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I use Rotosound Swing Bass 45-105 and Ernie Balls... same gauge also!! great strings... cant complain!!


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