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Post subject: What is your favorite kind of string to play?
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 1:17 pm
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So I'm looking for some input on a couple of things. I play a 2010 MIM Jazz Deluxe V, have played bass about 10 years now. I've played elixr's, blue steels, DR stainless roundwound, DR black beauties, Fender nickel plated steel strings... My favorite so far have been the Fender Nickel plated steels, but I wish they would just stay brighter longer. I like how long the elixr's lasted, but missed the sound of clean metal on the frets. What strings will get me the best bang for my buck and feel good to play (Smooth feel, not like trying to play rubber bands)?

Also, what is the best way to increase string tension besides moving up in gage?

Thanks for your help!


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Post subject: Re: What is your favorite kind of string to play?
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 4:30 pm
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Bassasin31 wrote:
So I'm looking for some input on a couple of things. I play a 2010 MIM Jazz Deluxe V, have played bass about 10 years now. I've played elixr's, blue steels, DR stainless roundwound, DR black beauties, Fender nickel plated steel strings... My favorite so far have been the Fender Nickel plated steels, but I wish they would just stay brighter longer. I like how long the elixr's lasted, but missed the sound of clean metal on the frets. What strings will get me the best bang for my buck and feel good to play (Smooth feel, not like trying to play rubber bands)?

Also, what is the best way to increase string tension besides moving up in gage?

Thanks for your help!


I have been playing for 34 years and have tried many different brands, gauges and as well as different metals.

I tried Nickel strings and had the same issue that you described. They tended to lose their brightness. I now use stainless strings. I had to tweak my amp a little in order to get the sound I want but they stay brighter longer.

I like DR Marcus Miller Fat Beams but the heaviest gauge they make is 45 - 105. I now use Curt Mangan Stainless Steel Wound Medium Plus. The gauge is 55 - 110. They last as long as any string I have used and because the gauge is a little heavier, I get a nice fat sound that still has a lot of punch and cuts through the mix. They are also less expensive than DR. I have a deal with them and buy direct for about 50% off retail. I just purchased 4 sets for $48 including shipping. Check them out.


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Post subject: Re: What is your favorite kind of string to play?
Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 9:11 pm
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The "E" string. That's my favorite kind. :mrgreen:


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Post subject: Re: What is your favorite kind of string to play?
Posted: Wed Jun 27, 2012 12:45 am
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String tension is impacted more heavily by CORE SHAPE than anything. Round core strings are usually lower tension than hex core. So if you want higher tension, go with a hex shaped core. However the hex core material also matters as some alloys are inherently more flexible so they will have a lower tension than others.

I personally prefer a more medium tension.


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Post subject: Re: What is your favorite kind of string to play?
Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 8:30 pm
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I've been plying bass for 40 years, and I've used Rotosound 66 swingbass for about 30. Just a real nice string to play.


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Post subject: Re: What is your favorite kind of string to play?
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 3:27 am
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Because of necessity, I use nothing but GHS M3050 45-105 flatwounds. If you can actually test a set at your local shop, it may be what you are looking for. All 5 of my basses have these and they seem to last forever. I have once set from 1986 on a J-Bass and they are working as good as new. Flats will give you a mellower sound than rounds, so if you need 'bright' response for a playlist, flats are not for you. But, flats will get rid of those little fingering mistakes that always seem to be present during a set because they do not make the squeeking noise as fingers are moved across the string like rounds do.

Good luck on your search for "the perfect string set".


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Post subject: Re: What is your favorite kind of string to play?
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 7:59 am
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The tip on hex core is a good one. Personally, I like DR Sunbeams on my fretted Jazz, medium tension nickel. They're a little bright for my taste when new but I've had the same set now for over six months and they're nice and warm but still clear sounding at this point. On my fretless I'm currently using GHS Pressurewounds, which are somewhere between rounds and flats, they're about the same medium tension as the Sunbeams. I found TI flats to have too little tension, Chromes to have too much, though Chromes break in pretty nicely and they're what I use on my '51 P bass.


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Post subject: Re: What is your favorite kind of string to play?
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2012 9:40 pm
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R O T O S O U N D Case closed.


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Post subject: Re: What is your favorite kind of string to play?
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2012 12:38 pm
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HOLEY CARP! So much to know! Am I correct in my guess that higher tension = brighter sounds?

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Post subject: Re: What is your favorite kind of string to play?
Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 11:59 am
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Update: So I have made a couple changes since this last post. I've added a Leo Quan Badass V and I'm running DR stainless steel, hex core. I'm very happy with the tone I'm getting out of my bass now. I couldn't get over how much more mass there is on the Badass vs. the stock bridge!

http://imgur.com/7wamM


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Post subject: Re: What is your favorite kind of string to play?
Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 6:37 pm
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zod wrote:
I prefer g-strings, or no panties at all.



:lol:

Anyway OP, you ask 20 bassist on fave strings you'll get 20 different answers. Some might have the same brand and series, the reason would be different. I too like you like stainless steel strings. I've done DR Black Beauties, but they chipped so quick, not worth the money IMO. I only used DR's now, I did awhile back, but stopped when I found the Fender Stainless Steel strings were cheaper - then it went cheap and no quality control it seem, so I went back to DR. I used DR Highbeams medium .45-.105. Good luck finding your perfect set.

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Post subject: Re: What is your favorite kind of string to play?
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:57 pm
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I didn't give a specific string set as my favorite as I have more than one favorite. It depends on the instrument and what sound I want at the time. Some of the strings I currently use have been mentioned by others in this thread, but some haven't.

Forrest Gump wore a lot of shoes, and I've used a lot of strings. What I've learned is:
1. No one string set is right for everyone, for every instrument or for every musical genre. What is "THE BEST SET ON EARTH" to one player is very wrong for another. If I named my very favorite set for a passive 2nd generation Precision and you decide to buy it based on my personal choice you might hate it on yours. Finding the right string for you and for any one individual instrument is like the old saying, "You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find a prince."
2. Even more confounding is that a set you love on one bass, say your passive P-Bass, will not bring the same joy on another type bass.
3. When you find the right set for you and a particular instrument, you will know. Trust me, you will just know.
4. When you find a string set that works well on a particular instrument for you then always replace it with the exact same string set. It simplifies life tremendously. Find a string set you like on one particular instrument and stick with it.
5. If you have two basses, set them up with tonally diverse sets for variety. This is of course an absolutely valid reason to justify buying another instrument! "I need this new Fender Bass so I can set it up with (fill in the blank) strings." It is totally logical to me. When someone asks why I have so many basses I reply that it isn't all the different basses I need, it is all the different string sets on the different basses that I need.


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Post subject: Re: What is your favorite kind of string to play?
Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 10:07 pm
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My new bass has a medium scale neck(32'). I'm afraid to put anything but ghs '40's on it.


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Post subject: Re: What is your favorite kind of string to play?
Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 6:16 am
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Brotherdave,

I should have been more specific with what sound I was going for when I made this original thread. I'm usually going for the Marcus Miller bright, fat tone on my Deluxe V.

I too have different basses for different purposes with different styles of strings. My Jazz Deluxe V for most of my gigging (steel roundwound), Jaguar bass (aged roundwound strings), 77' Musicmaster (Flatwounds), OLP Sterling (Roundwound steel). I was just hoping to get a few ideas for strings to check out. Thanks for your help!


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Post subject: Re: What is your favorite kind of string to play?
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 1:32 am
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Well then Marcus Miller uses DR Fat Beams.


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