Help me choose strings

[Annoying Twit]

Hi all. I think I want to put a full set of mid-priced new strings on my bass. I could just replace the duplicated top G string with a C, but I'd like to know what new strings are like.

 

It seems that buying the strings from stringbusters.com. Their prices seem as good as any, and reviews say that they post out promptly. But I've no idea as to which strings to use. Nicklewounds are supposed to be mellower, and I like mellow. It may be due to ignorance, but I'm tending towards a 0.135 for the B string as I'd be happy to sacrifice bendability for better low notes. (Would a thicker string do this?)

 

So, the options at midprice level seem to be:

 

Warwick red label: 6YM Medium - 6 String 25/45/65/85/105/135

 

D'Addario Nickle plated roundwound EXL1656 6 String - Soft Top Regular Bottom 32 45 65 85 105 135

 

Elites: P30VI 6 String Standard30 45 65 85 105 130 Only a 0.130 B string there.

 

I'm tending towards the D'Addarios, because the elites don't have a 0.135, and because people argue more about the Warwick strings. The 0.025 C string looks a bit thin, not that I'd really know.

[Annoying Twit]

Any comments?

 

Reading around, it looks like I will have to try different strings over time. So it's probably only a matter of which ones I try first, rather than which ones I "choose". So the D'Addarios look as good as any to start with.

[Tolka]

If you like mellow, why not try flats ? TI jazz flats are mellow, but as flats go they are brighter than most. They are expensive, but as they last for years, sounding better with time, they are cheaper in the long run. They have fairly low tension though, which is not to every one's liking, especially if you are a "digger". Link to their site below.

 

http://www.thomastik-infeld.com/guitars/index.html

[Annoying Twit]

 

If you like mellow, why not try flats ? TI jazz flats are mellow, but as flats go they are brighter than most. They are expensive, but as they last for years, sounding better with time, they are cheaper in the long run. They have fairly low tension though, which is not to every one's liking, especially if you are a "digger". Link to their site below. http://www.thomastik-infeld.com/guitars/index.html

 

 

I saw some reviews of flatwounds that suggested that they were too mellow, and didn't maintain the character of the bass. Other people like them. But I note that the sound isn't for everyone. I saw some specialist strings, half flatwounds or something, I don't remember. They were claiming to preserve the roundwound sound while being kind to fretboards. That's got me thinking that the flatwound sound isn't for everyone.

 

Because they were more expensive, I was hoping that I would run across a bass in a shop or somewhere which had flatwounds on it, and give them a go to see what I thought.

 

Thomastik flatwounds would cost me

[Tolka]

Yeah, I know what you mean. Finding the right string for you can be expensive. Unfortunately the only way you can do this is to experiment, as it's unlikely you are going to be able to try every string out before buying. I noticed you are in the U.K. Try www.lordofthestrings.com I find them fairly competitive.

[lonerstoenr]

Half flats rock, I think Ken Smith does a 6 string set.

[Tolka]

You are going to get lots of recommendations here. In the end you are just going to have to take a chance and experiment.

[Mytola]

This is the set that I use on my L2500's, and I love them. They have the sound characteristics you're looking for, but the B is only .125. They are quite tight and snappy, though. So it may work for you anyway.

 

They are long-lasting as well. The set I have on my fretted L2500 is several months old and sounds good and even.

[Mike Saville]

I've found mid-guage Warwick Black labels to be very flexible in the range of tones you can get out of them.