Members intothevoid Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 I am completely new to bass, but I am thinking of buying a second hand bass and that may mean it would be worthwhile to change the strings. What sort of strings should I get though? I will play mainly rock such as Black Sabbath, Cream, Budgie (I love the sound of Burke Shelley's bass). But what style and gauge of strings do you guys use and why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mlwarriner Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 i use webstrings because they're cheap. steels on my 4-string because it's generally dark, and nickels on my 5'er because it's generally bright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super Bass Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 On my two Aria's I use Optima Gold 2139 (.045 -.105), on my fretless D'addario Chromes (.045-.100) and on my Jazz bass I'm going to be using La Bella 760N tapewounds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members solderjunkie Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 .045-.105 DR High Beams on electrics Thomastick Solos on my upright Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members allan grossman Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 Depends on what I'm going for. I use DR stainless Lo-Riders on my six-string bass because they've got the best tone I've ever had out of a set of bass strings and because I loathe nickel strings. I've also got a 24-year old Ibanez Roadstar that's got as much vintage tone as any p-bass I ever owned and it gets strung with D'Addario Chromes - I prefer flatwounds for vintage thump and the Chromes have all the thump but are almost as bright as a lot of roundwounds I've used. Gauge? I usually go for the medium-gauge set but I tend to play with a fairly light touch and let the amp do all the work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitargod0dmw Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 DR stainless lo-riders here as well. They are the best sounding strings I have ever tried, and they last a long time. The only way I would be happier is if they were free... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T. Alan Smith Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 Depends on what I'm going for. I use DR stainless Lo-Riders on my six-string bass because they've got the best tone I've ever had out of a set of bass strings and because I loathe nickel strings. I've also got a 24-year old Ibanez Roadstar that's got as much vintage tone as any p-bass I ever owned and it gets strung with D'Addario Chromes - I prefer flatwounds for vintage thump and the Chromes have all the thump but are almost as bright as a lot of roundwounds I've used. Gauge? I usually go for the medium-gauge set but I tend to play with a fairly light touch and let the amp do all the work Same here. I use ground wounds or flats on my fretless, and stainless rounds on my fretted. I do have Chromes on my P bass, again, for that thump. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SA Rios Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 Marcus Miller Fat Beams here. I like the round core string over hex core. They are stainless but feel like butter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Optimus Prime Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 I use Ernie Ball Power Slinkys on my Jazz and D'Addario EXL165s on my SG. Guitargod suggested DR Lo-Riders to me a while ago and I finally ordered a heavy gauge set, they should be here today. Someone else suggested I try DR Sunbeams on my SG so those will be the next strings I buy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kelldan Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 I'm a huge fan of the heavy gauge GHS bass boomers. Big deep sound. So big it'll shake the clothes off of women. Which is one of the main reasons I use them. Nekkid Wimmins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Stella Joop Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 50-100 fender stainless flats, on my MIA jazz. i play what would be considered indie/rock/electropop ( ) the tone feels very balanced, and i play with a pick. i just like my bass to sound like "bass" ...nothing special. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bassgirl9 Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 I'm going to give snake oil strings a go on my P bass hotrod. I even started a thread about them. http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?p=28285840#post28285840 Otherwise I use whatever freebees come into Guitarworks for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wades_keys Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 DR loriders do it for me - never thought a string could change my tone so much, and in a good way. I'm trying the Hellborg set next - the loriders themselves seem very piano like but still warm, so I expect the Hellborgs to be even more so, not a tone I was actively seeking but once I heard it, I was kinda hooked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members walkerci Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 Not to hijack the thread... I'm looking for new roundwound strings for my G&L L2500. Play mostly classic rock, blues, and R&B. I like a medium gauge, a little bright, but not too much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rpsands Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 Elixirs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members y-o-y Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 I use Carvin string. They are inexpensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members txbass68 Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 I use .45-.105 DR low Riders or Blue Steels. It just depends on what mood I am in when I go to get them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bpocall Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 DR SunBeams on my Jazz and JAF, Nickel LoRiders on my P. .045-.100 for all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Poltergeist Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 DR Hi-Beams Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members L-1329 Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 DR nickel LoRiders on my P/J's, Elixir Nano's on the rest of my fretted basses except the Reverends have DR nickel Sunbeams just because that's what they have, and I don't feel like experimenting on those basses right now. I am a huge fan of the Elixir's, and would have them on every bass if I didn't occasionally play pick style. I'm currently experimenting with my fretless to find the right set and style of string, and the next candidate is a set of TI Jazz flats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Funkee1 Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 I say, and I am not trying to be a jerk here, but use bass strings! Seriously, if you're just starting out, you have several years to try different strings to get the tone you want. D'addario would be a good starting point though. I think XLs 45 thru 105 is what most folks use. My favorite strings are DR Lo Riders, but I'm so Poor, that I tend to get whatever is on sale! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Poltergeist Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 My favorite strings are DR Lo Riders, but I'm so Poor, that I tend to get whatever is on sale! +1... i have Rotosounds on right now... have you tried D'addario Prosteels? cose i think that, for the money, cose their not too expensive at all, theyre the best steel strings ive tried... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jackcheez Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 I say, and I am not trying to be a jerk here, but use bass strings!Seriously, if you're just starting out, you have several years to try different strings to get the tone you want. D'addario would be a good starting point though. I think XLs 45 thru 105 is what most folks use.My favorite strings are DR Lo Riders, but I'm so Poor, that I tend to get whatever is on sale!I need to try those Lo Riders. I keep hearing good stuff from good people. When I want a ringing or musical tone I use DR High Beams. When I want thump I use Dean Markley Blue Steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Poltergeist Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 I need to try those Lo Riders. I keep hearing good stuff from good people. When I want a ringing or musical tone I use DR High Beams. When I want thump I use Dean Markley Blue Steel. the LoRiders are similar, to my ears, to the Hi Beams, they just have a different "thang" on the mids, and give you more tension, not that loose feel you generally get from the Hi Beams... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Funkee1 Posted May 30, 2008 Members Share Posted May 30, 2008 +1... i have Rotosounds on right now...have you tried D'addario Prosteels?cose i think that, for the money, cose their not too expensive at all, theyre the best steel strings ive tried...Yeah, and I liked them, but like all D'Addario strings, I broke em too quick! I don't know what it is with me and D'Addario, but I have always broken them easily. Lately, my string of choice has been........Hartke!!!Seriously....my local Scam Cash music has a pack with 3 5-string sets for $25 bucks!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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