Whats your favorite brand of Bass Strings?

[Zim]

Just wondering what you guys like out there.
What brand, guage, and any string up tips.

And I am thinking of going back to flats on my P-bass, and brand you would reconmmend?

I really like D'Adderio Chromes, but is there any better out there? I came from a small town w/ VERY little to choose from, but with internet and me Living outside of Buffalo, NY, I think I can swing just about any kind now days.

Thanks.

[Gordon_Gecko]

My bass came to me strung with DR Marcus Miller fat beams. I must say they are enjoyable and sound really good.

http://www.drstrings.com/main.html

[bikeplate]

HI

I use Sadowsky Stainless steel light gauge, 4 and 5 string sets

Rob

[Bassomatic]

DRs.

[westrock]

DR Marcus Miller fat beams for me, but not when I first put them on.

[agreatheight]

Love the DRs.

Low Riders specifically, 45 - 105. They have great string to string balance, good tension, they last an acceptable amount of time and they sound great!

[Ishouldbeking]

DR's are tricky for me... they feel great, sound great too. Problem is with their quality control. Their D strings quite often are just dead, or if not, a lot of times they won't intonate properly. Otherwise I like them quite a bit, and it's a shame, but I've read quite a bit about this on other forums (mainly Talkbass). D'Addarios may not be the most exciting strings in the world, but their quality control seems to be pretty top notch, and Ernie Balls sound great on my stingray (suppose that makes sense, huh?)

For flats everyone seems to swear by Thomastik Infeld jazz flats, although they're pretty expensive. I'm pretty happy with my webstrings medium gauge flats (on my MIM jazz). The webstrings are pretty "old-school" sounding... nice n thumpy. I know the TI's are supposed to be much brighter, but it's all in what you're going for. Alternately I really like Rotosound Swing Bass 66's for stainless steel strings. Again, it all depends on what sound you're after. Hope that helps.

[michael30]

Fender flatwound.

[musicofanatic5]

Fender flatwound.
Yep, 9050m.

[The Eristic]

I've never found a better flat set for my tastes than the TI Jazz Flats. Very easy to play and they last forever, too.

[Thor]

Love the TI for flats and dig Lakland rounds.

[The Golden Boy]

A buddy of mine swears by the TI flats. They were much more lively than any other flats I've played, but I prefer a more "ringy" sound, and I really can't justify the expense just to say "I use TI Flats."

I've had too many issues with DRs. Handmade or not- most that I've gotten have sounded dead out of the box.

I've pretty much been using the orange package D'Addarios, 50-105. The nickel wound strings. Out of the past 20 or so years I've gotten one bad string. Not a bad track record.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=143626


For the Thunderbird I use 45-100 D'Addarios. A little less "woofy."

[jokerjkny]

HI

I use Sadowsky Stainless steel light gauge, 4 and 5 string sets

Rob


+1

sadowsky nickels are the only strings for me. every single set whether guitar or bass from sadowsky have been great.

unlike my last brand, DR, which have always been hit or miss. and which is really unfortunate, considering i live right next to the DR distribution warehouse!

[jokerjkny]

(...)

I've had too many issues with DRs. Handmade or not- most that I've gotten have sounded dead out of the box.
(...)


tell me about it. :rolleyes:

[fyrwyr]

Take a guess:cool:

[Mickey Shane]

Ernie Ball roundwound nickel for me: 45 65 85 105 130

[orangekick]

DR Hi-Beams: 45-65-85-105-130

[Funky Chicken]

Ken Smith 45-100s.

[d7music]

Elixir Nanoweb five string: .045, .065, .085, .105, and .130

[LL1]

Ken Smith Slick Rounds....have used them for two years staight. Great feel, very smooth flat wound feel, still retains the tonal qualities of the roundwounds. A must try

[iualum]

...TI flats are the ones for me...accept no substitutes...

[pedalhead]

usually Roto stainless 50 - 110
otherwise roto Steve harris flats on my fretless, and Elixir 45-105 on my Ibanez RD

[dillonfiore]

I tried Ernie Balls when I first started playing, but I kept breaking the E string. I switched to Di'Adarrios and have used them ever since.

[bassic83]

I love Elixirs, but they are getting harder to find lately. So I've also been a D'Addario user for years, cheap and good quality. Hard to find my preferred gauge, though- 35-95, with a 115 for a low B. Pretty much have to order the four-string set, then add on the 115 single. Back in the 80s, I used Roto 66LA or LC, but had problems with QC, got three or four sets in a row with dead strings, from different stores. Quit them and never went back. I used Subway Guitars strings for a while, dirt cheap, plus you could choose your own gauges. I think they were $9 for a dozen strings, so for $36 plus tax, you got a dozen sets. They were made by Vinci, and sold in bulk tubes of twelve. But you had to go into the store to get that deal, and his shop was in the Bay Area, I lived an hour south of LA. But my GF at the time was going to school up there, so I went up there at least a couple times a month.

[Zim]

2 Years later.... BUMP!

[tedzepplin]

Nickel Lo-Rider DR Strings

[TeleVision]

DR Sunbeams 45 - 105. Unlike some posters, I have never had a bad set of DRs (I also use them on my guitars). They last forever and sound terrific.

[nedmundo]

Depends on the bass, but for general purpose rounds, I like Fender Super Bass and GHS Boomers the most. DR Lo-Riders are great on my G&L L-1500. If I want flats on my Precision, I like GHS's very aptly-named Precision flats for old school, and D'Addario Chromes for a little more zing.

[Thor]

2 years later, and I find myself about to type the same brands. Actually I have a set of SOB's that I am going to try out, and I have some Steve Harris Rotosounds waiting as well.

Slapped a set of DR's on my 5er and they are OK, but still prefer the Lakland rounds (they are just sometimes not easy to find).

[TwoTubMan]

Used to be Dean Markely Ground-Wounds, but they seem to have stopped making them.

:(

[TedintheShed]

Rotsounds Swingbass Stainless.

[tedzepplin]

Slapped a set of DR's on my 5er and they are OK, but still prefer the Lakland rounds (they are just sometimes not easy to find).

Did you try the steel for nickel DR's? the local stores around me only sell the steels. I tried and didn't like them. but I like the nickel.

[Thor]

Did you try the steel for nickel DR's? the local stores around me only sell the steels. I tried and didn't like them. but I like the nickel.


Steels.

Good to know about the nickles. Have another 5er on order, so I could have one strung with steels for that brighter attack and the other with nickles for that more vintage tone. :AOK

[fyrwyr]

FireWire Strings of course;)

[Thor]

FireWire Strings of course;)


Going to have to finally check out a set.

[GP_Hawk]

La Bella DT's 760FL flats on my Fretless J-Bass right now are doing it:JAM

[R13D]

TI Jazz Flats on my '54 P, Ancient LaBella flats on my '57 P (35 years old and counting) Elixer Nanos on my '63 J.Occasionally substitute some old RotoSound black tapewounds on that one.