alhbass Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Maybe I'm seeking the impossible..? I'm looking for a light gauge, low tension string - flexible (ie that will bend easily), that still retains a bit of body at the low end. I've tried two gauges of La Bella Slappers - Custom Light 30, 45, 65, 85 (they were very responsive - flexible and light as I'd hoped, but just too thin in bass tone to be useful) and 40, 60, 80, 100 (greatly improved bass tone, but much stiffer - too stiff to play the way I'd like to). I'm not particularly after a bright, zingy tone, but don't especially mind if they are... I'd welcome any recommendations or advice. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 DR Sunbeams have a soft touch and good depth of tone. I use 40-100s on my 72 J. Great strings and definitely worth a try if you haven't done already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomEndian Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 Here's a curveball... Thomastik Jazz flatwounds. Flexible as hell, really full bottom end but surprisingly zingy for flats. The gauges don't [i]look[/i] light (standard long-scale 4-string set runs 43-100), but they're so, so playable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
73Jazz Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 [quote name='ikay' post='1095060' date='Jan 19 2011, 01:54 PM']DR Sunbeams have a soft touch and good depth of tone. I use 40-100s on my 72 J. Great strings and definitely worth a try if you haven't done already[/quote] +1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigjohn Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 TIs all the way. I've stopped using them after years as they're just [i]tooo[/i] flexible... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 TI Jazz Rounds are also very flexible and low tension - and sound great too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted January 19, 2011 Share Posted January 19, 2011 The TI Jazz Rounds are 43/51/68/89. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alhbass Posted January 20, 2011 Author Share Posted January 20, 2011 [quote name='BottomEndian' post='1095080' date='Jan 19 2011, 01:05 PM']Here's a curveball... Thomastik Jazz flatwounds. Flexible as hell, really full bottom end but surprisingly zingy for flats. The gauges don't [i]look[/i] light (standard long-scale 4-string set runs 43-100), but they're so, so playable.[/quote] That sounds really interesting - thanks! I may well have a go with the DR Sunbeams too, as I've heard so much about them on BC, but it's great to get a more unusual recommendation - Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted January 20, 2011 Share Posted January 20, 2011 Also, just to add to the mix - a string with a round core, verses a hex core will have a more flexible feel. Quite a few manufacturers will state what type core their strings have. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alhbass Posted January 22, 2011 Author Share Posted January 22, 2011 [quote name='dood' post='1096967' date='Jan 20 2011, 11:24 PM']Also, just to add to the mix - a string with a round core, verses a hex core will have a more flexible feel. Quite a few manufacturers will state what type core their strings have.[/quote] Thanks - that's helpful. Am I right in thinking that the conventional wisdom is that steel strings are necessarily higher tension than others? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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