JamesBass Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 Just curious to see what preferences people have for strings out there. I started on Rotosounds SM66 but found they lost their brightness fairly quickly and felt horrible on the fingers, very rough sort of wind on them. Moved on to D'Addario's EXL170s quite a light gauge just like the SM66s but a much nicer feel and I've found a better life span. I did try their EPS170s and they were quite nice, a lot more twang to them I thought. So what do you guys use and what do you hate? Quote
TheGreek Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 Hasn't this thread been done to death?? If you're that curious why not type the subject in and search... Quote
xilddx Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 [quote name='TheGreek' timestamp='1357747630' post='1927745'] Hasn't this thread been done to death?? If you're that curious why not type the subject in and search... [/quote] He's new, give him a break mate Quote
xilddx Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 I use Warwick EMP 100-40. I love them, and I've tried many different brands and gauges. DR Black Beauties were my very favourite but I started getting problems with dead G strings. Quote
Judo Chop Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 GHS Pressure wound because I like how they feel, but I also put GHS flats and rounds on my other bass depending on what I fancy at the time Quote
Dave Vader Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 Legacys for when I need rounds (stringsdirects own brand cheap and good) And fender 9050Ml flats for everything else, thuddy, AND zingy, all at once Quote
JTUK Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 Newtones. But you would be better off searching for past threads as they will be better populated with answers. Quote
Leen2112 Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 Don't diss the roto's........I like them SM665's. However, My Ibanez came with Elixir strings, and after I got used to the coating (smooth feel) I liked them too, and It's true, they do sound brighter longer, although you do pay over the odds for them. Stringbusters all the way, great next day service! Quote
JTUK Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 here you go... "search" function might not be too obvious at first [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/192074-what-strings-are-you-currently-using/page__st__20__p__1900308__fromsearch__1#entry1900308"]http://basschat.co.uk/topic/192074-what-strings-are-you-currently-using/page__st__20__p__1900308__fromsearch__1#entry1900308[/url] Quote
Chambo Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 where do you get the Newtones from? Are they for electric bass? [quote name='JTUK' timestamp='1357749256' post='1927796'] Newtones. But you would be better off searching for past threads as they will be better populated with answers. [/quote] Quote
MrTaff Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 Rotosound RB40, for me they last as long as any other rounds I've tried & at £12 a pack they're cheap to replace. Quote
TRBboy Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 Rotosound SM665 .040" - .125" I know a lot of people say that they dull quickly, but I've only just (last night) changed the set which I've had on since June, which I think is pretty good going! They weren't completely dead either, some folk would have kept on much longer. D'addario was my favoured brand for many years, but when I decided to move to a lighter gauge, they didn't do exactly what I want (only the choice of Rotos or Elites). Quote
Lozz196 Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 Up until very recently, Rotosound Steel Rounds, 50 - 110s. But flats have been nagging at my brain for a while, so at present my bass has D`addario Chromes, 50 - 105s on Quote
KiOgon Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 GHS Precision Flats 55-105 & Status Hot Wires 45-105 on P-basses, TI JF344 43-100 on Jazz Bass, GHS Black Nylon TapeWound 50-105 on Fretless Jazz. I've been playing my HW1 P with Status strings today, they are really really flat & smooth, (several months old), sounding just right, excellent VFM. Just fitted a Hipshot D-tuner - works perfectly with the smooth flats Cheerz, John Quote
Marvin Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 On my Ibanez SR I use D'Addario EXL170's On my Squier P, it's currently got some Roto's on it. They're fine, but I shall be putting some flatwounds on soon, not sure which ones yet. Quote
joeystrange Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 I'm using the Dean Markley Nikki Sixx strings at the minute. They're pretty decent! Quote
gub Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 I have just started using rotosound swing bass again after years of swapping around , and have to say I am loving them ! Take no notice of grumpy comments , yes it's been done before but people's opinions change and new products / improvements are happening all the time Quote
Stan_da_man Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 (edited) Used D'Addario's when I started out (still buy them - rarely) then moved to Ernie Ball's then moved to DR's for the past couple years. Saying that, I'm a recent convert to TI strings - I have a set of Jazz Rounds on my Sadowsky and they sound awesome. Never have got on with Roto's for some reason... Edited January 9, 2013 by Stan_da_man Quote
Truckstop Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 I use LaBella Supersteps on the Blazer and Labella Stainless Steels on the ESH. TBH, I'm just trialling the Supersteps at the moment. They're nice, but I don't think they're worth the extra money over the stainless steels. Truckstop Quote
Mook Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 D'Addario EXL165 .....too lazy to try anything else and they've always worked for me. Quote
lowdowner Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 Rotosound 66 (heavy gauge) on fretted, Rotosound 88 (black nylon) on fretless. *are* there other strings? Quote
Conan Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 I'm still at the "playing the market" stage! After decades of using Superwounds, Elites and D'addarios I recently discovered DR highbeams, which I really like. Shame about the price though... Tried a set of Newtone diamonds and wasn't massively impressed. They were OK but seemed to lose their zing pretty quickly. Interestingly, I got a set of Roto RS66s for Christmas and I can't wait to try them out! They were the first strings I ever used. On the fretless I have La Bella Deep Talkin' 49-109. Nice! Quote
mushers Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 slinkys for me tried loads of others but these seem to be the best all rounder ive used so far .. Quote
chrismuzz Posted January 9, 2013 Posted January 9, 2013 It sounds like you are into the bright sound of stainless steels, like me These would be my suggestions: Elites - Very affordable, great sound, nowhere near as rough on the hands as rotosounds, but don't last much longer before the brightness wears off. Newtones - Really nice and smooth on the hands, fairly long lasting, high quality handmade strings. D'Addario Prosteels - Affordable, 'snappier' tone than Elites or Rotos with a more controlled low end, and last a bit longer. Rough on the hands, but after a while playing they do smooth over. If money is tight these are the ones I would always go for. Elixir Stainless Steel - The best of the bunch in all honesty. They have the bright tone that I crave (I've even rolled down the tone on a few gigs!), and the coating ensures that it stays for a long time! I've done a fair few sweaty gigs and they've shown no sign of letting up. And best of all, the coating makes the strings feel smooth, and your hands glide over them with ease. No need to use string cleaners like fast fret either! In my humble opinion they are well worth paying over £30 for. Hope that helps! Quote
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