uk_lefty Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 (edited) I have a heavily modified fender jazz with Bartolini pickups. I have been using Ernie Ball slinky bass strings for some zingy brightness but they've been gigged a bit too much and need replacing... Nothing wrong with the Ernie's but fancying a change. I tried GHS Bass Boomers a while back and was not at all impressed. Neither do I think Fender or Rotos are up to the task. Any recommendations for a bright sounding string? I like a bit of grit in the sound but lots of brightness and zingyness would be a great compliment to my p bass which wears tapewounds. Thanking you Edited July 25, 2018 by uk_lefty Quote
Johnny Wishbone Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 (edited) D’Addario Pro Steels and Elites Stadium Series Stainless spring immediately to mind. Edited July 25, 2018 by Johnny Wishbone 2 1 Quote
SpondonBassed Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 D'Addario's half rounds? I have them on two of my basses. As you'd expect, they've got some of the qualities of both round and flat wound strings. They are not cheap though. Quote
Johnny Wishbone Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 (edited) I have some DRs on my Jazz (can’t remember which type though) which have stayed bright an awfully long time. Comparatively expensive but IMO worth it. Edited July 25, 2018 by Johnny Wishbone Quote
GuyR Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 +1 for DRs. I have Hi-Beams on all my jazz basses. Stay bright for ages. Quote
nash Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 I really like D'Addarios. I currently use Dunlops (because I get them cheap) but I'd like to hear their Superbrights. Quote
tedmanzie Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 another +1 for DR strings here, although I use Sunbeams and you won't probably like those (round core and nickel). The Hi-Beams are their zingy string - stainless steel so they stay bright for about 900 years. Quote
Johnny Wishbone Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 7 minutes ago, nash said: I really like D'Addarios. I currently use Dunlops (because I get them cheap) but I'd like to hear their Superbrights. I found the low tension of Superbrights too much to deal with. Shame, as they are relatively inexpensive and come in suitably heavy gauges to accommodate my excessive down-tuning. Quote
DannyBrerro Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 Just this weekend I put Warwick Red Label strings on my Sandberg, I think they sound great - really bright and defined. Can't speak to the lifespan of them though as they've only been on 3 days but could be worth a go for less than a tenner 👍 Quote
SpondonBassed Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 35 minutes ago, Johnny Wishbone said: I found the low tension of Superbrights too much to deal with. Shame, as they are relatively inexpensive and come in suitably heavy gauges to accommodate my excessive down-tuning. Have you tried a five? Quote
Johnny Wishbone Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 6 minutes ago, SpondonBassed said: Have you tried a five? Hate the string spacing, and small hands restrict me to a 4. I do use a BEAD-tuned 4 (actually it’s Bb/Eb/Ab/C#) when required but most of our material is in drop C# or drop C. Quote
SpondonBassed Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 (edited) 16 minutes ago, Johnny Wishbone said: Hate the string spacing, and small hands restrict me to a 4. I do use a BEAD-tuned 4 (actually it’s Bb/Eb/Ab/C#) when required but most of our material is in drop C# or drop C. Fair enough. I suppose a detuner modification introduces its own issues too. I did a bit of drop tuning but it's a drag. I am never going to be able to detune and retune on the fly like some of the true exhibitionist players. Edited July 25, 2018 by SpondonBassed Quote
The59Sound Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 Love these threads. Recommend me a string! Every string under sun is suggested. I’ll just use Rotos. I have pretty much tried every round, flat and pressure wound string out there... yet my advice is constantly ignored! Quote
SpondonBassed Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 30 minutes ago, The59Sound said: I have pretty much tried every round, flat and pressure wound string out there... yet my advice is constantly ignored! Aw. Are you sure it isn't a case of you being quietly appreciated? 1 Quote
uk_lefty Posted July 25, 2018 Author Posted July 25, 2018 1 hour ago, The59Sound said: Love these threads. Recommend me a string! Every string under sun is suggested. I’ll just use Rotos. I have pretty much tried every round, flat and pressure wound string out there... yet my advice is constantly ignored! And what is your advice? Quote
Muzz Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 Brightness and zingyness? I'd second the ProSteels... Quote
uk_lefty Posted July 25, 2018 Author Posted July 25, 2018 8 minutes ago, The59Sound said: DR Hi Beams... Thanks. I am listening to all this. DR's and D'addarios keep coming up, so far they're the ones I'll explore. Quote
Muzz Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 If price is an issue while you're trying strings out, you'll find the D'Addarios £10-15 cheaper than the DRs... 1 1 Quote
Sammers Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 (edited) Another strike for DR from me, though I use Nickel Lo-Riders now I was a big user of Fat Beams a few years ago. Last an age too! Only downside I’ve found is that DRs are generally more pricey ! Edited July 25, 2018 by Sammers Quote
The59Sound Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 1 hour ago, Muzz said: If price is an issue while you're trying strings out, you'll find the D'Addarios £10-15 cheaper than the DRs... Unless you buy them from an eBay seller, imported from the US. I pay £21/22 per set all in normally. Quote
SpondonBassed Posted July 25, 2018 Posted July 25, 2018 2 hours ago, The59Sound said: No, just users who don't have a scoobie. Okay 9 hours ago, uk_lefty said: Neither do I think Fender or Rotos are up to the task. The OP isn't disagreeing with you... 3 hours ago, The59Sound said: Love these threads. Recommend me a string! Every string under sun is suggested. I’ll just use Rotos. I have pretty much tried every round, flat and pressure wound string out there... yet my advice is constantly ignored! I am not sure who has provoked the comment. I can't see a single recommendation for Rotosound strings in this topic so far. Just to justify your comment though, I have a set of Rotosound 88s on my fretless and they have made me enjoy playing the confounded thing for the first time in its entire life! The issue I've now got with Rotosound is that they're forcing me to improve my intonation, despite my fat lazy fingers. 1 Quote
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