la bam Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 Morning all, After an impromptu purchase yesterday and no time to put on my usual flats, I giggled our second set with roundwounds. They were VERY punchy. Band loved them. So....I may be switching back to rounds in time. But, what is everyone using now? (it's a while since I bought any). These will be strung on a fender p bass. Ideally I'd like some punch with a bit of warmth, and I'd like them to last. All I remember about previous roundwounds is they seemed to die quite quickly. Or are flats still king on a p bass? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 Elixirs all the way. Round and coated. Gimme zing over dull thud every time. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldslapper Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 This is spooky (well not really), but I’ve been a flats on my P fanboy for a long time, however I’ve recently changed the set on my fretless to a used set of Nickel wounds. I have to say, they are very nice. And for the JBEx genre suit nicely. Might have to watch the board getting marked, but I’ll see how they sound at next gig, but I’m pleasantly surprised. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odysseus Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 Always rounds for me - I like a bit of zing too. I play a fair few long notes which sustain longer with rounds, and some arpeggio stuff up the dusty end which sound a lot better to me with rounds. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 These days I use TI flats on my passive P bass and D'Addario NYXL rounds on my active jazz. IMO best of both worlds. I've used rounds on a P bass for most of my playing life. As long as you're getting the sound you want it doesn't matter how you do it.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 Sounds like somebody's asking permission to buy another bass just to keep the new strings on..😉😉 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmccombe7 Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 I tried Elixirs few yrs back and think they might still be on my Warwick Thumb that i very rarely use but my recollection of them when i first put them on was that the tension was higher and wasn't as easy bending strings. (either 35-95 or 40-100) I do play them occasionally on my Warwick and they seem to feel ok now. I'm currently trying out flats on my Sandberg VM4 and jury still out for me so this thread might be quite helpful to me too. Before the flats i was using nickel Daddarios and then Fender nickels. Think the D'addarios are better and seem to last a bit longe. My Sandberg came with their own steel rounds and i found them very easy on my fingers for steels that is. Not expensive but you need to get them from Thomann. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete.young Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 1 hour ago, la bam said: Morning all, After an impromptu purchase yesterday and no time to put on my usual flats, I giggled our second set with roundwounds. They were VERY punchy. Band loved them. So....I may be switching back to rounds in time. But, what is everyone using now? (it's a while since I bought any). These will be strung on a fender p bass. Ideally I'd like some punch with a bit of warmth, and I'd like them to last. All I remember about previous roundwounds is they seemed to die quite quickly. Or are flats still king on a p bass? I really like DR Sunbeams on my Precision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 DR strings for me. I like to work hard do I have the DDTs on my regular basses. For normal use I'd recommend the Sunbeams or lo-riders for a bit of fatness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 I used to use Rotosound steel rounds, loved them but only got about 4 weeks fresh sound from them. I’d read about Warwick Red Label steel rounds sounding similar but lasting longer so tried them and it turned out to be true, virtually the same sound but I get at least 2 months from them, longer it seems in winter than summer (less sweat maybe). And the extra bonus is they’re about £10 a set. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassbiscuits Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 I've always found Daddario EXLs or NYXLs to be great on a P Bass. I think I've got Daddario Pro Steels on the P at the moment (they were spare from another bass and I needed them sharpish for a gig but they sound good and fresh after about a dozen gigs so far). Saying that, the P has had La Bella flats on it for the previous three years which sounded lovely. I only swapped them for some function dep gigs which demanded a bit more of a versatile sound. I may well swap back to flats tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odysseus Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 1 hour ago, Lozz196 said: I used to use Rotosound steel rounds, loved them but only got about 4 weeks fresh sound from them. I’d read about Warwick Red Label steel rounds sounding similar but lasting longer so tried them and it turned out to be true, virtually the same sound but I get at least 2 months from them, longer it seems in winter than summer (less sweat maybe). And the extra bonus is they’re about £10 a set. Let me get my note book and a pen.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 D'addarios are the only strings that I ever use after trying everything else. When I first switched from flats to rounds I wanted the smoothest string I could get so after careful research, D'addario EXL165s became the string of choice for me. Absolutely love them and could easily get 8 or 9 wedding length gigs out of them before they started to get dull. Afterwards I switched to EPS330 stainless steel roundwounds as I wanted something brighter and even then they were still pretty smooth under the fingers and never caused any issues. Now that I am back to using passive Fenders, I'm back to Chromes again as they suit what I am looking for in a string again. As an ad-on, after a lot of research and trying them for myself, Fender 7250Ms are for all intents and purposes D'addario EXL165s with slightly different coloured ball ends for £13ish compared to £18ish for the D'addarios Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbayne Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 I have always used rounds until I heard the high praise on here for flats. Tried them. Didnt like them so went back to rounds. 😁 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicbassman Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 Oh no ! I sense another potential flats vs rounds Basschat family row brewing here! - and just before Christmas too, like all the best family rows. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClassicVibes Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 I've tried them all and DR Sunbeams are the ones that rule them all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 I bought a set of EBS Titanium Nickel strings a while back - haven't had a chance to try them yet. Available on eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EBS-Titanium-Nickel-Strings-For-Bass-Guitar-Medium-Light-4-Pack/183230083073?epid=3019512095&hash=item2aa95d3001:g:0bIAAOSwvyNa~Vpv 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 DR fatbeams. and there’s one of the newtone ones I like too but can’t remember what. im trying flats on my L1000 currently, set of chromes... they are ok but don’t wow me. I want to try some TI flats before I give up and go back to fatbeams Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stub Mandrel Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 (edited) Does anyone know the spec of the nickel plated strings that are shipped with the fender Flea bass? The 'played in' tone is still nice and rich so they seem a good choice to stick with. <Edit> I'll answer my own question: Fender 7250M Super 7250s NPS string set medium Edited December 22, 2019 by Stub Mandrel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 Fender 7250's (Nickel Plated Rounds) would seem the logical choice. I would recommend the 7350's (Stainless Rounds), but you can't get them anymore. Dunlop's are a good choice, currently using the DBS Stainless Rounds, and they do keep getting better (wasn't convinced at first!). If the budget is tight, then the Warwick Red Label Strings are an excellent choice. Won't break the bank, so you can change them twice as often! 😀 I have tried the Red Label Stainless Rounds, they were a decent quality string that lasted well at half the price of other brands. Can't go wrong really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deedee Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 (edited) 47 minutes ago, Stub Mandrel said: Does anyone know the spec of the nickel plated strings that are shipped with the fender Flea bass? The 'played in' tone is still nice and rich so they seem a good choice to stick with. <Edit> I'll answer my own question: Fender 7250M Super 7250s NPS string set medium Love Fender 7250 strings, usually I use 7250L (lights - 100/80/60/40). I was told that they are made by D'addario and the coloured ball ends and certainly the feel of the NYXL’s seem identical to me. I've just put a set back on my P and put the LaBella LT flats on my Stingray Special. The eq on the 'ray allows sufficient treble boost when required which I can't gain on the P without faffing with the EQ on the amp. Edited December 22, 2019 by Deedee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crawford13 Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 +1 for D’Addario NYXL’s they are great, they are my new favourite round wounds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 I still love Elites if I can find them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knicknack Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 I love my Curt Mangan nickel wounds when not using flats... nice under the fingers, sound a little played in from the start and stay pretty consistent! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merton Posted December 22, 2019 Share Posted December 22, 2019 LaBella do some lovely rounds which work beautifully on a P bass IMO. Newtone worth a look too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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