sadowsky MV5.....string choice?

[ebenezer]

Well, i have just thrown caution to the wind and bought a new MV5....lovely bass, but i have to say, i,m not very happy with

the supplied strings...i think they are 45-130, very stiff feel to them, also the B string suffers from overtones which are annoying

to say the least..the B string is the type where the thinner core passes over the bridge saddle.

So with this in mind, what strings work well with said bass, also i tend to favour nickel.

 

[ezbass]

You’d have though Sadowsky’s own, but that’s what might be currently fitted of course. I’m currently using EB cobalt flats, but usually I’m a D’Addario fanboy.

Edited November 12, 2020 by ezbass

[Acebassmusic]

On my MV5-24 I'm currently using D'Addario Pro-Steel XL EPS300-5 (43 to 127) and really like them. Lasted me 5 months on a set so far and still some twang to go 🙂

 

[thodrik]

Sadowsky blue labels are very stiff and I think that they still come as standard on the Metro basses. They lasted about a week on my MV4 when I bought it. Great sound but very stiff.

I really like D'addarios and Ernie Balls for nickle plated strings, but there are loads of options out there. I tend to use Elixir Nickles on my five string basses as I find that the B string is often the first to go 'dead' after a few rehearsals or gigs (not that I have done much of that this year!).

The Elixirs last for ages so save me money in the long run (I have had one set on a bass for over a year and they are still bright). I use an untapered 135 on my Sadowsky NYC which is great. Just my two cents, but with the way the Sadowsky bridge is designed, I find it is very difficult to fit an untapered B string larger than a 135, as even the 135 is a tight squeeze. So if you want something like a 140 or 145 B string it will need to be tapered. 

Until you find your favourite 'go to' string I would recommend just trying lots of different brands and gauges. If you want a more flexible set maybe try a set starting with a 40 gauge G string and 60 gauge D string.



 

[chris_b]

My goto bass is an  MV5 and I'm on my 3rd set of D'Addario NYXL strings. They are full bodied with a nice crispness to them and they seem to be very Sadowsky preamp friendly.

[Drax]

+1 for NYXLs. One of the more pliable hex cores out there, sound great. 

If string stiffness is ongoing issue, DRs are a great round core choice. 

[bassaussie]

DR strings sound amazing on Sadowsky, I always use them on mine. I'm not so familiar with 5 string, although have tried them, and thought they were great.

[Lfalex v1.1]

I concur with other posters, if stiffness is an issue, round cores may be the answer. 

If you favour nickels, that makes DR Sunbeams a good potential choice. I had them on a (Passive, Fender) Jazz and they were very good indeed. 

[ebenezer]

thanks for the help folks...gauge wise, it will be 45-125...about right for me.

[Sibob]

La Bella RX Nickels are my preferred nickels.......well.....La Bella's are my preferred strings full-stop haha.

Si

[Paulhauser]

As expected lots of opinions here so I'll throw in mine as well. 

One of the nice surprises I had lately is how good the Ernie Ball Cobalts sound and how long they last. They are my fav strings now (and I wasn't a fan of the usual EB Slinkys)