Bright, zingy string recommendations please

[Mykesbass]

Looking for a contrast to my d'addario chrome strung p bass. I'm looking for bright, long lasting round wounds that are easy on the plucking fingers. What do you recommend? Coated? Nickel?

[Lozz196]

I use stainless steel Elixirs. They’re not as bright as uncoated steels (think week old steels sort of sound) but I get almost a year out of them. 

[Cosmo Valdemar]

DR Hi Beams or Fat Beams - they meet all your requirements.

Easily the best strings I've ever played.

[Mykesbass]

15 minutes ago, Cosmo Valdemar said:

DR Hi Beams or Fat Beams - they meet all your requirements.

Easily the best strings I've ever played.

Used to like DR guitar strings, so these are on the shortlist.

[fretmeister]

D'addario pro steels.

[Grimalkin]

I've been using Bass Centre Elites for 20 plus years, the steels are bright, the nickels are still bright but with a softer edge. They do have a nice playing tension I've found, softer than others I tried back in the day but that may have changed now.

[Bassman68]

Dunlop Stainless steels are my favourites but you might find them a bit ‘scoopy’?

[Doctor J]

Another vote for Elixir stainless steels. They sound exactly what you're looking for.

[Cato]

Another vote for DR Hi Beams, the zingiest strings I've ever found.

 

And don't be taken in by Dunlop Super Brights as I was a few years ago.

 

They're average bright at best.

[MoJoKe]

I used Elixirs for years on all of my basses until I discovered the Markbass Longevo steels.  The coatings are incredibly thin and still super durable, without the gumminess and then shredding you get with Elixir, and they stay bright for easily as long as Elixir... they have a full tone across the fingerboard - no scoop in the mids....   If you can find them (Gary at Promenade Music will order you some, or Bass Direct), they're definitely with a go!

 

https://www.markbass.it/product/longevo-series-nano-film-shielded-strings-long-lived-stainless/

 

[GuyR]

Another for Hi Beams. They are the zingiest and they last for ages. I use them on all my basses

[skidder652003]

I love DR strings but Im a full on Elixir fanboi now as they last for ages and Im too tight/skint to change my strings regularly.

Might give those markbass jobbies a whirl though..

[gjones]

I like DR Hi Beams and Elixirs but the zingiest string for me is the Rotosound Swing Bass 66 steel But that high end doesn't last long, they get darker the longer you play them.

Edited November 16, 2022 by gjones

[BassAdder60]

I found the Fender Pure Nickel RW were nice 

[Jonesy]

Rotosound 66 swing bass for me. Doesn't get much more zingy.

[TheGreek]

I bought a set of EBS Titanium strings that never seemed to lose their zing - I sold the bass before they "went off".

IIRC they were £20 off ebay. 

 

https://lordofthestrings.com/en/bass/electric/5-string/ebs-sweden-tn-cm5-northern-light-titanium-nickel-classic-medium.html

Edited November 16, 2022 by TheGreek

[Mykesbass]

12 minutes ago, Jonesy said:

Rotosound 66 swing bass for me. Doesn't get much more zingy.

Scores high on the zing factor but fails badly (in my previous experience) on the other two required factors!

[itu]

Rotosound Funkmaster 30-90 which used to be 606, but is now:

https://www.rotosound.com/product/fm66/

 

The ultra zing means that you have to change strings often. Nowadays I am using D'Addario's SS 40 - 95, or similar GHS. No need to slap.

[msb]

Mostly playing shortscales these days , but for rounds I’ve been buying Gibson Britewires.

Nice strings. 
And I still put Slinkys on my Ray. I keep flats on most basses.

[40hz]

Dunlop Marcus Millers / Elites Stainless Steel are the brightest strings I've used.

[Mykesbass]

Hi Beams on order. Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Plenty there if the DRs don't work out.

[Dan Dare]

Gauge affects brightness. Generally, the lighter, the brighter.

[chris_b]

D'Addario NYXL's.

 

Keep the zing for the longest time.

[Bassybert]

I’ve started using DR Hi Beams and I think I’ve found my favourite string. I love the tone, the growl and the feel of them. The tension seems spot on for me, not too firm but not sloppy either, they just seem really fun to play. 
 

No idea how long the brightness lasts but they’ve been brilliant so far. 
 

One trivial/purely cosmetic thing I also like about them is that they don’t have silk wraps, as I don’t like the way they fluff up and separate. 

[Cosmo Valdemar]

On 17/11/2022 at 14:45, Mykesbass said:

Hi Beams on order. Thanks everyone for the suggestions. Plenty there if the DRs don't work out.

How did you get on?