Do I need heavier strings?

[horribleman]

I've got a 4H Stingray, which I love dearly, and I can get most any sound out of it, except the one I want. I've tried flats, but they lacked a little high end definition.

Currently it has what I think are the factory strings on, which sound good but they are missing a little oomph.

Will putting heavier rounds ok swap a bit of brightness without sacrificing clarity for some oomph or do I need pressure wounds or something else?

What do you stingray stingray dudes use?

[Mr. Foxen]

Heaviers doesn't mean less bright, mostly means more everything.

[Hamster]

Without knowing what sound you want, it's a bit hard to say! As a starting point, try a set of DR Sunbeams, that's what I use on my SR4. I also quite rate the Fatbeams too.

[kevbass]

[quote name='horribleman' post='511675' date='Jun 11 2009, 10:49 PM']I've got a 4H Stingray, which I love dearly, and I can get most any sound out of it, except the one I want. I've tried flats, but they lacked a little high end definition.

Currently it has what I think are the factory strings on, which sound good but they are missing a little oomph.

Will putting heavier rounds ok swap a bit of brightness without sacrificing clarity for some oomph or do I need pressure wounds or something else?

What do you stingray stingray dudes use?[/quote]

Maybe just try a different brand of strings? or perhaps its just time for a fresh new pack of round wounds, try the flea signature boomers,

[Kongo]

Sounds like you want more Low-mids...Recently switching to a Stingray myself I'll say that having one pickup at the bridge gives you HUGE ammounts of bright, biting tone...But a loss in low mids.

Can't suggest anything I'm afraid...Not sure strings will do that job and heavier strings won't sort that out either.
Chances are your already using 45-105, asuming only, therefore anything heavier isn't gonna help you.

[horribleman]

Hmm. I guess I'll try some more brands of strings. The flats had most everything I'm looking for, except the high end definition which is why I think I can find that sound by changing the strings.

[dannybuoy]

Which flats did you try? Give D'Addario Chrones a go if you want bright flats.

[alexclaber]

Try nickel rounds, 45-105 ish. Nickels generally have smoother top and fatter mids than stainless steel. Also, leave them on there for a good while before you judge their tone - I prefer strings that are well played in (which means I get to keep them on for ages!)

I prefer balanced tension gauges but strings in those combinations are rare - I have 38-58-78-104-134 on my 36" scale five.

Alex

[Aaren J]

Sounds like you may need to swap out the preamp or pickup. Broken-in nickel wounds would probably help, like alexclaber said. They do my L2000 a lot of favours in the tone department.

[horribleman]

I've just ordered some Fender 150 Original Nickel Bass Strings 45 -105s. See how they work out

[BarnacleBob]

Wish I had had all this advice for my 'Ray - Fine bass but couldnt put my finger on what was wrong with it, I couldnt seem to dial in what i wanted and ended up punting it.

Hope urs turns out OK


BB

[alexclaber]

[quote name='horribleman' post='511876' date='Jun 12 2009, 10:00 AM']I've just ordered some Fender 150 Original Nickel Bass Strings 45 -105s. See how they work out [/quote]

Let us know after a good month's worth of action!

Alex

[Adrenochrome]

In short, no.
A heavier gauge of exactly the same string will [i]generally[/i] sound brighter on the same bass with same tuning etc.

[Mike Brooks]

Maybe give some halfwounds/groundwounds a try perhaps, sort of middle ground between rounds and flats.

Mike

[simon1964]

[quote name='Kongo' post='511760' date='Jun 12 2009, 01:32 AM']Sounds like you want more Low-mids...Recently switching to a Stingray myself I'll say that having one pickup at the bridge gives you HUGE ammounts of bright, biting tone...But a loss in low mids.

Can't suggest anything I'm afraid...Not sure strings will do that job and heavier strings won't sort that out either.
Chances are your already using 45-105, asuming only, therefore anything heavier isn't gonna help you. [/quote]

+1. Stingrays can lack low mids, which I missed when switching from my Warwick.

I'm now using an EBS microbass to dial in some low mids and the tone is fantastic. I've got all the character of the Stingray tone, but with a bit more low end growl.

[horribleman]

I cancelled the string order, seems that Stingrays usually ship with nickel strings and I think they are the original strings.

Might try some halfwounds or groundwounds a try.

[BottomEndian]

[quote name='dannybuoy' post='511840' date='Jun 12 2009, 08:57 AM']Which flats did you try? Give D'Addario Chrones a go if you want bright flats.[/quote]
+1 on Chromes for a bit of zing on flats.

[rodney72a]

Try Galli nickels.

[lateralus462]

I had exactly this problem with my ray - wacked in a bit of extra low mids on the amp eq and problem solved.