Since Tony's rockin' the guitar strings thread, I thought I'd post one for bass strings.
Currently, I'm really enjoying the Ken Smith Rockmasters. I can buy a 5-string set from Musician's Friend for about $22. They're very bright sounding but yet remain clean and tight. They also seem to keep their tone for a very long time. I use to play with GHS Boomers, but I found that they didn't retain their tone for very long. When they would start to deaden, they took on this really weird mid-range timbre that I didn't care very much for.
For nickle strings, I've had really good luck with a brand called Dr. Duck's. I can purchase a 5-string set from Robert M. Sides in State College for about $20 (I think a 4-string set is about $16). They sound just like Fender Nickle-Rounds.
I also have a set of Fender Nylon stings on my fretless. I've tried a ton of strings on that bass from GHS to Danelectros to Ernie Balls and I could never find the sound I was looking for (it came stock with a set of rounds, which is odd considering that most fretlesses are shipped with flats). I like the brightness of round wounds, but they always sounded too thin on the bass. I knew that flats would sound fuller but I wanted a brighter tone. I tried a set of the nylons are fell in love. They aren't as bright as rounds but they still have some punch; most importantly, they have a very fat sound (but are still punchy).
Bass players: What strings are you using?
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bassist_25
- Senior Member
- Posts: 6815
- Joined: Monday Dec 09, 2002
- Location: Indiana
Bass players: What strings are you using?
"He's the electric horseman, you better back off!" - old sKool making a reference to the culturally relevant 1979 film.
Strings
I haven't picked up one of my basses outside of a studio situation in such a long time....wow!
Anyway, I play Everly B-52 Bass Rockers. .... .040 - .100
Anyway, I play Everly B-52 Bass Rockers. .... .040 - .100
www.seventides.net
On a pillow of your bones
I will lay across the stones
Of your shore until the tide comes crawling back
On a pillow of your bones
I will lay across the stones
Of your shore until the tide comes crawling back