Blog: All About Bass Strings

[Evan Skopp]

Pluck here.

[El Supremo]

Re: Blog: All About Bass Strings

Nice. I've played stainless steel on my J bass for a long time. Sounds really clear (escpecially the low notes) with great longevity, but the feel could be better. Might try some of those frozen strings one of these days.

[Bezmotivnik]

Re: Blog: All About Bass Strings

I didn't expect the truth about bass strings from a marketer of them, and sure enough didn't get it.

Bass strings are the most important component of a bass and not only the most misunderstood, but the most defectively made -- at least in terms of fit and tension balance, and yes these DO matter. I've never seen an intelligent discussion of these problems on the net, though there have been innumerable ones about the symptoms these problems create, without ever recognizing strings as the source.

Strings are one of those huge blind spots on Bass forums. People don't want to hear about it.

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: Blog: All About Bass Strings

I didn't expect the truth about bass strings from a marketer of them, and sure enough didn't get it.

I'm sorry to hear you say that, but what truths was I leaving out of an article specifically geared toward players that were just starting to explore the vast array of different string types out there? Especially for a beginner, learning the differences between the materials is going to be confusing enough before you start trying to talk about balanced tension, which then goes into another question. Is it balanced because the formulas say it is, or that the sound and feel of the strings is the same? Oftentimes, those two things aren't directly linked.

Strings are one of those huge blind spots on Bass forums. People don't want to hear about it.

Really?

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: Blog: All About Bass Strings

Yes... The truth must be told! The balance, the tension... It's all coming together now...
It's people... BASS STRINGS ARE MADE OUT OF PEOPLE!!!

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: Blog: All About Bass Strings

Yes... The truth must be told! The balance, the tension... It's all coming together now...
It's people... BASS STRINGS ARE MADE OUT OF PEOPLE!!!

Correction: COATED bass strings are made out of people.

[dg27]

Re: Blog: All About Bass Strings

Correction: COATED bass strings are made out of people.

What kind of people are tapewound strings are made out of?

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: Blog: All About Bass Strings

What kind of people are tapewound strings are made out of?

Seriously, let's stop all these silly questions. Everyone already knows that tapewound strings are made of tapeworms, pulled from the stomachs of people after the proper incubation period. Seriously now.

[uOpt]

Re: Blog: All About Bass Strings

I'm really not happy how that blog ends up giving an impression that DR is a "round core company". Only a small minority of DR strings sold are round score, namely the sunbeams and the hi-beams. But their lo-rider easily outsell them.

The only company really in the round core camp is Fodera.

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: Blog: All About Bass Strings

I'm really not happy how that blog ends up giving an impression that DR is a "round core company". Only a small minority of DR strings sold are round score, namely the sunbeams and the hi-beams. But their lo-rider easily outsell them.

The only company really in the round core camp is Fodera.

DR is the only MAJOR company in the round core camp. I should've mentioned they also do hex as well, but I stand by it. You go into any Guitar Center or other store and ask for a set of round core strings, you will NOT be walking out with a set of Fodera nickels.

[uOpt]

Re: Blog: All About Bass Strings

DR is the only MAJOR company in the round core camp. I should've mentioned they also do hex as well, but I stand by it. You go into any Guitar Center or other store and ask for a set of round core strings, you will NOT be walking out with a set of Fodera nickels.

They might make the majority of round core strings but the majority of strings they make is not round core.

I feel this is doing DR injustice, namely because DR is one of the few companies that actually states clearly what you get. Round or hex core, stainless steel or nickel plated winds - it says so right on the packaging and on the website. For other manufacturers you have to go find random forum posts to even find out what you get. They screw up some naming but that's pretty mild compared to the voodoo game that most other manufacturers play.

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: Blog: All About Bass Strings

You're always free to post that in a comment in the blog post, if you feel that I didn't state it clearly enough (and the blog is such that, once it's posted, I can't edit it).

No arguing on their packaging, although they also mention a lot of things that EVERYONE does that don't necessarily need to be stated, like "polished" flat wound strings. We all polish our strings; you have to. The flat ribbon wire is sharp on the edges, and doesn't lay completely flat. If you don't polish them smooth to remove the burrs and odd edges that sit up, you'll have players cutting themselves. That would be akin to Chevy releasing a new "painted exterior" Cobalt for 2015.

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: Blog: All About Bass Strings

Cause you know I'm all about that bass (string).