Recommend me some Bass Strings

andrizzle

andrizzle

New member
I'm looking for recommendations on your favorite bass strings. I used to play bass pretty often but have been doing a lot more guitar work these days. I have something coming up pretty soon where I'm gonna be focusing a good bit on bass. After dusting off the ol' bass last night, it looks like she's up for a new set of strings. In the past I've used Ernie Ball strings and D'Addario... The D'Addario's seemed to work nice, but I was curious to see if there's something out there that I haven't tried.

I don't really know a lot about gauges of strings either. I really can't remember what's on there right now. I use 10's on my electrics and 12's on my acoustics, but I know that doesn't really translate to bass.

What you'll probably wanna know:
  • I play a 5-string bass (but if you're used to a 4-string let me know what you like and I can find the equivalent)
  • It's a Fender jazz bass
  • I use the stock Fender noiseless pickups (active)
  • I play mostly rock/pop/contemporary church stuff (Hillsong, JCulture, etc.)
  • I play with my pointer and middle finger of my right hand (which I'm trying to build the callouses back up on :banghead:)
  • I rarely play with an actual pick
  • I play through an Avalon DI
  • I am used to round-wounds and don't really want to change to flat-wounds
  • I'd probably go up to about $40 for a set of strings, but would prefer to stay under that.
 
Re: Recommend me some Bass Strings

I dig rotosound strings for bass they are like model 55 i think? gauged 45-130
 
Re: Recommend me some Bass Strings

My favorite bass strings for years were Rotosound RS66 Swing Bass and I still like them and have a set on my Jazz Bass right now.
 
Re: Recommend me some Bass Strings

I play four string, but some of my favorites are available as five string sets.

La Bella "Original 1954" flats set: http://www.juststrings.com/lab-0760m5.html

Rotosound Steve Harris Signature textured flats set: http://www.juststrings.com/rts-sh77.html (I believe they are four string only, unfortunately; they are great strings.)

La Bella Stainless Steel round-wound 45-135: http://www.juststrings.com/lab-m45b1.html

La Bella Stainless Steel short scale round-wound 54-111: http://www.juststrings.com/lab-m70-s.html (4-string only)

La Bella Stainless Steel round-wound 40-118: http://www.juststrings.com/lab-m40-b.html (I use only the bottom four strings on one short scale bass that I keep tuned to D standard.)

Also, you might not need to change your strings if you just clean them really well with this stuff: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/kyser-dr.-stringfellow-string-cleaner-and-lubricant. Good stuff, and I've had my bottle since 2004, so it lasts a long time.
 
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Re: Recommend me some Bass Strings

^ +1000 on the La Bella's for bass. My favorite strings.

A little secret...Carvin branded strings are La Bella's and they are cheaper to buy that way + Carvin has fast delivery!!!
 
Re: Recommend me some Bass Strings

The Fender Jazz Bass V is only 34" scale. Hence, I would go for heavy gauges to get decent tension on the low B string. (Assuming, of course, that you tune BEADG rather than EADGC or any downtuned setting.)
 
Re: Recommend me some Bass Strings

My Favorite Bass strings are:

DR - Good all around string. Even the coloured ones sound good.

Elixir - my bassist raves about them.

Ernie Ball - best for "bright" tone, playing with a pick.

and ROTOSOUND: great for everything, super versatile.
 
Re: Recommend me some Bass Strings

I used the Blue Steels for years. They sound fantastic.
 
Re: Recommend me some Bass Strings

I did not know that Carvins were re-branded LaBellas. I wonder if any of the LaBellas that I use are available as Carvins.
 
Re: Recommend me some Bass Strings

astrozombie said:
ps- dont be afraid of lighter gauges!!!
Click to expand...

The OP is writing about a five string bass of 34" scale length. Light gauges will just flubber out on the B string.
 
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Re: Recommend me some Bass Strings

Funkfingers said:
The Fender Jazz Bass V is only 34" scale. Hence, I would go for heavy gauges to get decent tension on the low B string. (Assuming, of course, that you tune BEADG rather than EADGC or any downtuned setting.)
Click to expand...

I tune BEADG, and I'm not afraid of heavier strings. I will agree that the B needs to have a good amount of tension. I went with a lighter set of EB's a while back and it just didn't cut the mustard.


Thanks for all the recommendations guys. Keep 'em comin.
 
Re: Recommend me some Bass Strings

good thread. I been playing more bass lately and think the low E Im using is a lil too thick. But I dont remember what guage Im running
 
Re: Recommend me some Bass Strings

andrizzle said:
[*]I play with my pointer and middle finger of my right hand (which I'm trying to build the callouses back up on :banghead:)
[*]I am used to round-wounds and don't really want to change to flat-wounds
[*]I'd probably go up to about $40 for a set of strings, but would prefer to stay under that.
[/LIST]
Click to expand...

http://daddario.com/DADProductDetai...tring_Bass__Regular_Light__45_130__Long_Scale
 
Re: Recommend me some Bass Strings

Best sounding 5-string set is a D'Addario EXL165 Nickel Wound 45-105 with a XLB145 .145 5th string.

Excellent in 34" scale, simply the best in 35" scale.

HTH,
 
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