What bass strings are you using and for what?

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

That depends on how the string is wound, but I can assure you that tapered or exposed core strings are just as structurally sound as untapered ones.

If they weren't they wouldn't be able to sell them I don't think, but still I get a little leery when it comes to bass strings and tension.

 

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

If they weren't they wouldn't be able to sell them I don't think, but still I get a little leery when it comes to bass strings and tension.

Why is that?

 

[uOpt]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

Wouldn't boiling the string cause rust or weaken or something because you're using water and the heat would mess with the string's tension? I heard it's better to use alchohol or something because it evaporates easier and can be used at room temp.

100 degrees C (boiling) aren't sufficient to damage the metals involved. It seems to dissolve your finger goo stuck in the windings.

Rust is only a problem if you don't let it dry.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

I use either LaBella .110 flats or Rotosound Steve Harris Signature .110 flats for any style of music that I play. Nothing else but heavy gauge flats feel or sound "right" to me. That's probably because I learned on fretless and played that or upright bass nearly exclusively for 20 years before ever getting a fretted bass. I prefer frets so much that I don't think I'll ever really go back to fretless. But I'm stuck on heavy gauge flats for life, I think.

 

[dg27]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

On a side note, how many of you guys have ever boiled old strings?

Wow--hadn't thought of that for years. Way back when, when I was really poor (instead of just run-of-the-mill poor), I did that all the time.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

100 degrees C (boiling) aren't sufficient to damage the metals involved. It seems to dissolve your finger goo stuck in the windings.

Rust is only a problem if you don't let it dry.

Alcohol still sounds much easier. Granted you have to buy it.

 

[dg27]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

Alcohol still sounds much easier.

When I was boiling them all kinds of crap rose to the top of the water. When I'd restring they seemed like new. I used to do a few sets at the same time. It was very east and effective.

 

[Petrovsk Mizinski]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

Not super picky about brand, but for me I try to get stainless steel if possible, D'addario Prosteels mainly but SS strings from most brands are good quality stuff worth using.
Last as long as coated strings, but unlike coated strings which are duller/darker than nickel wound, they're brighter and have more attack.
Perfect for most styles of rock and pretty much any kind of metal.
Work out cheaper than nickelwound in the long term too, which is a good bonus.

 

[uOpt]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

Alcohol still sounds much easier. Granted you have to buy it.

But you can't buy pure alcohol cheap. Doesn't whatever they mix in to make it taste bad get hung up in the strings?

 

[Johnny the Kid]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

Why is that?

I don't know. I'm pretty cautious, so when I see stuff like that I don't usually think right away that it might work and I instead think about the things that could go wrong. I'd have to actually use them myself to see how they are. If that makes any sense.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

But you can't buy pure alcohol cheap. Doesn't whatever they mix in to make it taste bad get hung up in the strings?

Nah a gallon bottle of denatured alcohol is like 10 bucks, and you don't need much of it apparently, so it would be good for more than a few uses.

 

[Falloffthebonetone]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

When I was boiling them all kinds of crap rose to the top of the water. When I'd restring they seemed like new. I used to do a few sets at the same time. It was very east and effective.

I'm not arguing that it isn't fast, easy, or effective, I'm saying alcohol would be faster, more effective so you don't have to do it as often, and easier on the strings so the process could be repeated more times because alcohol won't rust the metal like water will.

 

[One Bad Monkey]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

I don't know. I'm pretty cautious, so when I see stuff like that I don't usually think right away that it might work and I instead think about the things that could go wrong. I'd have to actually use them myself to see how they are. If that makes any sense.

No, I get it. Especially with the price of bass string sets, it makes it a bit harder to venture out and try new things. If it helps, I've tried a large amount of string types as well as tapered, exposed, etc cores. I've also spent three months getting the GHS Strings bass tension guide up and out there, so people can see that a nickel-plated .045 will be different in terms of tension from brand to brand.

 

[threechordcharlie]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

Wow--hadn't thought of that for years. Way back when, when I was really poor (instead of just run-of-the-mill poor), I did that all the time.

LOL! That's why I asked the question! I did the same thing.

 

[kilphody]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

Roto's

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

5-string D'Addario XL medium or light does it to me.

One of my favorite posts of all time on here was by Immortal6 on my thread about string choice. He said something to the effect of not having changed his bass strings since the Clinton Administration. :lmao:

I have a D'Addario XL110 on a guitar since 2004 and it's still okay. Not brill but okay. I keep cleaning.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

1) Long, metal ones.
2) For playing low register notes.

 

[threechordcharlie]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

1) Long, metal ones.
2) For playing low register notes.

Sometimes the most simple answer is the best answer!
/thread

 

[post toastie]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

Rotosounds for everything. 45-95 or thereabouts. roundwound regular type strings.

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: What bass strings are you using and for what?

On my 80's BC Rich Eagle, I use DR HI BEAMS (45-105 I believe) for Eb tuning.

Originally used D'addarios (which I use on all my guitars) but decided to give the DR's a shot as although they're double the price, I rarely change bass strings. What a difference...so fat and full and feel great, wont be going back anytime soon.

As for boiling strings....used to do that. Definitely cleaned them up and felt better, but didn't notice much change to the sound. For $35 a year I'll just swap them out.