Recommend Me Some Strings!

Once I finally get a Kahler installed on my Spector (finally got it back, but the guy didn't some template or something to route it and flat out refused to route such a nice bass by hand, going to take it to another guy tomorrow), I want to experiment with new strings. So far, I've mostly had DR Sunbeams on that bass, which are nice, but I wish they lasted longer. I've tried out DR Bootzillas, Extra Lifes, and Rotosound Nexus coated strings on my Kramer. And I've used Hi Beams on my 5 string before. So what I'm saying is, no DRs.

Here's my list so far:
Optima Golds
Elite Stadiums (some small British company, supposed to be like Roto 66's but better)
Sfarzo's
Rotosound Funkmasters
Rotosound Billy Sheehan signatures
Rotosound 55's
Those GHS strings in the other thread with the weird gauge (102 or whatever)

Another thing to think about is gauges. I mostly play standard, drop d, D standard, and drop C, but it will have a trem, so light strings would be good, but I don't want them to be too floppy when tuning down. So I'm thinking mostly 105 and 100 sets, with a few 95's, the Funkmasters, the Optimas (I've heard those are pretty stiff), and maybe the Elites

Optimas will last a long time, I've heard. Rotosound are my favorite strings, but they won't last long. GHS don't last long, they sound a little like Rotosound. I have a tougher time keeping them in tune and they feel rougher than Rotos. And Rotos feel rougher than a lot of other strings.

I'd recommend standard gauge Swing 66s--the string-to-string balance is perfect. That's why they were created--John Entwistle wanted a set of wire wound strings that vibrated properly. And they're great strings indeed.

The thing is, Rotos have so much more zing than DRs. DRs feel very limp compared to Rotos, from my experience. They're jsut different. I think DRs are nickel. I'm not certain. But Roto 66s are stainless steel. They're really hard and eat up your frets like it's going out of fashion, but they sound and play so well, it's worth it on most of my basses.

Rotosounds are such a classic and a string that lots of others are judged by. If you haven't tried .45-1.05 66s, I can recommend them if you want an incredible set of strings.

I'm curious about the Sheehan strings, too. I'd like to try some on my Charvel.

Oh! Rotosound nickel strings are also great. They last a lot longer than the 66s, they're a bit mellower, they don't eat your frets as fast, and they have a lot of the same outstanding tonal characteristics as the 66s. I've got them on my BTB right now...even after ridiculous abuse (I've used them for half a year on two basses, one with a trem, used them to file the nuts slots on my Hamer's nut, and they're probably coated in lemon oil, sawdust, and god knows what) and they still sound alright. I like the way Rotos age compared to other strings. Even though they lose their original edge fast, they continue to have a really robust character for a while. Give a set of nickels a try--they're cheap!

Rotos have more "zing" than DRs, even the steel ones, because DRs are pressurewound, which takes out some of the bite. I think they are just duller period, though, because Roto 55s (also pressurewound) seem to have a bit more bite, though I've never tried them (but I will soon!).

But anyway, enough nitpicking. I really love roto 66s as well, which is why I'm really anxious to try the Elite Stadiums. One of the UG bass forum mods is obsessed with them. She has to import them from England all the way to California, and still thinks their worth it. According to her, and most of the other research I've done, they're supposed to be like Rotosounds, but better.

Optimas, I love, expensive, but have great tension, and last ages. Been a while since I had a fresh set, but I remember them being somewhat like Rotos, but feeling better on your fingers, and lasting much longer.

Rotos are nice too, but die just way too fast, I don't mind the sound of a dead set on some of my basses though, espcially my ABG.

Elites, they're made for the UK store Bass Centre, but I've heard little about them, much less any comparisons to Rotos.

GHS, are nice, but die even faster than Rotos, and sound very, very dark when they do.


Most of the listed strings, if not all are steels, no?

Don't like nickle plated steels?

Not as big a fan of them. The Sunbeams I was using on it before were nice, but I'm really looking for a much brighter tone.

How long exactly do Optimas last?

Sfarzos are nickel wound, I think?

Oh I am also curious about those GHS Super Steels. The 40, 58, 80, 102 set sounds like they'd be cool. I think amimbari uses them on his Jackson Tbird.

I've tried DR Lo-Riders. They were okay at first, but way too dark. It's not worth it to pay $30 for a pack of strings. I think $25 is almost extortion, but I also don't know what goes into making them, so who am I to say?

Kugelspot wrote:

How long exactly do Optimas last?

Exactly, I have no numbers I can tell you.

Roughly, mine lasted well over a year, in fact they're still on a bass(w-trem), and still sound pretty good, in fact, I pulled the bass with them out today, and they seem to have plenty of life. Now in fairness, I don't play this bass every day, but it does get a lot of time.

I can wholeheartedly recommend SFARZO strings, although I am not sure if they are nickel or steel. But I can tell you that they work incredibly well on my Kahler, and they seem to have a much longer life than many other strings I have played on. They do cost more, but I think the trade-off is worth it.

As far as other strings go, here is a quick list of my personal experiences with a few of them:

Rotosounds - always a good choice for me, and the brand I usually default to when I can't get SFARZO's. Long-lasting, and very stable on a trem. I've used both the stainless and the nickels, and the stainless stay brighter longer, but the nickels are kinder to your frets.

GHS - simply awful. I have tried several sets, and not one of them would stay in tune.

D'Addario - most of the time for me, a good choice. They used to make a set called XL Reds that were copper coated, and I used them a lot in the early days of my first Kahler.

Dean Markley - the only set I can talk favorably about are the Blue Steels, and they are phenomenal on a trem.

Hartke - not too bad, actually. They don't have the same life as other strings do, but they are usually pretty cheap, and work well on a trem.

I used to use a set called Kaman Performers that used teflon coating on the strings back when I first got my original Kahler. They stayed perfectly in tune, but they were pretty dead sounding. They went out of business a long time ago, but here is a picture of an old ad:

http://www.ovationtribute.com/Ovation%20Promo/Kaman_Parformers_Bass_Strings_Ad.html

Darkstrike wrote:

Kugelspot wrote:

How long exactly do Optimas last?

Exactly, I have no numbers I can tell you.

Roughly, mine lasted well over a year, in fact they're still on a bass(w-trem), and still sound pretty good, in fact, I pulled the bass with them out today, and they seem to have plenty of life. Now in fairness, I don't play this bass every day, but it does get a lot of time.

Thats good to hear. I don't play my Spector every day either, especially for more than 15 or 20 minutes. I am way too busy...

How's the tuning stability with a trem?

As for the Sfarzos, I'm pretty sure they're nickel.

I might also buy another set of Sunbeams to see how they work with a trem, because they are REALLY slick strings. I just wish they didn't go dead after 2 weeks.

Never had trouble with them on the trem, and thats the only bass they've been on.

The alternative to importing ultra high quality strings is to look for some cheapo no name strings online and get them for dirt cheap.

I know it's not on your list, but you should consider trying out Circle K Strings. They're very new to the market, but I've heard a lot of good things so far; plus I'm fairly certain that Skip would be open to making custom gauges (look at some of those sets!), as long as you buy a full set. Unfortunately, I can't comment on how long they last as I have been fairly lacking in funds for new strings lately.

^ I'm intrigued.

And I wasn't just asking your opinions on the strings listed, those are the ones I've been thinking of trying. If anyone has any other suggestions, especially from weird, obscure companies like Circle K that I wouldn't know about, I'd love it

Dunlops are very nice, and long lasting, but I've not tried their steels, just their nickle plated(one of my very fave strings), and the Rob Trujilo(steels) tapers, but I despize tapers, the Trujilo's are good, if you can get the taper to behind the saddle, I used my Ricalike.

Mike Lull strings are made by Dunlop. I've used the steels--they kick ***!

Darkstrike wrote:

Kugelspot wrote:

How long exactly do Optimas last?

Exactly, I have no numbers I can tell you.

Roughly, mine lasted well over a year, in fact they're still on a bass(w-trem), and still sound pretty good, in fact, I pulled the bass with them out today, and they seem to have plenty of life. Now in fairness, I don't play this bass every day, but it does get a lot of time.

Oh, small update here, I've been playing the bass with the Optimas quite a bit more, and honestly, they still sound like they're recently broken in, you know, if its say a set that lasts three months, still sounds like its in month one, I'm actually suprised myself. Still hold tune, and intonation, perfectly, even with tremming. Oh, and I found out exactly when they were installed, 10th Sept, last year.

Chowderboots wrote:

Mike Lull strings are made by Dunlop. I've used the steels--they kick ***!

Dunlops are great strings too, definatly my next fave to Optimas, and the ones I buy regularily, again, very long lasting too, the nickles anyway.

curt mangan strings.

all kindsa materials and custom sets ... down to the just downright rediculous. you can even order individual strings.

these have the response and chime close to rotosounds without ripping up the frets. they last longer too.

http://www.curtmangan.com

Darkstrike wrote:

Chowderboots wrote:

Mike Lull strings are made by Dunlop. I've used the steels--they kick ***!

Dunlops are great strings too, definatly my next fave to Optimas, and the ones I buy regularily, again, very long lasting too, the nickles anyway.

Yeah, they're my favorite after Rotosounds. Have you tried out their steels? I need to give one of their nickel sets a try. I'm also curoious about EBS strings, but I don't know who sells them here. Plus, I've already got a couple extra packs of Roto 66s and no money.

Chowderboots wrote:

Darkstrike wrote:

Chowderboots wrote:

Mike Lull strings are made by Dunlop. I've used the steels--they kick ***!

Dunlops are great strings too, definatly my next fave to Optimas, and the ones I buy regularily, again, very long lasting too, the nickles anyway.

Yeah, they're my favorite after Rotosounds. Have you tried out their steels? I need to give one of their nickel sets a try. I'm also curoious about EBS strings, but I don't know who sells them here. Plus, I've already got a couple extra packs of Roto 66s and no money.

I've tried the Rob Truijlo Taperwound Steels, but I'm not a fan of tapered strings, they die faster than the nickels too.

But, I did put them on a bass, that the tapers were beyond the saddles, and in that case thy sounded great until they died, and still sound ok.

I don't use tapers, either. Some people dig them and power to them, but I just like normal strings. Nothing fancy.

Chowderboots wrote:

I don't use tapers, either. Some people dig them and power to them, but I just like normal strings. Nothing fancy.

Every time I've used them, past the 12th fret on the E string, wolftones, 14/16th A, wolfs, 18th on, D, wolfs.

Gimme some regulars, please.




I wish I could find a way to get a bulk deal on Optimas, if I could get a good one, I'd buy 50 packs tomorrow.
I might ask my local about doing it with Dunlops.

Darkstrike wrote:

Chowderboots wrote:

I don't use tapers, either. Some people dig them and power to them, but I just like normal strings. Nothing fancy.

Every time I've used them, past the 12th fret on the E string, wolftones, 14/16th A, wolfs, 18th on, D, wolfs.

Gimme some regulars, please.




I wish I could find a way to get a bulk deal on Optimas, if I could get a good one, I'd buy 50 packs tomorrow.
I might ask my local about doing it with Dunlops.

That'd be awesome. Buy your strings by the flat?

Costco should start selling Rotosounds.

For damn sure, that'd be the life!

Beef Jerky, cat litter, milk, bass strings....

Shopping trolley just for the strings!

Forklift.

For the beef jerky........

Hear, hear!

It's all about the year's supply of Sriracha.

DOUBLE hear-hear!