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Post by LTB on Sept 8, 2020 4:45:33 GMT -5
I am covered on Flat Wounds with TI Jazz Flats and Labella Low Tension Flats however I am considering once again putting Rounds on One Jazz Bass only. I have tried some in the past but has been a very long time and wanted to know what you guys use, recommend and why. Please do not be timid here. I need help and realize this is a very subjective subject.
I want a vibrant but not not overly bright string that has good lows, nice mids and smoother highs that feel good to play with less finger noise.
I have used and liked DR Black Beauties and DR Silver Stars (basically same string but Silver Stars utilizes a clear coat vs Black coat)
The strings I hate are Elixer (tone not for me) and will not use Roto 66's due to fretwear and feel like playing a flat file for metal work LOL
I will consider none coated if they exhibit good tone and feel good to play
If I get no comments I may go with DR Coated. My only concerns there are flaking if using a pick. I don't pick much but some stuff requires it.
Thanks again for any help here.
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Post by themaestro on Sept 8, 2020 12:44:15 GMT -5
For rounds, I like DR Lo-Riders stainless. They are a little more low-mid focused and less clanky as opposed to the more high-mid focused DR Hi-Beams and Sunbeams. IIRC, the Black Beauties are based on either the Hi-Beams or Sunbeams. Being hex core, I find the Lo-Riders to be a little stiff, which doesn't bother me at all. I go with the stainless because they last a long time and I hate buying and changing strings. There is also a nickel version of the LR's, which are supposed to be a little mellower.
Most of my instruments use TI flats. I run them on precisions, Yamaha jazz clone, Jazz fretless and an Ibanez semi-acoustic.
The Lo-Riders live on a G&L L2500, a Musicman American SUB Stingray, and a Peavey T-40.
I
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Post by LTB on Sept 8, 2020 13:01:30 GMT -5
For rounds, I like DR Lo-Riders stainless. They are a little more low-mid focused and less clanky as opposed to the more high-mid focused DR Hi-Beams and Sunbeams. IIRC, the Black Beauties are based on either the Hi-Beams or Sunbeams. Being hex core, I find the Lo-Riders to be a little stiff, which doesn't bother me at all. I go with the stainless because they last a long time and I hate buying and changing strings. There is also a nickel version of the LR's, which are supposed to be a little mellower. Most of my instruments use TI flats. I run them on precisions, Yamaha jazz clone, Jazz fretless and an Ibanez semi-acoustic. The Lo-Riders live on a G&L L2500, a Musicman American SUB Stingray, and a Peavey T-40. I Thank you Maestro, yeah I forgot about the dreaded clank using rounds. That was what I liked about Black Beauties ithe coating reduced clank. |
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Post by Laker on Sept 8, 2020 14:55:27 GMT -5
On my 55-94 Lakland I have only used Lakland stainless round wound strings since purchasing the bass in 1999 and have little to no fret wear. I’ve been told they are made by GHS but don’t hold my feet to the fire over that.
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Post by LTB on Sept 8, 2020 16:03:56 GMT -5
On my 55-94 Lakland I have only used Lakland stainless round wound strings since purchasing the bass in 1999 and have little to no fret wear. I’ve been told they are made by GHS but don’t hold my feet to the fire over that. Laker, I had no idea they made strings. What do you consider their major attributes? |
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Post by justin on Sept 8, 2020 16:14:38 GMT -5
I have mostly used Fender 7150 pure nickel bass strings for their warm tone on my Jazz Bass. The ones on my bass are probabaly 14 years old(!) so I'm actually looking for a new set also. I've also enjoyed a broken in set of the 7250 nickel plated steel. I tend to shy away from new strings on my bass because I usually don't like the sound of new strings on a bass, and I dont play enough to let them mellow out. The 7150s help in that regard if I remmeber correctly. I've also used pure nickel DRs in guitars that need a little warming up.
I love the look of Black Beauties, but I didn't like the feel when I tried them. They seem to be slick and sticky at the same time, if that makes sense. It's a simlar sensation to dipping a finger in vinegar and wiping the rim of a glass.
I've been stuck on what to try next. I'm leaning towards TI Jazz rounds. I've always been too cheap to try them, but if my strings are lasting 14 years...
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Post by LTB on Sept 8, 2020 17:12:39 GMT -5
Justin, I actually bought a set of DR Pure Blues Nickels in June but couldn’t bring myself to put them on, mostly because I am not sure I would like the feel. Fender7150’s have come on every new Fender bass I have bought. They are ok but I tend to put TI Jazz Flats on my basses when I get them. Maybe I should have given them more time to see if I might like them. My main reason for using Jazz Flats is because I have been too lazy to take the time to correct my technique when playing rounds of remembering to lift my fingers to lesson finger squeak in addition to dealing with clanking the frets. I have one Jazz Bass I haven’t played as much that have SD Quarter Pounder pickups in it that I want to try rounds on.
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matryx81
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Post by matryx81 on Sept 8, 2020 20:35:14 GMT -5
To echo some of the suggestions here, perhaps Nickel Lo-Riders?
I tried them fairly recently on someone else`s bass and really liked them. Too bad they do not have a 35-90 option, but I may try the 40-95 option on an Ibanez TMB300 I have.
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Post by Rick Knight on Sept 10, 2020 7:34:05 GMT -5
The 7150s that are on my Warmoth J are alright, but whether that will be a permanent match is TBD. The old 7250s were my go-to for Fender basses but the more recent ones don't excite me. DR Sunbeams work well on my Ric. A good player I know uses them on his P, but I didn't like them on mine.
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Post by Laker on Sept 10, 2020 14:37:38 GMT -5
On my 55-94 Lakland I have only used Lakland stainless round wound strings since purchasing the bass in 1999 and have little to no fret wear. I’ve been told they are made by GHS but don’t hold my feet to the fire over that. Laker, I had no idea they made strings. What do you consider their major attributes? The Lakland stainless strings (all I have used) seem to hold up tonally quite well and are priced great. On my 55-94 the recommended “B” string is a taper wound string to aid in reducing a floppy feel.  |
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Post by LTB on Sept 10, 2020 19:08:42 GMT -5
The old 7250s were my go-to for Fender basses but the more recent ones don't excite me. Yes, when Fender changed strings from making their own (I believe I read) to D'Addario They are not the same tonally. Laker, I had no idea they made strings. What do you consider their major attributes? Expand The Lakland stainless strings (all I have used) seem to hold up tonally quite well and are priced great. On my 55-94 the recommended “B” string is a taper wound string to aid in reducing a floppy feel. Thank you, I will check them out Laker  |
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Post by chicagodude on Sept 12, 2020 13:30:24 GMT -5
I been using D'Addario nickel rounds for most of my jammin career on J and P basses with no complaints.
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jeffscott
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Post by jeffscott on Sept 12, 2020 20:11:36 GMT -5
TI Jazz Rounds.
[/thread]
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Post by LTB on Sept 15, 2020 12:02:01 GMT -5
I been using D'Addario nickel rounds for most of my jammin career on J and P basses with no complaints. Are they Pure Nickel wound or Nickel Plated? |
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Post by morrow on Oct 3, 2020 8:09:21 GMT -5
Most of my basses have been strung with flats . TI's for 34 inch basses , and usually LaBellas on shortscales . I have a couple with old rounds , old to the point where they almost sound like flats , including my Dano Longhorn . It was my favourite bass for years , first batch of reissues made around 98 , and still has the factory strings . And boy , are they dead ! Sound wonderful if you can appreciate that old school thump .
Also keep fresh rounds , usually Slinkys , on my trusty old Stingray .
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MJB
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Post by MJB on Oct 3, 2020 9:29:51 GMT -5
I like those but some may be put off by the low tension. |
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MJB
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Post by MJB on Oct 3, 2020 9:55:53 GMT -5
I have a separate thread going but you may wish to try GHS pressurewounds.
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jeffscott
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Post by jeffscott on Oct 3, 2020 16:23:41 GMT -5
I like those but some may be put off by the low tension. Funny, I don't find them to have low tension. In fact, I find most other strings to be too taut feeling; no suppleness, more like a bicycle brake cable than a musical instrument string. |
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Post by LTB on Oct 3, 2020 17:15:54 GMT -5
I like those but some may be put off by the low tension. Funny, I don't find them to have low tension. In fact, I find most other strings to be too taut feeling; no suppleness, more like a bicycle brake cable than a musical instrument string. Jeff, when I first tried them years ago they seemed floppy. I loved the tone so I stuck with them. I don't see them as floppy but a little more than some others. Funny but on the Gretsch they do not feel floppy at all. I'm happy |
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Post by justin on Oct 3, 2020 18:22:57 GMT -5
I just put my new TI Jazz rounds on my American Deluxe Jazz (passive conversion with blend knob) at the same time as re-installing a set of CS 60’s pickups. After running 45-105s I definitely had to take some tension off the truss rod. The nut slots are a tad wide but there are no issues with it. I plugged into my Positive Grid Spark with the “Comped Cleaner” setting. I “stepped on” the drive pedal and it naturally brought me to Rage Against the Machine territory. Pulled up some backing tracks on YouTube and jammed out for a while. Tone heaven! ...Then I pulled up one of my old band’s songs on Apple Music and played along for one song. It wasn’t as gratifying as the RATM tracks were. I might have to dial up another amp for that.
Anyway, I’ve never played a brand new set of strings that sounded so right on this bass. I’m glad I took the plunge and paid a few extra bucks for these.
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Post by LTB on Oct 4, 2020 0:45:17 GMT -5
Anyway, I’ve never played a brand new set of strings that sounded so right on this bass. I’m glad I took the plunge and paid a few extra bucks for these. My favorite string and they last years if you keep them clean by wiping them down after playing. |
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Post by chicagodude on Oct 4, 2020 16:44:20 GMT -5
LTB, to the best of my knowledge those are nickel wound steel. |
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Post by LTB on Oct 4, 2020 20:52:52 GMT -5
LTB, to the best of my knowledge those are nickel wound steel. I just looked the TI Jazz Flat's up on Thomastik-Infield site and you are right. Steel core with a wrap of silk followed by flat Nickel winding.  justin Avatar Oct 3, 2020 18:22:57 GMT -5 justin said: Anyway, I’ve never played a brand new set of strings that sounded so right on this bass. I’m glad I took the plunge and paid a few extra bucks for these. Justin, Sorry, I just realized you were talking TI Jazz Rounds not flats...I tried them many years ago and they are phenomenol. Don't totally remember why I stopped using them and if memory serves me they only lasted about 6 months but I may be wrong. |
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Post by LTB on Oct 6, 2020 16:00:43 GMT -5
Someone on another forum mentioned "Dunlop Flat wounds" as a good string so I ordered some about 3 months ago off Amazon. Just got around to putting them on one of my Jazz Basses and found they had sent me "Medium Scale" strings. I went ahead and tuned the E and A string up and tried them on some songs that primarily used those two. They have the perfect amount of tension for me. A little more than TI Jazz Flats but not as much as many. They are Stainless Flats with a little brighter but wonderful tone and back off on the tone control to half they sound really good deep and clear. Too bad I waited so can't send them back but definitely ordering the right "Long Scale".
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mroulier
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Post by mroulier on Oct 7, 2020 15:57:10 GMT -5
I moved from Roto 66 rounds to the Pressurewound "Solo bass." Very smooth feel but still mid-rangey, which I like for my P-Basses. (I'm not a fan of the smiley-face EQ!)
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Post by LTB on Oct 7, 2020 16:51:39 GMT -5
I moved from Roto 66 rounds to the Pressurewound "Solo bass." Very smooth feel but still mid-rangey, which I like for my P-Basses. (I'm not a fan of the smiley-face EQ!) The Dunlops seem to exhibit more mids than other flats I have used. |
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Post by justin on Oct 7, 2020 18:31:37 GMT -5
LTB, no worries. But now I feel I must try TI Jazz flats (or any flat for that matter). This might be an excuse to get another bass!
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Post by LTB on Oct 7, 2020 19:50:33 GMT -5
LTB, no worries. But now I feel I must try TI Jazz flats (or any flat for that matter). This might be an excuse to get another bass! BTW: I put some Black Beauties on a couple weeks ago and this time they felt as you described them. Sticky. I did not like the feel and removed them |
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Post by justin on Oct 8, 2020 12:06:13 GMT -5
Yup, it's too bad about those Black Beauties. They look really cool, but they do feel weird.
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Post by LTB on Oct 16, 2020 2:01:50 GMT -5
I have a separate thread going but you may wish to try GHS pressurewounds. Those sound quite nice at least on the Jack Casady bass |
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