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In this Discussion
- ampolbass January 2011
- Fretlessboy January 2011
- polkaman81 February 2011
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Bass Strings
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To all of the bass guitar players out there that play a Fender Jazz bass:
What brand/style of strings do you prefer for polkas?
I am currently using D'Addario Half Rounds Medium Gauge .050-.105 ENR72. I've been using this style of string for close to 10 years and have liked them, but was thinking of changing over maybe to flat wounds. If you are out there Mike Matousek, Vinnie Bozzarelli, Dave Kurdziel, etc. I'd love to hear what you guys like in strings. Most of the info I've read about on bass strings is from guys playing P basses, not Jazz basses. I've been reading up on flat wounds (La Bella 760FL, DR High-Beam Flats, Fender 9050ML, Tomastik JF344, D'Addario Chromes, etc.) and have found a lot of loyalty for the La Bellas and Tomastiks. Sounds like guys like La Bellas for their "thump," very smooth feel, and classic flat wound sound and Tomastik lovers like them because of the reduced string tension and have more growl than other brands. I know the best way to find what I'd like is to buy them all and try them all out, but I'd rather hear personal experiences from fellow musicians who play the same style of music. I've never been a fan of round wounds because of the excess finger noise they create, harsher high notes (especially right out of the package,) and they are much rougher on my fingers. I've liked the half rounds because there is less finger noise, high notes are not as harsh, and they are easier on my fingers for most gigs. I will say the half rounds have a "sticky" feel to them fresh out of the package, but that goes away with time and they become much smoother. I have only had flats once (Dean Markley) and I hated them. They just sounded like mud and didn't feel good on the fingers. I've read reviews on them and they have gotten pretty bad reviews. That's kind of why I've decided to become more open to trying flats again.
Hope to generate some chatter here on the forum. Thanks for your responces in advance!
Curt Traska
Polish Connection Band (Wisconsin) -
On the jazzbasses I have used I use DR low riders. Lots off fundimental and solid sounding.
MySpace.com/dennismichaelsbass -
Well after reading some more reviews and shopping around on the internet, I found a few sets of bass strings that I thought were worth trying out without breaking the bank. I had read a good review on SIT Power Flats PF-50105L .050-.105 which are ground roundwound strings that feel closer to flats than roundwounds. I decided to try them because the reviewer said they liked them better than D'Addario Half Rounds which I was using. I put them on a few days ago and didn't have an initial "WOW" experience with them. They just sounded like something was missing. Not a great low end or growl to them. They also sounded a little quiet even after I adjusted my pickups closer to the strings. They felt pretty smooth almost like flats, but the A and D strings both felt like they weren't ground down enough making them feel more like roundwounds than flats. That was a big turn off for me right away. I got this set for a steal so I didn't feel so bad. So overall, not really impressed and they didn't have the sound I was looking for. I think they would sound good on a fretless bass anyday.
Today in the mail I received a set of GHS Brite Flats ML3075 .052-.103. I was hesitant to try any strings by GHS because I once had a set of their Bass Boomers and absolutely hated them. My how the tables have turned! I slapped these babies on tonight and it was like somebody turned on a light! I still had the SIT Power Flats on so I took them off one at a time and put on the GHS Brite Flats so I could compare the two and hear the difference. I changed the E string first and it had nice low end and punch that the SIT strings didn't have. Each string I put on I would test it through my amp and I was likin' it! The higher notes were just plain nice (not too zingy or harsh sounding.) Just awesome right out of the package! The strings have a smooth feel to them. Not as smooth as flats, just a hair bumpier than the SIT E and G strings were, but smoother than the D'Addario Half Rounds I was using (The Half Rounds have a sticky feel to them when you first put them on which goes away with time.) I found these GHS Brite Flats on the internet for $20 shipped! One heck of a deal! Of course, they are brand new and I haven't found out how long they will last yet, but some denatured alcohol works wonders for cleaning your strings when they really get dirty and need some new life back in them. Can't wait to gig with these on Sunday!