String Advice pls - P-Bass content

impmann

I'm about to swap the neck to a rosewood board on my Mex Fender Precision - up to now I've had a set of Elixr strings on it which have been... 'ok' and have kept bright for a *long* time (they are probably at least 3 years old). The only criticism of it was they were a bit *too* bright and a bit clickety/clacky -  great for slapping and a-popping but thats not my bag (baby).

I don't play much bass these days - just some home recording, so I need something long lasting that can cope with sitting around unplayed for a while. 

I've used flats in the past and whilst I like the lack of finger noise the lack of growl makes them a non-starter for me. Plus the dull attack and slightly rubbery feel aren't what I want from my P-Bass. But equally I hate the clattery clicky noises modern bass players get when they over-energise the string and the vibrations make the string rattle against frets (eg bass intro to Bullet in the Head... sorry, I love the song I hate the clicking).

Reference tone points - I love Mike Mills's sound with REM, I love Colin Greenwood's tone with Radiohead, don't like Carol King's dunk dunk dunk noises, can't stand modern rock/metal clanging/clickety stuff. I appreciate the funk stuff... but I don't play that. I'm a bit of an old progger, who loves punk, new wave, britpop and electronica. 

So what to fit? I'm after recommendations please. I guess I'm after a classic roundwound string, but long-lasting and not too 'rough' sounding (eg Rotosound... sorry, just no).

What do you use? (Probably fitting 45-105s again).

MartinB

I quite like DR Black Beauties, but they can be pricey. The coating seems to dampen the the metallic element of the new string sound considerably, though they still have some crisp brightness and sound like roundwounds. 

impmann

MartinB said:

I quite like DR Black Beauties, but they can be pricey. The coating seems to dampen the the metallic element of the new string sound considerably, though they still have some crisp brightness and sound like roundwounds. 

Thanks!

wrinkleygit

You could try D’adario chromes, SS ground wound, I have these on my Yamaha BB, have the feel of flat wounds but are  a bit brighter in tone.

ICBM

impmann said:

I'm after recommendations please. I guess I'm after a classic roundwound string, but long-lasting and not too 'rough' sounding (eg Rotosound... sorry, just no).

What do you use? (Probably fitting 45-105s again).

Rotosound Roto Bass - not Swing Bass. Swing Bass sound and feel like playing a set of round files. Roto Bass are actually cheaper, but much better in my opinion - no rough feel and a rounder sound. They also seem to last longer - Swing Bass actually lose their rough sound quite quickly, but sound dead after that, whereas Roto Bass just sound normal.

If not that, Newtone - I’ve had those on my Rickenbacker for years and they still sound absolutely fine.

stickyfiddle

I have EB Extra slinky flat wounds on one of my Ps - very flat-feeling but more round-sounding. 

Higher tension than the TI Flats I use most of time, but they sound great 

fretmeister

I like EB Group 2.5 flats for a really versatile flat.

I also tried the La Bella Ian Martin Allison signature groundwound / polished strings and I've very impressed with them. They are a round that are polished down to remove some of the ridges. They do a fully polished version that is as smooth as a flat but started as a round but the tension is mentally high. the IMA signatures are still quite high in tension but they sound very good and not very clacky.

Bass Direct is usually the cheapest for those La Bellas, The EB Group 2.5 is usually cheapest on Amazon.

impmann

Thanks for all the suggestions, chaps. Lots to consider. 

Winny_Pooh

I have a set of EB cobalts flat on my fretless that are quite impressive. Bright and feel better than D'addario ground wounds. 

This is coming from someone sworn off EB guitar strings. 

If that does not appeal buy any set of nickel roundwounds (Fender on a budget otherwise D'addario) and roll the tone knob off somewhat.

fretmeister

Or do the E45 thing. Works really well.

CarbonCopy

I have gone for the opposite sound of what you are after as I'm playing a dep gig for a rock band. I don't usually play rock on bass at gigs, but wanted something a bit more aggressive and clanky sounding. 

I went for Rotosound Swing Bass, but the key ingredient was lowering the action and flattening the relief of the board so that the strings do clank against the frets. 

My suggestion would be buy any strings, but raise the action and/or increase the relief to remove clanky noises. 

Stratavarious

I just leave mine on for 25 yrs with an occasional 5 yearly boil to get the worst of the gunk off… nails that tone

roberty

ICBM said:

impmann said:

I'm after recommendations please. I guess I'm after a classic roundwound string, but long-lasting and not too 'rough' sounding (eg Rotosound... sorry, just no).

What do you use? (Probably fitting 45-105s again).

Rotosound Roto Bass - not Swing Bass. Swing Bass sound and feel like playing a set of round files. Roto Bass are actually cheaper, but much better in my opinion - no rough feel and a rounder sound. They also seem to last longer

+1 for Roto Bass, they are my preference