It's everyone's favorite thread right behind the "Show us your..." threads!
So what's everyone using on their Thunderbirds these days?
Guess I should have searched harder:
http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=146.15 (http://bassoutpost.com/index.php?topic=146.15)
Please chime in if you want though! I'm thinking Sunbeams, as I've just gotten into DR's. I always wanted to like Rotosounds, mainly because of JE, but they've never worked for me or I've gotten a bad set or two.
I bought Rotosound because of JAE, but I hate steel strings. It's all nickle plated to me. Just normal d'Addario's or Fender 7250s.
I once put d'Addario Chromes on my Bicentennial and the tone died.
Err, I have to admit that my strings on the Tequila are the same set that were on her when she got put away in 1988, though I tended to use Rotosound, and have a new set at the ready - never had a bad set - round-wound, of course - a light set is my preference, again a JE type of thing...
I did experiment with (RS) Mark King things that had the central core exposed at the bridge - exceptionally b right sound, but easy to snap strings, which I did, so I discontinued their use... shame really, nice idea but too weak...
I shouldn't worry about repition BV as we are both newbies here and I have yet to trawl the depths here - gone through Mark/Veronica's sites and onto Scott/GOT's site now - enjoy the trawling... ;D
when i had my thunderbird i used dean markley blue steel 105-45 strings,i liked the tone nice and even.i stopped using rotosound strings about 1985 because nearly every set would have a dead string.which fills me with the dark suspicion that they decided to export all the dodgy sets...
D'Addario. XL Bass.
I used D'Addario slow wounds for years, they were the best, but for some reason they stopped making them.
DR Hi-beams
Quote from: Blazer on March 22, 2009, 03:01:08 PM
D'Addario. XL Bass.
I used D'Addario slow wounds for years, they were the best, but for some reason they stopped making them.
I also used Slow Wounds. Someone told me the new d'Addario strings are all made in the slow wound way, so the normal d'Addario XLs are in fact Slow Wounds. Dunno if it's true, but someone told me...
That's the reason Jim D'addario gave why the Slowounds were discontinued.
If I read between the lines I can see you don't agree with that statement, Dave?
Ken Smith Rock Masters. Ever since Hugh McFarland (creator of Lakland basses) turned me onto these, I've been using them as often as I can find them. They stay bright a long time. Need to get them to start making 8 string bass sets!!!
Ze Fraulein prefers Dr 45-105's, they have a nice clanky goodness to them, last a long time and no "dead" ones, and if Rockin' Ray likes them you know they're good ;D I've had the very same bad experience with Roto Sounds, dead E string and very short life.
I really liked Mike Lull's Strings alot too but couldn't use them as I broke them frequently, I just play too hard.
Quote from: Doug Fyghter on March 22, 2009, 03:39:10 PM
If I read between the lines I can see you don't agree with that statement, Dave?
No, I have no reason to doubt it. OTOH I never tried Slowunds so I have no way to compare.
I use DR Black Beauties on my T-Bird which are the same as High Beams, just coated in black goodness! Also available in other colors like blue, red, pink & green.
D'Addario medium or med light gauge Chromes.
Still looking for the right string, I feel like I'll never be satisfied. :-[
I've tried:
Gibson/Epiphone stock strings - Actually liked these quite a bit but short life
Rotosound SH77 Steve Harris - I loved Roto flats on my Casady bass and I liked these too, but they get sticky and rug-burn your fingers bad. The heavy gauge was also unnecessary.
Ernie Ball Medium Slinkys - Needed a cheap set and Slinkys are always handy. They're not bad strings, just blah. I have no opinion.
DR Hi-Beams (Steel) - The last time I'll try roundwound steels. The low-end felt really sterile even though the highs really sang.
S.I.T. Powerwounds (Nickel) - Liked these a lot. Balanced tone, long life, cheap for a set ($20)
GHS Precision Flatwounds - Current set. The D and the G string are really awesome; that nice muted flatwound tone. But the the bottom two are just terrible. Totally without definition, no life. These have got to go.
Well, what should I try next? The search continues
Dean Markley Blue Steel flats son.
I use GHS Heavy Bass Boomers (50-115) on all my basses.
I like the tension and tone.
They stay fresh relatively long.
I've tried all kinds of strings. From cheap to expensive. Dean Markley, DR, SIT, Rotosound, Ernie Ball, etc
None of them really convinced me, except for the GHS Boomers.
I refresh them every 3 gigs or so.
Every three gigs? I once did 54 gigs and 52 rehearsals with one set of strings on my Bird;)
That really happenend, but nowadays I do like half a year with strings, with sometimes 15 gigs and some regearsals.
I like DR Lo-Riders, but for some reason they've gotten really hard to find. I just bought a pack of strings this weekend, and I had to settle for the Sunbeams, which I guess are OK. I tried the Hi-Beams once and I hated them. I can't hang with those stainless strings, gotta go with nickel. I'll use GHS Boomers too if I can't get the DR's, which also sound pretty good to me. Haven't had much use for any other brands.
Quote from: Doug Fyghter on March 23, 2009, 04:37:47 AM
Every three gigs? I once did 54 gigs and 52 rehearsals with one set of strings on my Bird;)
That really happenend, but nowadays I do like half a year with strings, with sometimes 15 gigs and some regearsals.
OMG they must have sounded as dead as a doornail. :o
The difference between fresh strings and heavily used strings of 6 months worth of gigging is huge. How do you deal with that difference?
With old (and dull) strings I really miss the harmonics that give fresh strings the power that I love.
Quote from: n!k on March 22, 2009, 11:30:10 PM
Still looking for the right string, I feel like I'll never be satisfied. :-[
I've tried:
Gibson/Epiphone stock strings - Actually liked these quite a bit but short life
Rotosound SH77 Steve Harris - I loved Roto flats on my Casady bass and I liked these too, but they get sticky and rug-burn your fingers bad. The heavy gauge was also unnecessary.
Ernie Ball Medium Slinkys - Needed a cheap set and Slinkys are always handy. They're not bad strings, just blah. I have no opinion.
DR Hi-Beams (Steel) - The last time I'll try roundwound steels. The low-end felt really sterile even though the highs really sang.
S.I.T. Powerwounds (Nickel) - Liked these a lot. Balanced tone, long life, cheap for a set ($20)
GHS Precision Flatwounds - Current set. The D and the G string are really awesome; that nice muted flatwound tone. But the the bottom two are just terrible. Totally without definition, no life. These have got to go.
Well, what should I try next? The search continues
D'Addario chromes should make you happy. Or Labella Flats, if the D'Addarios have too much pull for your girlie hands!
Errmmm......
I'm the one with the girlie hands......... ;)
claws away...
DR Black Beauties for the 'bird.
Ernie Ball Hybrids for just about everything else.
What else ? Roto Sound RS66LD
Wonder how some Smith Rockmasters would sound? Anyone tried 'em?
He explicitly requested proposal of flats, gentlemen, so why do you go about recommending rounds?
QuoteSo what's everyone using on their Thunderbirds these days?
This is the original question, counselor. What's that got to do with flats?
Because I requested rounds first ;D
I tried the Chromes on my Casady bass, but didn't much care for them. Maybe i'll try them out and see if the new animal likes them better. I would use roundwound or flatwound really, I'm not much opposed to either as long as I get the sound I'm looking for. My sound sure is "dark" no matter what I use.
Sigh, how I just hate to be proven wrong!