R.I.P. my bass strings 2005-2007 :(

Patricide

Ok it finally happened, jamming through some songs today with my band and my E string snapped right at the bridge, theyve been on my bass for 2 whole years now just boiled a ****load of times and still sounded great so i ask the Bassists of boards to give me some advice.

What kind of strings should i purchase next as it will be the first time in my 3 years of playing bass that i have ever needed to buy a set. Ill need a 5 string set by the way.

I play metal with popping slapping and tapping but im always trying out new techniques and stuff if it makes any difference. Doctor J allways seems to recommend some particular dean marklys but i cant remember the name of them and search wont work, im pushed to try these but i said id get everyones opionion on this first.

Cheers lads.

Karl Hungus

I like Ernie Balls myself. Seem to last a long time without needing to be boiled. Probably been on my bass for a good year or so now.

-=al=-

ah i could make one of these threads for 4 sets of stirngs once a month!!!


d 'addario 5 pack usually lasts me a month or so

Doctor J

Patricide wrote:

I play metal with popping slapping and tapping but im always trying out new techniques and stuff if it makes any difference. Doctor J allways seems to recommend some particular dean marklys but i cant remember the name of them and search wont work, im pushed to try these but i said id get everyones opionion on this first.

Cheers lads.

Dean Markley SR2000 - they're expensive but whenever I've something important to do I try and find a pack. They're taperwound, ie the bit that makes contact with the bridge saddle is very thin and it widens up after that. This is for all the strings, not just the low B. They sound different, I'd say they have a much clearer low end with some nice growl and they'd really suit someone into the cursed pop and slap. I've always been disappointed with Ernie Balls and D'Addario's strings, they don't last too long before losing their zing. Rotosound are fantastic when they're new but also don't last too long and their B is a bit fluffy. Other than that, if you like the sound of fresh strings (doesn't sound like you do ) Warwick red label are cheap but not too bad, handy for playing rehearsals and the like, then put on a better string when you've got something important on. Webstrings bass strings might suit you. They're ok but, again, if you like the zing of a new string they may not suit, they last about a week of proper bass playing... but they're dirt cheap and good for the price. As for boiling... if you've boiled them once you've boiled them enough, just **** them out after that, it ain't worth the trouble beyond the first boil.

Patricide

Nah i like the sound of fresh strings alright, i dunno bout you but whenever i boil them its like having a new set of strings on albeit with less clang, and i have to boil them once im a college student after all . Im prob going to go with those dean marklys, i was originally going to go with the rotosound but i also heard that the low b wasnt great plus if its good enough for the doctor, then its good enough for me.

Parsley

I got the SR2000s on the good Doctor's recommendation and they're class.

Zapp Brannigan

Yeah SR2000's are the balls!
You can get them here: www.stringsandbeyond.com

they stay "new" for ages and they suit my $$ to the ground, so they should do the same for you (hopefully)

Patricide

cheers lads, im gonna order me a set of em so...just as soon as i get the money together

yevveh

I've only ever used Elixirs.. expensive but I like them a lot. How would they compare to Dean Markleys?

Doctor J

My 6 string bass came with Elixirs and I thought they were terrible. The B string in particular was bollockless and weak. They don't compare to the SR2000s at all.

Frankiestylee

What do people think about fender strings? I got them on my aerodyne and I'm not sure what to make of them as it's a new bass and I've nothing to compare them to on the same instrument. Used to use Ernie Ball but was thinking of going for Elixir ones... but if they're not the best I'll have to check out Dr. J's recommendation.

Gaspode

Patricide wrote:

Nah i like the sound of fresh strings alright, i dunno bout you but whenever i boil them its like having a new set of strings on albeit with less clang, and i have to boil them once im a college student after all .

Seriously, you boil your strings? I thought that was an urban guitar legend.
I never tried it myself and I've never met anyone who has, though I read once in the 80s that Eddie Van Halen boiled his strings. Didnt believe it then either.It makes no sense to me, it would seem to defy the baics laws of physics, and while I'm no Scotty, I still believe ye canna change de laws e' fizzics mon!

Metal + Moisture = Corrosion
Metal + Moisture + Heat = Faster corrision

So how or why does boiling make your strings last longer!

Rigsby

Does nobody here use flats

The OP said he likes a slap tone. Well some brands of flats can give you that.... e.g. TI Jazzflats. They are expensive but you would not have to change them for years.

Doctor J

deswalsh wrote:

So how or why does boiling make your strings last longer!

It removes a lot of the gunk and grease which comes out of your fingers and settles in the string windings which causes the strings to sound dead in the first place.

Hitch-Hiker

-=al=- wrote:

ah i could make one of these threads for 4 sets of stirngs once a month!!!


d 'addario 5 pack usually lasts me a month or so

Christ, what the hell do you do to your strings??? :eek:

Anyway, I agree with the Ernie Ball mention up above. They never let me down. D'Addario aint bad, but Ernies just sound better to me.

Alanthroneus

i use the GHS Bass Boomers, they have a really nice crisp sound, last a long while ive had mine one for about 8 months:)

yevveh

I once used D'Addarios and I wouldn't go back at this stage, I've been using Elixirs for so long that my fingers are nice n' smooth and have barely any callouses - changing to D'Addario would probably change that!

Patricide

deswalsh wrote:

Seriously, you boil your strings? I thought that was an urban guitar legend.
I never tried it myself and I've never met anyone who has, though I read once in the 80s that Eddie Van Halen boiled his strings. Didnt believe it then either.It makes no sense to me, it would seem to defy the baics laws of physics, and while I'm no Scotty, I still believe ye canna change de laws e' fizzics mon!

Metal + Moisture = Corrosion
Metal + Moisture + Heat = Faster corrision

So how or why does boiling make your strings last longer!

true it weakens the strings centre but it oxidises the strings which causes all the gunk that gets trapped between the strings centre and the coiled part to to get stripped away leaving the pickups magnet more metal to pick up and a better tone, plus all the gunk is gone so its brighter and they feel way way better, it only works with bass strings and the top 3 strings of guitar strings though afaik.

Patricide

deswalsh wrote:

Seriously, you boil your strings? I thought that was an urban guitar legend.
I never tried it myself and I've never met anyone who has, though I read once in the 80s that Eddie Van Halen boiled his strings. Didnt believe it then either.It makes no sense to me, it would seem to defy the baics laws of physics, and while I'm no Scotty, I still believe ye canna change de laws e' fizzics mon!

Metal + Moisture = Corrosion
Metal + Moisture + Heat = Faster corrision

So how or why does boiling make your strings last longer!

true it weakens the strings centre but it oxidises the strings which causes all the gunk that gets trapped between the strings centre and the coiled part to to get stripped away leaving the pickups magnet more metal to pick up and a better tone, plus all the gunk is gone so its brighter and they feel way way better, it only works with bass strings and the top 3 strings of guitar strings though afaik.

Gaspode

Patricide wrote:

true it weakens the strings centre but it oxidises the strings which causes all the gunk that gets trapped between the strings centre and the coiled part to to get stripped away leaving the pickups magnet more metal to pick up and a better tone, plus all the gunk is gone so its brighter and they feel way way better, it only works with bass strings and the top 3 strings of guitar strings though afaik.

Fair enough, but I think I'll stick to new strings for the moment tbh!
If Mrs D finds me boiling metal strings in her kitchen I'll be garotted on the spot with them!:D

-=al=-

i jus hate dead strings and if im recordin i like to keep strings nice... ive like 3 guitars on the go at a time usually... might try soem elixers or somethin that says it'll last longer, ive very acidic sweat!

Patricide

ahh but thats guitar, i like to restring mine once a month if i can bass strings are too expensive to be doing that though.

yevveh

-=al=- wrote:

i jus hate dead strings and if im recordin i like to keep strings nice... ive like 3 guitars on the go at a time usually... might try soem elixers or somethin that says it'll last longer, ive very acidic sweat!

Isn't that why Rory Gallagher's guitar got the paint stripped off it?

unclebill98

ErnieBall's range of strings in my opinion are one of the best makes strings around. I've played the Dean Markley to Elixir to the Bass Boomers and there by far the best for Price:Tone:Lastability. I used to boil my strings to but only because I could not afford to always get new ones...

It does help to wipe your bass after playing and maybe use a string cleaner, but I find they can make your strings sound off and feel horrible.

But, its EB for me..

ferdi

webstrins detroit stainless...cheap as chips, sound great, super durable and the arrive so quick, just got a pile delivered

Rigsby

ferdi wrote:

webstrins detroit stainless...cheap as chips, sound great, super durable and the arrive so quick, just got a pile delivered

Would these not wear down your frets fairly fast ?

-=al=-

yevveh wrote:

Isn't that why Rory Gallagher's guitar got the paint stripped off it?

you shud see the trem on my rg, some of the metal actually has eroded, its weird, and onm y strat the saddle screws are a little rusty in bits... damn sweat