Chris Hales

That's really interesting and just goes to show how out of touch I am! Admittedly, I am striving for a sound with clarity and definition but, as a bedroom bassist, I'm oblivious to the practical concerns of how my playing sounds in a band context! (Actually, I know exactly how my playing sounds, but that has nothing to do with my choice of strings.)

Back in the 70’s and my Antoria fretless I tried flatwounds, half-rounds… dull as anything! Quickly swapped to roundwounds and to hell with whatever damage they did to the fingerboard! I’m still a very inexperienced player, but I can’t understand why anyone would want to play flatwounds!

The Cort Rithimic (awful name) is definitely Fender inspired but is much more engaging than any Fender I’ve played. Once I start playing I really don’t want to stop! It’s just great fun! On the other hand, the Fender designs are, rightfully, classics. And maybe something magical I’ve missed if you find the right one?

Thank you! One thing I meant to say is that I’ve never owned a Fender bass. Played a few but never been “wowed”. Am I missing out?

Hi, I’ve been playing bass for over 40 years - started out in a re-bodied Futurama, moved on to an Antonia fretless Precision copy (Percy Jones was a huge early influence) My musical interests have moved through pop, rock, folk rock, fusion, jazz and pretty much all the way back again! These days I’m playing my 1980s Westone neck now hosted by a Boogie Precision body (weighs a ton) with an extra Bartolini at the (Schiller) bridge. Recently got a Cort Rithimic (did I mention how much I love Jeff Berlin’s playing?) both played through a Markbass something or other. I never lost the passion for playing bass but loving it being my main instrument again! Hello to everyone - I’m sure there is some great advice here I can benefit from! Cheers! Chris

Really interested to see this thread. I've been using DDT 40-100 strings recently and love the feel and the sound of them. (Regular tuning, so the DDT bit is wasted on me!) What I have found, though, is that after a few months the strings go dead really quickly. (I've had them on a couple of basses with similar results, so I don't think I was just unlucky and got a duff set.) Anyone else had similar experience with DDT strings? For my next set I'm thinking of getting some Hi-Beams which I thing will be even "softer" under the fingers and by all accounts last very well. I'd be glad to benefit from experience there, though - Have other people found DDTs don't last well and do people find Hi-Beams similar in sound and feel to DDT? Thanks for your advice. Chris