WarrenD Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Hello all, I'm curious about brand popularity and wondered whether anyone here knows the degree to which strings are popular. I posted this on an American website to which the response was D'Addario as the most popular bass string, followed by Ernie Ball, Dean Markley, Fender, Elixir, DR.... in an order roughly like this. Perhaps the order is different in UK or Europe, with Rotosounds higher up the 'ranking list'. Any thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blind pilot Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I have always used rotosounds, er because thats what I have always used, I have some DR's coming though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EssentialTension Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 (edited) I never use Rotosound. I do use La Bellas, Thomastiks, Pyramids. Edited June 17, 2011 by EssentialTension Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatthewKeys Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Elixir. Rotosound are bad IMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 warwick for roundwound, pyramid gold for flatties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crez5150 Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Status Hotwires for me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RhysP Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 If you use the forum search function you'll find quite a few threads on this topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thisnameistaken Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 I'm using five different types of strings at the moment and I'd consider six different brands to be my 'usual' strings. Oddly I only have four basses. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linus27 Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Elites is all I use and have done for 20 years or so. My Warwick did have some Warwick Black labels string on which sounded great. I did try some Rotosounds on my Precision after speaking to Derek Forbes but I hated them and put the Elites back on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KiOgon Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 GHS are my favourite brand by far. As they're obviouly a top USA manufactured bass string, I can't believe they didn't feature in the OP's 'American website' results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waynepunkdude Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Big fan of EB decent strings at a decent price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarPig Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 [quote name='crez5150' post='1273033' date='Jun 17 2011, 06:25 PM']Status Hotwires for me[/quote] +1 Or Fender 7250's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean-Luc Pickguard Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Thomastik flats - If no thomastiks are suitable for the bass (eg danelectro longhorn) LaBella flats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimBobTTD Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Ernie Ball all the way for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Interesting... I used DR's faithfully for nigh on 20 years and was very happy with them. I'd get quite a few cleans out of them as well..which helps when you are in for nigh on £40 per pack. Since I changed basses..and peg config..I needed a new set or sets..and decided to see what else was out there I'd had a duff pack of DR ..not one string, which I NEVER had all that time before, but a whole pack. I favour Tapered B's so that cut my choices down..I also like no silk winds as that just gets messing when cleaning them... I would like to stick with DR's but they aren't cheap. Best, I have had recently have been XL pro steels..although a tad bass heavy in sound, but they stay the same sounding for a decent while. DR are livelier initially but you notice the degrade more than XL pros.... Ken Smith are good and reasonable money so I'll buy more of them and La bella Super steps are my faves at the moment but I have only ahd the one set. It would be a shanme to write off DR strings but there latest batches have been iffy.. and causing me to look elsewhere. I definitely think something has changed in the steel that these winders use..and I am pretty sure that winders make strings for all sorts of brands..correct me if I am too wide of the makr here... so I would welcome a source that supplies a lot of string in a lot of gauges. I need this 40-125 with a T B str. I can go for La Bellas Super Steps at Thomann for the best price EVEN with £10 post but I end up shopping around to get the sets I want..if I deviate from brands. So if anyone knows who does a tapered B in 125 or less..then let me know. I would try Warwicks as I hear good things but most websites on strings aren't forthcoming on this.. hence why I use D'addario, DR and Ken Smith ..so far. Am thinking about using U.S sites for a bulk buy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NJW Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 I think I'm one of the only people I know who used D'Addario PROSTEEL strings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BASainty Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Elites for Roundwounds, Picato for Flatwounds and im going to test out a set of Status Hotwires. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 I've only used Roto Flats for the past 7 or 8 months but previously used Hartke rounds. I have also used Ernie Balls, Elites, TI flats, LaBellas, Picato, Roto rounds, Trace Elliot, Fender, D'addario Chromes, Dean Markley, Optima Gold & Chrome rounds, Peavey, DR coated and not, Warwick Red & Yellow Label, GHS, Rickenbacker, Hamer, and probably others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wilco Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Used to use Kerly Kues but a recent convert to DR Sunbeams. (Regardless, only nickelwound roundwounds for me) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 I use Rotosound flats exclusively now...sounds like I need an endorsement Never understood the Rotosound bating that goes on here sometimes. It'd be boring if we all liked the same gear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doddy Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 [quote name='NJW' post='1273638' date='Jun 18 2011, 12:12 PM']I think I'm one of the only people I know who used D'Addario PROSTEEL strings.[/quote] They're my favourites aswell. Ernie Ball are nice,as are Fender and GHS,but I prefer the D'addrios. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbass4k Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 DR, they're expensive, but I just can't go back, especially now I've discovered their DDT strings, the best strings I've ever used for drop tuning. They cost a fair bit, but they last 3-4 months on their own, and they'll clean back to a zingy sound 2 or 3 times, so you can get 7 or 8 months out of one set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Interesting this. I had a dead G about six weeks ago. Emailed them and they haven't got back yet. [quote name='JTUK' post='1273590' date='Jun 18 2011, 11:27 AM']Interesting... I used DR's faithfully for nigh on 20 years and was very happy with them. I'd get quite a few cleans out of them as well..which helps when you are in for nigh on £40 per pack. Since I changed basses..and peg config..I needed a new set or sets..and decided to see what else was out there I'd had a duff pack of DR ..not one string, which I NEVER had all that time before, but a whole pack. I favour Tapered B's so that cut my choices down..I also like no silk winds as that just gets messing when cleaning them... I would like to stick with DR's but they aren't cheap. Best, I have had recently have been XL pro steels..although a tad bass heavy in sound, but they stay the same sounding for a decent while. DR are livelier initially but you notice the degrade more than XL pros.... Ken Smith are good and reasonable money so I'll buy more of them and La bella Super steps are my faves at the moment but I have only ahd the one set. It would be a shanme to write off DR strings but there latest batches have been iffy.. and causing me to look elsewhere. I definitely think something has changed in the steel that these winders use..and I am pretty sure that winders make strings for all sorts of brands..correct me if I am too wide of the makr here... so I would welcome a source that supplies a lot of string in a lot of gauges. I need this 40-125 with a T B str. I can go for La Bellas Super Steps at Thomann for the best price EVEN with £10 post but I end up shopping around to get the sets I want..if I deviate from brands. So if anyone knows who does a tapered B in 125 or less..then let me know. I would try Warwicks as I hear good things but most websites on strings aren't forthcoming on this.. hence why I use D'addario, DR and Ken Smith ..so far. Am thinking about using U.S sites for a bulk buy.[/quote] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomE Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 DR's for the last few years. Tried a lot of others before but the DR's have been the most reliable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Academy Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 After trying every string on the market, it's now DRs all the way for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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