silverfoxnik Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Hi Folks, As some of you will know, my main bass for the past 4 or 5 years has been a Fender Roscoe Beck 5 string and though I've hada a few variations on the theme, the one I have now I acquired from Happy Jack 2 years ago and it's just great for me! AFAIK, Jack got the bass from NJE and when Jack had it, it still had the same set of strings on it that NJE had put on it and those sounded really great to me - very even in tone across the strings and they had a lot of 'thump' to them (if that makes sense??).. ..Anyway, I recently changed the strings on it as they were a couple of years old and even though I like a quite 'old skool' tone, I figured I should put some new ones on and give the bass a set-up. Because I had no idea what strings were on it when i got it from Jack, I wasn't sure what strings to choose, so after a bit of dithering around, I went with some Ernie Ball Super Slinkys (0.45 - .130) from Stringbusters and though they're quite bright and 'zingy' sounding etc, etc, they just don't have that low-end 'thump' to them to my ears and what's more, the B string isn't quite as well defined as it was before. And this doesn't really change, even if I dial in some lows or low-mids on my amp to compensate. So, I'm wondering what other strings the good folk on Basschat might suggest, particularly bearing in mind my more' old skool' preferences... Thanks as ever for looking.. Nik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 I would imagine the La Bella Jamerson set would have the most "thump" but that might require a full set up due to the high tension. I'd try a heavy duty set of the DR Lo-Riders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clarky Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 I assume these were rounds as you went for Slinkys as replacements? Status Hot Wire strings are quite thumpy IMHO, either the rounds or the half-rounds (which are not as slidey as flats in case you are not a flats fan). They are also cheaper than most US made strings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 6 month old Rotosound Roundwounds (heavy gauge) are quite thump, but you have to get past the first months over-zinginess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ou7shined Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Tone knob? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigwan Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 ...So that's where my old RB5 went after NJE. Great bass. One that got away... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Jack Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 [quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1336985510' post='1653431'] I assume these were rounds as you went for Slinkys as replacements? Status Hot Wire strings are quite thumpy IMHO, either the rounds or the half-rounds (which are not as slidey as flats in case you are not a flats fan). They are also cheaper than most US made strings [/quote] +1 on this, Nik. If that were still my bass (and I do still miss it) I would go for Status Hotwire half-rounds. Much as I love flats, I don't like a flat on a B-string; the Hotwire half-rounds retain a fair degree of definition while still supplying the thump. I used them on my Alleva Coppolo KBP5 before it went to Clarky. It now lives on the Isle of Wight I gather. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsgbass Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 I go with D'Addario ETB92 Nylon Tapewound Strings. Gauges, .50, .65, .85, .105 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 I put a set of Slinky's on my G&L (four string) and hated them at first but two or three gigs later during the little bass break on Brown Eyed Girl , I realised that they suddenly sounded very nice. It wasn't just down to the excitment of yet again playing that song, they actually did sound good and with plenty of thump. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conan Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 DR sunbeams? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverfoxnik Posted May 15, 2012 Author Share Posted May 15, 2012 Thanks for all the replies Folks; really helpful as usual and I'm looking at the different strings on-line now..will let you know how I get on. Spot-on Clarky - I had rounds on last time and went for the same with the Slinkys.. Bigwan - I can assure you your old RB5 is being well looked after! Gary mac - thanks for that though I have done a couple of gigs with the Slinkys and still feel as though something's missing for some reason.. Must be my age... Cheers Nik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KennysFord Posted May 15, 2012 Share Posted May 15, 2012 I'd say Sunbeams as well. I've not found any string that comes close if you want rounds and old school tone. They're very warm sounding and feel lovely under the fingers too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted May 16, 2012 Share Posted May 16, 2012 Another one for Sunbeams. Sound great on my MIA Jazz. Mine might still be a bit on the new side, and would doubtless thump more with humbuckers than single coils. Still damn good strings, and easy on the fingers and frets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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