Bass Strings Archives - Page 5
Fretless Bass: A Guide for Choosing the Best Strings
Q: I’ve been wanted to get a fretless bass recently to expand my horizons, and a question that’s come up in my mind is the type of stings I’d play on fretless. Roundwounds, flatwounds, half wounds… so many to chose from and all with different pros and cons. Right now I play roundwounds. What are the pros and cons for...
Payson Introduces Fanned Nickel Steel Medium Light Bass Strings
Payson has introduced a new Medium Light gauge set to their fanned nickel steel bass strings. As with the rest of the series, the Payson Fanned Nickel Steel Medium Light Bass Strings are designed specifically for Dingwall basses, or any other boutique builders using fanned multi-scale lengths from 34 to 37 inches. The set’s gauges are .130T, .100T, .078T, .058,...
DR Strings Adds White Bass Strings to NEON Hi-Def Line
DR Strings has added to their NEON line of bass strings with the NEON Hi-Def White set. The strings, which are white in color, are black light active for a bright appearance and feature DR’s K3 coating for extended life. DR is offering the strings in Lite and Medium gauges for 4- and 5-string basses as well as a 6-string...
Dunlop Goes Lower with New Heavy Core Bass Strings
Dunlop’s bass strings lineup is going even lower with the introduction of their Heavy Core Bass Strings. Designed with thicker core wires, the new sets were created to give a standard feel and tonal definition at drop tunings. The Heavy Core lineup comes in three flavors: Heavy for Drop D and D-standard tuning, Heavier for Drop C and C-standard tuning,...
Bass Strings: To Change Or Not To Change
For years, bass players have debated the concept of changing strings and most people have asked the same questions: Doesn’t it change the sound of the instrument? Does the funk disappear? How can someone get good tone playing strings that are a year old? Don’t you know that (insert famous bass player) never changed his strings? Don’t you know that...
La Bella Strings Introduces 760T White Nylon Tape Wound Bass Set
La Bella Strings has introduced the 760T White Nylon Tape Wound Set of bass strings. The new strings differ from their 760N counterparts by being made with a transparent nylon wrapped over stainless steal underlays. La Bella notes that the White Nylon set offers a brighter sound and smoother finish for easier gliding between notes. The 760T set can be...
Dean Markley Introduces Nikki Sixx Helix HD SS Bass Strings
Dean Markley has expanded their Helix series strings with a signature set for Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx. Used by the man himself, the Nikki Sixx Helix HD SS Bass Strings are made of a special stainless steel alloy that the company says has an “inherent bright and cutting timbre.” Following the line, the new set of strings is constructed...
Bass Strings: Tips for Finding the Right Sound
This week’s column comes thanks to a question from Maria G. Maria asks: I’m a pretty new player, but I’m not happy with my upright bass strings. I know I need something different, but there are so many different kinds of strings out there I don’t know where to start. They are also expensive (!) so I can’t really experiment...
Dean Markley Introduces Helix Bass String Series
Dean Markley has introduced the Helix String Series, including the Helix NPS and SS sets for bass. The new strings are made with a patent-pending hyper-elliptical winding technique that creates a tighter wrap and more mass while also sealing the strings without the need of a coating. Increasing the string mass, the company explains, makes a fuller tone and more...
Ernie Ball Introduces Cobalt Slinky Bass Strings
Ernie Ball has expanded their Slinky string line with the introduction of the all-new Cobalt Slinkys. As the name indicates, the new sets use cobalt, which has a high magnetism to provide a stronger relationship between an instrument’s strings and pickups. Ernie Ball says the design adds extended dynamic range, better harmonic response, increased low end, and cleaner highs. The...
La Bella Expands Super Alloy 52 Strings Line to Bass
La Bella has expanded their Super Alloy 52 Series of strings with the addition of four new electric bass sets. Available in Extra Light, Light, Standard Light, and 5-string Standard Light, the new strings are described as bright and tarnish-proof. The line gets its name from the string’s outer wrap, which contains 52% nickel to prevent tarnishing. The other 48%...
Elixir Strings Announces New Changes to String Lines
Elixir Strings has announced some new changes to their popular line of coated bass strings, including a new coated stainless steel set. The stainless steel strings are designed to offer the bright and clear tone of stainless bass strings, but easier on the fingers and longer tone life. The company’s original nickel-plated bass strings have been tweaked to offer improved...