DR Lo Rider - 045-105 Both sets of strings are fairly new. You will receive a verification email shortly. For a versatile everyday string, we’d be choosing between Ernie Ball’s Regular Slinkys and D’Addario’s NYXLs. The gauges are the same for the thickest three strings, but the 45 gauge G string on the Rotosound is slightly lighter than the Ernie Ball 50 G-string. Probably the most coveted flatwound string brand during the 1960s and 70’s. So for my five-string needs I’ll stick to Rotosound. More contemporary sound than many flatwounds, Upright/acoustic bass tones on electric bass, Only one five-string set available and no six-strings, Separate sets for through-bridge/through-body installation, Solid tuning stability and balanced string tension, Drop tuning without super-heavy string gauges, Warmer sound than some stainless steel strings, Only three gauge ranges available for four-string, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices, Buyers' guides to all the best music gear, The 10 best bass guitars for every budget, Best bass amps: top choice amplification for bassists, Smaller budget? Rotosound SM665 Swing Bass 66 Stainless Steel 5 String Bass Guitar Strings (40 60 80 100 125) 4.8 out of 5 stars 46. Check your inbox now to confirm your subscription. If you find yourself regularly changing your tuning there’s a lot to be said for the DDTs. One of the best bass strings available for crystal clear modern tones, Price: $39.99/£32.55/€35.92 | Winding: | Material: Tin-plated high-carbon steel core/Iron-cobalt alloy winding | Tone: Mid-scooped, defined bass and treble | Suited to: Modern metal, funk and pop | Available gauges: 45-100, 45-105, 50-105, 55-110, 45-130 (five-string). The material a string is made of has the biggest impact on its sound. Rotosound | Iconic music strings since 1958. Give your bass a boost with our pick of the best bass guitar strings around. The agony of choice is a big issue when it comes to picking the best bass strings for you. Save more with Subscribe & Save. The British Steels series included three sets, super light to medium gauges, whose wound strings have a high iron content, stainless steel wrap. La Bella Deep Talkin’ Bass. The best bass strings for beginners and those on a tight budget, Price: $15.99/£13.02/€14.36 | Winding: Roundwound | Material: Steel core/Nickel-plated steel winding | Tone: Low-mid punch, clear, treble-light | Suited to: All-round tones | Available gauges: 40-102, 44-102, 44-106, 44-130 (five-string). Let’s deal with tone first. Rotosound’s strength is the fact that everything is manufactured in-house, often on proprietary machinery, and the new Ultramag range of Type 52 Alloy (52 per cent nickel) electric … This includes not only Soundbars and Bookshelf speakers, but headphones as well! The small-diameter core gives a feel that’s not too stiff. Finally, consider coated strings, which, though primarily designed to aid longevity, keep your strings feeling fresh, smooth and easy to play for longer. This hardness also affects the tone, as steel is more in-your-face and brighter compared to the warmth of nickel strings. Dan Veall deals deep into the latest revolution in bass guitar technology from extraordinary minds at Rotosound, with his review of the Rotosound ULTRAMAG bass strings. A decent buy! The Tru Bass 88’s metal core is wrapped in a flatwound nylon winding, offering a deep warm tone with a buttery smooth feel, plus increased dynamic range and touch sensitivity that metal strings simply can’t match. Sting is a Lo-Rider user, their modern tone ideally suited to his late-career material – so these can sure be a versatile everyday option. I don’t play steel for its tonal qualities though; I just simply can’t play nickel strings due to allergies. It wasn’t until 1962 that Rotosound developed the first round-wound strings for electric bass - the famed Swing Bass 66 set. This is a bass strings comparison between: 1. A classic bass string to those in the know, Flatwound La Bellas were the go-to choice of legendary sessionistas James Jamerson and Donald “Duck” Dunn. I haven’t noticed any fret damage myself while playing steel strings over several years, but it does make sense that a harder material like steel would wear out the frets faster. Some of the best bass strings available for slapping, tapping and popping, Price: $24.99/£20.24/€22.60 | Winding: Roundwound | Material: Stainless steel | Tone: Deep bass and bright treble | Suited to: Contemporary sounds and slap | Available gauges: 40-95, 40-100, 45-100, 45-105, 50-110, 40-120 (five-string), 45-125 (five-string), 45-130 (five-string), 30-125 (six-string), 30-130 (six-string). 8. Volumes can be written on how this new technology changed bass tone, and hence the shape of modern music. What are the differences though? This renowned Californian string brand has been doing business since 1962 are… Bass players who love to slap, pop and tap will be drawn to this set from DR. With the typical forthright tone of stainless steel, the crystal clear chiming treble makes this a great string for virtuoso techniques. Established in 1958, UK string brand Rotosound is responsible for defining some of the greatest guitar and bass tones committed to tape, from Hendrix to The Who, Guns N’ Roses to Florence + The Machine. We pride ourselves on offering only the very best upright basses. We can’t remember the last time we changed the strings on our acoustic bass, so long-lasting tone sounds good to us! For flatwounds, we’d opt for a set of Rotosound Jazz Bass 77s, their tonal versatility tipping the balance over other strings. Pair them with an active preamp for a great high end setup. Orchestra Upright Bass Strings. Some of the best bass strings for bright, modern sounds, Price: $24.99/£20.24/€22.60 | Winding: Roundwound | Material: Steel core/Nickel plated steel winding | Tone: Bright, clear | Suited to: Modern rock, pop, metal | Available gauges: 40-95, 45-100, 45-105. One of the original Rotosound sets from the early 1960s. Elixir’s ultra-thin coating protects the string, preventing grime accumulating between the windings – that means long life and lasting tone. Both the Rotosound Swing Bass and Ernie Ball Regular Slinky strings are quite aggressive due to the round-wound design. I bought a selection of bass strings a few years ago and settled on Rotosound Funkmaster Stainless 30 - 90s, which I've used happily ever since. Rotosound’s history starts long before the brand name was registered in around 1969 and the company have one of the most famous names in bass guitar strings. There’s a choice to be made between flatwound and roundwound strings, too. FREE … Opt for a medium gauge set and you’ll strike a balance of playability and tone – perfect for beginners or anyone who prefers not to go too far down the tonal rabbit hole. Well our reviewers like that stuff too and are into all the gadgets to improve on-stage performance. They’re perhaps a little warmer than other stainless steel sets, but it’s no big issue. Well yes, by and large. A thinner core can make the string feel more pliant, and smoother, softer metal alloys can be used on windings to improve feel. As regards playability, generally lighter gauges are great for slap bass or fast leads, whereas a weightier set will give you fatter tone for heavy metal, modern RnB and for downtuning. Opt for a heavy gauge set (as did Jamerson) and make sure to give them at least a couple of months for that new string tone to wear off and their trademark thud to bed in. 'S most famous and highest quality electric bass - the famed Swing strings. 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