String comparisons for a Thumb BO

[Isa]

I’m looking forward to trying out new strings on my Thumb BO 4 this coming year. I know there have been several “string” threads, but I was hoping to get a little more specific feedback (a/b comparisons) on particular strings on a Thumb BO 4 (fretted). So far I have only played the Black Label Warwick strings (liked the sound but not the feel so much) and Black Beauties (like the sound almost as much as the Black Labels and like the feel).

The strings that I am considering are:

1. DR Extra Life (blue, green & red): it seems that these should be the same as the black beauties, but I have read that some players seem to find a difference between colors—is there any difference between the different colored coatings, or is any perceived difference only influenced by the color of the strings?

2. DR Fat Beams

3. Elixir Nanoweb

4. Elixir Polyweb

5. TI Flats (I’m interested in how well flats sound on a fretted Thumb)

6. Optima Gold—24 carat gold is just an interesting concept, just wondering if there is any real reason/benefits to justify the cost.

7. Warwick EMP (how do they compare to other coated strings?)

The poll is more for fun, and to see which strings are more “popular”; but I’m really more interested in WHAT the strings sound like and feel like compared to one another and the two I have tried, and WHY you like the strings you do, more so than simply saying WHICH strings are liked the best. I know it is sometimes difficult to try and quantify and qualify things that are largely subjective in nature (kind of like trying to explain what Love is), but I think this is the forum that can do it.

 

[avionix543]

Isa -
Of the strings listed, the only ones I haven't run on a Thumb BO are the TI flats and Fat Beams. I cast my vote for the Optima's first and I'd put Nanowebs in a close second, EMP's third. I thought the same thing about Optima - could be cool, could be a waste of money. Then I hit a $5 scratch-off for $100 so I figured, why not? I got a set about a week before Christmas and have had them on the Thumb BO5 for two weeks of nearly continuous play. For the first two days, they were obnoxiously bright, which works quite well for the Thumb, then they mellowed to what I would personally find to be the best mix of bright, smooth, sharp, tight, and flexible. They're kinda high tension, so the B and E are amazingly accurate and after about 40-50 hours of vigorous play time on them (usually my strings are dead at this point) they've mellowed even more to a really smoky jazz kind of tone with enough edge to keep a clean attack and they've consistently done very well in the sustain department. They have also been able to keep in tune very well for three or four days at a time even with temperature swings of 50 degrees and rainy days (as much the bass as the strings, but they're part of that equation). As far as feel, they've been easier on the fingers than Black Labels but will still scrape a few layers off if you're out of practice. I dunno how to describe the texture... good tactile response but you can still slide on them without rattling the frets??? Similar in feel to BB's but not quite so slick. Zero corrosion without the plasticky feel of coated strings. Awesome midrange for a steel string but not as much as nickel, and exceptionally good with nuance playing styles. Then of course there is the bit about gold strings over brass frets over waxed ovangkol... I have read on other forums that if you beat the snot out of them consistently, the gold plating can come loose, but I don't do that so I can't say whether it's true or not. No problems so far... ~M~

 

[saxonbass]

I've voted "other" - currently d'Addario nickel, but I wanted to get in on this thread as I'm currently on the quest for the perfect string.

I can say, I've tried TI flats (on fretless) and I think they're great, but just won't have the necessary brightness for some styles of playing.

 

[Casey]

Right now I have warwick black labels on it, And they sound pretty good... I also use dr fatbeams

 

[Oil Can]

I liked the DR Lo-Riders, but the Fat Beams are what I normally string up on my BO4. They have a little more bottom end than the Lo-Riders.

I was a Rotosound guy for years (through the 1980's and 1990's... I had Rotos on my Thumb NT5 until I swapped them out for DR Long Necks last weekend). But I think the DR's have a little smoother texture, that eliminates some of the finger noise, and these strings last a long, long time.

 

[Stroud]

this is interesting...the EMPs are winning by quite a lot but in the other string threads the EMPs never really get talked about much...

 

[Isa]

this is interesting...the EMPs are winning by quite a lot but in the other string threads the EMPs never really get talked about much...

I agree. What is also interesting, is that I've heard a lot positive feedback in other threads about DR Extra Life and the TI Flatwound, and neither one has even gotten a vote yet.

It will be interesting to see how the poll develops; but I would also like more feedback in posts

 

[Oil Can]

The only way to buy Warwick strings in my area is to buy them on a new Warwick bass.

The idea that such an overwhelming number of players in this poll are using them is enough for me to ask the question. "Can I order a couple of sets from Dana B. Goods?"

 

[Stroud]

I would also like more feedback in posts

okey dokey :wink: the only ones from the list i've actually used are the EMPs and i love these. I'm not one that really listens to the difference in tone between different makes, i just want something that sounds nice and stays sounding nice and EMPs do this exceptionally well for me. I've had them for about 2 months and havnt had a drop in tone yet. They also feel nice, slightly smoother but they dont really feel coated and the covering doesnt scrape of at all.

Its only a shame i cant use the EMP b string as well i have to get my b sting seperatly as my bridge is a yamaha one piece bridge.

 

[Shiney McShine]

I still like the Blue Steels quite a bit, although I'm currently trying out DR Hi-Beams. Both feel pretty similar to me...