Mixing strings to even output?

**detracti** · 11-22-2009, 01:55 PM

I'm about to change strings on my EBMM 4HH here, and it occurred to me that possibly, using nickel plated for E and A, and using steel strings for G and D would even the output.

I have a set of D'Addario EXL160's here, so I'd take the E and A string out of that pack, and then maybe a take the G and D out of a set of Rotosound steel strings (most damage done by these strings, IME, is to the top two strings anyway).

Has anyone ever tried this. Any other recommendations for higher output strings?

**Duarte** · 11-22-2009, 02:06 PM

Power slinkies!

**Hellboy** · 11-22-2009, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by detracti

Any other recommendations for higher output strings?

Yes. Use a compressor.

I would personally not mix nickel and stainless on a bass. Different types of strings just don´t sound and feel the same so that would not work for me. That is of course a personal reflection but I´ve tried it accidentally once. I broke a string during a gig and the spare set I had in my gigbag was a stainless set. And I had nickel on the bass. Did not like it at all. Felt and sounded too different. I pay more attention to what spare sets I put in my gigbag these days the very few times I don´t bring two basses.

Better to use slightly thicker guages on the strings you think sound too weak instead of mixing different types of strings. Or use a good compressor.

My two cents...

Sincerely//Jan

**Bart B** · 11-22-2009, 02:38 PM

Thomastik Infeld are considered to be loudest strings in town,...but, that's only what I've heard..

**the unrepentant** · 11-22-2009, 02:45 PM

steel strings sound far more zingy, wouldn't sound right. Raise the pickups a little on the treble side... it's fairly simple...

**cassius987** · 11-22-2009, 02:53 PM

Sometimes I feel like steel is easier to "control" than nickel-plated steel when it comes to the response you want to elicit. It certainly can be "zingy" but it has such a wide range of responses based on your right hand (and left hand) technique. Truthfully I find steel much warmer than nickel when played for warmth. Nickel in general is too plunky for me to get a wide range of tones out of--it only seems good for a handful of sounds compared to steel.

With that in mind I would try not only adjusting your pickup height but also the kind of string and the gauge... but I would *not* mix types. That would drive me insane. I'm already very OCD about the string tension, which is why I mix singles to get the most balanced sets (I really like 45-60-80-105 sets for this reason).

**detracti** · 11-22-2009, 08:40 PM

At volume, on a set of strings the bottom two sound different than the top two anyway. The low pair are audible, the higher pair are not. And the feel is also different anyway, because I end up plucking the high pair much harder to compensate.

So I don't see either as being an issue.

**TheAntMan** · 11-22-2009, 11:26 PM

Not sure why this is an issue. Remember what Ernie Ball created? Custom gauge selection!!! Which means you can create your own gauge set by buying individual strings. This can give you the balance you are looking for. You can also adjust the pickup tilt to bring it closer on one end that can also help you balance the sound levels. These are innovations that EB has put at our disposal. I would try those before starting to mix / match alloys. Even so, you can get the gauges in either metal that you want with EB.

--Ant

**keko** · 11-23-2009, 05:01 AM

detracti, I think You have serious problem with something else in rig (gear) system!

I was in those "crazy" phase over 10 years ago, problematic PA support, bad hall, bad monitoring system on the stage, and old W@..ick bass...etc. (and too much beer too, sometimes

)

I tried a "million" combination of brands and string sets...etc., spent lots of money for nothing!

Now I have top bass, whole top gear, and of course more experience..., so I'm telling You, strung Your EBMM bass with some of regular EB strings set in offer, and try to find reason for different level in Your rig "chain", from bass output jack to the speakers!

P.S. ...or maybe should just make a good setup of whole bass...

**the unrepentant** · 11-23-2009, 07:15 AM

i don't understand these people that complain about the bottom two strings being "not audible" i've never had this problem, and if anything, it's more to do with the way the USER has set up the bass, particularly the pickup, a problem with the USER'S technique or a problem with the USER'S EQing on the amp. Not a problem with the bass.
just my 0.02

**oli@bass** · 11-23-2009, 08:14 AM

I'll state this again, just for the record: You cannot change the volume of a whole string by any EQ adjustments. Most probably the string to pickup distance is out of whack.

**five7** · 11-23-2009, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by oli@bass

i'll state this again, just for the record: You cannot change the volume of a whole string by any eq adjustments. Most probably the string to pickup distance is out of whack.

+1

**the unrepentant** · 11-23-2009, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by oli@bass

I'll state this again, just for the record: You cannot change the volume of a whole string by any EQ adjustments. Most probably the string to pickup distance is out of whack.

i know that, but obviously if you put a boost on certain low end frequencies and cut certain high mid frequencies, of course your E and A strings are going to sound louder then your D and G strings, it's common sense.