Question Stainless steel strings

[metalarch]

Hello all, I'm thinking in giving a try to Rotosound strings (RS666LD) in my BONGO 6 but those are stainlees steel strings, can anyone tell me if that kind of string affects in any way the life of the frets...I usually use nickel wound (EB slinky) strings.
Thank you for your help.

 

[TheAntMan]

EB also sells steel bass strings. So, I would take that to be, NO, steel should not be a detriment to your bass. Don't think EB would sell them if they were bad for your instrument.

--Ant

 

[metalarch]

EB also sells steel bass strings. So, I would take that to be, NO, steel should not be a detriment to your bass. Don't think EB would sell them if there were bad for your instrument.

--Ant

Thanxxx...
Yeah! I know EB have stainless stell strings, but only for 4 string basses...I want to try that ones on a Bongo 6.

 

[jlepre]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Steel strings tend to wear the frets more than say nickel.

FYI there is another section of the forums dedicated to questions of this nature:

Ernie Ball Strings - Ernie Ball Forums

 

[TheAntMan]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but Steel strings tend to wear the frets more than say nickel.[/url]

Not playing your instrument at all causes even less wear.

--Ant

 

[keko]

Thanxxx...
Yeah! I know EB have stainless stell strings, but only for 4 string basses...I want to try that ones on a Bongo 6.

Hey people, don't use RS66 Rotosound, I've destroyed frets on my previous W@rwick with this strings over a years of use!

This strings are great for slap tone, but nothing else, RS66 are brutal fret killers!

Use EB, D'Addario, DR...but avoid RS stainless, trust me, I know what I'm talkin' about!

 

[cellkirk74]

Not playing your instrument at all causes even less wear.

--Ant

S*it, I knew I made mistake...

 

[Manfloozy]

Steel will cause "more" wear than Nickel rounds which will cause "more" wear than nickel flats which will cause "more" wear than nylon strings which will cause "more" wear than not playing it at all.

How much that "more" is is the $8 million question, but that differs from each application with each playing style and is hard to predict. If your primary concern is fret wear than steer away from SS rounds (and playing hard, and make sure to wipe them down regularly, and don't keep the bass in acid or corosive climates..... You get the idea), if your primary concern is your sound than go for whatever string gets you there. Balance this mixture to taste.

 

[Chuck B]

I played stainless steels for years until I didn't like them anymore from one day to another. Everything's ok on my Ray.

 

[five7]

+1 to keko and the ant man

 

[Stephen]

In terms of wear, frets are a bit like strings: over time, they will wear out. When worn beyond good playability, have them replaced. It's not rocket surgery, is it?

That said, just use the strings that sound and feel right to your ears, and just play the thing.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

In theory, they are harder on the frets because they are a harder material. There are many factors involved, including how hard you fret, if you bend strings and obviously how often you play. I am not sure if there is a significant difference in wear over nickel strings.

I personally don't consider it a factor when making my string choice. I go with what feels and sounds best.

 

[Caca de Kick]

All I use is stainless for over twenty years of bass playing, and never wore out any frets.

 

[oli@bass]

It all really depends on playing style. I used to have a really hard attack, combined with having very low action with buzz and click all over the place. I liked that. And the sound suited my metal bands well. And the only strings I used were Rotos back then. I wore out the frets on my "go to" bass after about 10 years. I did switch to nickel rounds (mostly Slinky) eventually, but I also changed my playing style. And changed basses more often. Not a single mark on a fret since then.

So, you really have to try yourself. If you like the sound and feel of stainless steel, then go for it. Don't care too much about the frets.

 

[Movielife]

Use flats and don't worry Group IIIs!

 

[ssab]

As stainless steel strings I'd recommend DR Strings "Fat Beams". If I compare them to EBM Nickel Slinky, they have almost the same smoothness and are not that harsh/metallic as other stainless steel strings I've used.

RS66 sound great but they are really rough (at least on my fingers, dunno about the frets).

"Fat-Beams" Marcus Miller Signature Series. | DR Strings

 

[TheAntMan]

Cool to help out with recommendations,but, let's not forget whose house we are in. Wouldn't go to my mom's for dinner and brag about how better one of my girlfriend's cooking is.

Just mentioning it.

--Ant

 

[jlepre]

Took the words right out of my mouth...

Cool to help out with recommendations,but, let's not forget whose house we are in. Wouldn't go to my mom's for dinner and brag about how better one of my girlfriend's cooking is.

Just mentioning it.

--Ant

 

[five7]

Cool to help out with recommendations,but, let's not forget whose house we are in. Wouldn't go to my mom's for dinner and brag about how better one of my girlfriend's cooking is.

Just mentioning it.

--Ant

How many girlfriends you have?

 

[TheAntMan]

How many girlfriends you have?

I was speaking metaphorically.

I am happily out of the 'girlfriends' stage. My wife and I just enjoyed our 13th anniversary on Oct 3rd. Been together for 18 years, we want to be that little old couple you see walking on the beach holding hands

--Ant