Couple of Questions

[RemainsofOmega]

Hey I been playing bass for about a year and I rencently tried a MM StingRay at my local guitar center and after playing with it, I feel in love with it. In six weeks I'll have enough saved up to buy one. So I was wondering....


1. What's the difference (besides color of wood) between Rosewood and Maple?

---and---

I know this is a Ernie Ball Forum, but...
2.Which Strings do you prefer (GHS', Elixers, or Ernie Ball's) and why?

Thanks

 

[midopa]

1. Rosewood has more sustain (notes can last longer) and has a sound that's more bassy than maple. Maple has a bright and sharp sound to it.

2. I've only used three brands of strings in my two years of playing, but other cats on this board have surely used more. They can probably give thorough input. As for me, I've used GHS, D'Addarios, and Ernie Balls.

The GHS strings were okay, but died pretty quickly (strings can't stay in tune, hard to play, etc.). The D'Addarios I've played were bad strings - they broke too often for me. I'm with Ernie Ball strings right now. They've got a nice bright sound that I like and haven't gone dead as fast as the GHS strings I've owned and haven't broke as fast as the D'Addarios.

 

[Stingraymund]

[
I know this is a Ernie Ball Forum, but...
2.Which Strings do you prefer (GHS', Elixers, or Ernie Ball's) and why?

Thanks [/B]

DRs. I use hi-beams. Just started using them, these are the strings for me.

EBs are great, I've used Regular Slinky 5s (.130 B string) on my Stingray5 before, but 1) I'm a stainless steel kinda guy and 2) I prefer thinner gauge strings. I've recently tried the new Super Slinky 5s (.125 B string) and they're just AWFUL. The tension is way too floppy and the D and G has a nasty slap tone. Yech.

I used Rotosounds for a while, I liked them a lot, nice slapping sound, but they chew into the frets a bit and the last set I used had an E that was responsible for lots of unexplained buzzing.

I finally tried DRs and they're awesome. The gauge is just right (I have the ultra-lite set (.120 B string) and it's the most solid B I've ever strung on this bass. I heard the DRs last long so I'll see about that in a few months.

 

[Aussie Mark]

In the string department, I use flatwounds exclusively. As for brands, on some of my basses I prefer TI Jazz flats, which are lower tension and give a great vintage vibe. My Precision and Jazz are strung with TI flats. I now have a set on my fretless Stingray, and it seems like a good match.

I've recently tried Dean Markley flats, and they're a very nice string, and I currently have them on two of my Gibsons.

All of my other basses including my fretted Stingrays are strung with D'Addario Chromes, which have higher tension and a lovely feel.

 

[Stingraymund]

TIs

In the string department, I use flatwounds exclusively. As for brands, on some of my basses I prefer TI Jazz flats, which are lower tension and give a great vintage vibe. My Precision and Jazz are strung with TI flats. I now have a set on my fretless Stingray, and it seems like a good match.

I too have TI Jazz Flats on my fretless Stingray 4. First I was concerned about the tension so I changed em to Rotosound flats, but then those strings had TOO MUCH tension that it hurt me hands. I went back to TIs and discovered that if I raised the action a little bit I not only get a little higher tension but more MWAH!

I've always heard that lower tension = more mwah but that probably only applies to roundwounds.

 

[bovinehost]

I love the TI Flats, too, and have them on 2 Rumblefish basses, a Stingray and a Bongo 5.

One thing I think I have to face is that they do not have enough tension to pull a Bongo 4 neck into proper relief.

I have two Bongo 4s and apparently can't use TI Flats on either. Luckily, the LaBella Deep Talking Flats do a nice job on the Bongo 4, but I need another set!

 

[dlloyd]

1. What's the difference (besides color of wood) between Rosewood and Maple?

You get a brighter sound with the maple. (mine has a maple neck)

I know this is a Ernie Ball Forum, but...
2.Which Strings do you prefer (GHS', Elixers, or Ernie Ball's) and why?

Haven't used too many different brands but I'm currently on Ernie Ball Power Slinkies and will probably stay there.

I tried Stainless Steel strings with this bass and didn't like it. I suspect Stainless Steel strings work better with a rosewood board, maple not needing that extra brightness.

 

[Moondog]

If you're a rookie, I think you would really like the feel of DR nickels. I prefer the sunbeams but the lo-riders are great too. If you want some x-tra ZING & don't mind the feel of SS, try hi-beams, another great string.