Ernie ball or Rotosound

[MM Scarborough]

Hi guys, iv been using switching from Rotosound/Ernie ball for the past 6 months and cant decide which strings are best. I find ernie balls aren't as tough and break more easily, but feel softer to play and nicer to touch, Rotosounds feel harder to play but iv never snapped any. Soundwise, i can't decide. mainly because I can't remember how they first sounded when new and I don't wana buy a set of each to compare (although im considering it), I want something that voices the stringray sound the best. I play real heavy with both a Pick and fingers and like minmal buzz. What do we think??????? Hope mentioning rotosound doesn't get me into trouble

 

[nismaniac]

Hi guys, iv been using switching from Rotosound/Ernie ball for the past 6 months and cant decide which strings are best. I find ernie balls aren't as tough and break more easily, but feel softer to play and nicer to touch, Rotosounds feel harder to play but iv never snapped any. Soundwise, i can't decide. mainly because I can't remember how they first sounded when new and I don't wana buy a set of each to compare (although im considering it), I want something that voices the stringray sound the best. I play real heavy with both a Pick and fingers and like minmal buzz. What do we think??????? Hope mentioning rotosound doesn't get me into trouble

I just took off the stock nickel slinkys and put some stainless steel rotosounds on my SR5. The sound was definately an improvement but my favorite strings are stainless steel anyway. I wish they would make slinkys in 5 string stainless steel sets. I already ordered some D'addario Prisms because I am not happy with the way the B string rotosound is acting. Plus the Prism B string is tapered.

It was kind of strange, the B string just isn't ringing out like the other strings. The EADG rotosounds were better than the slinkys but the B string slinky was better than the rotosound B. Hopefully the Prisms will work out. Otherwise I will just try to get used to nickel strings and buy some slinkys again.

 

[oldbluebassman]

I posted something similar the other day - I use Rotosound Nickels 40-125 on both of my SR5s to excellent results. I tried Stainless but it wasn't the same. I haven't used EB strings since the original sets came off the basses. I tried Elites last year and found them to go off in a couple of weeks.

However my pre-EB has some Elixir Nanowebs and they sound Mmmagic.

 

[nismaniac]

I posted something similar the other day - I use Rotosound Nickels 40-125 on both of my SR5s to excellent results. I tried Stainless but it wasn't the same. I haven't used EB strings since the original sets came off the basses. I tried Elites last year and found them to go off in a couple of weeks.

However my pre-EB has some Elixir Nanowebs and they sound Mmmagic.

So you like nickel strings better than stainless? I guess I might start trying nickel again. I would be curious to see a poll on this board of how many people use nickel vs. stainless.

 

[MM Scarborough]

i've seen some strings called slappers which have a stainless inner core and a nickel coating. Can't remember who there made by, what about sound which sounds the best? EB or rotosound?

 

[armybass]

Those are La Bella Slappers and I love them. Don't let the name fool you though, they are not a string just for slapping. I really enjoy the lower/mmedium tension on those strings and the warmth of the tone......but back to your original question.

I play real heavy with both a Pick and fingers and like minmal buzz.

I am not a real big fan of Rotos at all but from that line from what you said, I would think the Rotos would be a good choice. They have a heavier tension as I recall and probably have a tone more suited to your needs.

 

[cybrpunk]

I used to use Dadario Slow Wounds and was impressed with there tone. I switched over to straight up slinkys which weren't too bad after that and much cheaper. The set I have on right now though, are Elixer Nano-Webs and I hate them. I can't wait to get them off my bass. The problem is I can't justify taking them off after i paid so much for them, and that dang coating keeps them from wearing out quickly. I guess if you like there sound its great but ironically horrible for me

 

[Bassplyr]

Stainless strings are great for high end tone, but they tear the heck out of your frets. Nickel is much more subdued but easier on your fretboard. I always choose stainless for rock cover songs.

 

[StingEye]

DR Strings for my corvette, Slinky's For the 'Ray...Seem to make a pretty nice combination.

 

[midopa]

Chevron for my Hyundai.

 

[MM Scarborough]

i've been reading up on strings now for th past week. Im going to try some Slappers, as opposed to rotosound and ernie ball. I love the tone of rotosound, but they really cane my fingers, they have to much tension for me. Ernieballs likewise, although I recall them being slightly softer. Anyway know where I can get some labella slappers cheap in the uk?

 

[dlloyd]

i've been reading up on strings now for th past week. Im going to try some Slappers, as opposed to rotosound and ernie ball. I love the tone of rotosound, but they really cane my fingers, they have to much tension for me. Ernieballs likewise, although I recall them being slightly softer. Anyway know where I can get some labella slappers cheap in the uk?

Strings Direct is where I usually get strings from, but they don't have them listed... they'd probably get them in for you though.

Stringbusters have them listed, I've never bought from them.

http://www.zencatalog.com/Stringbuster/

 

[armybass]

Whiskey for my men, beer for my horses

 

[spectorbassguy]

Ernie Ball or Rotosound?

T-I Powerbass for fretted Bongo 5, T-I Flats for fretless SR5. Sorry I don't do well on "A or B" questions.