Tone Help

[patricknorth]

I've always been a huge fan of the sting ray tone..beefy, punchy, growl (i listen to/play aggressive hardcore music). So three weeks ago i finnally got one, and it sounded great. but when i took off the factory strings and put on a heavier set (110-55 EB nickel wound slinkys) the bass sounds like crap now!..all the strings sound flat especially the E (or C for me, i play C G C F). Did i string it wrong? as far as i know im doing it correctly. I just DONT understand why it doesnt have that punchy metalic sound to it. And this is not an issue with my rig or EQ because regardless of either, i put the strings on and they sound like crap before pluggin in.

What is wrong? why does putting on a slightly heavier set of strings make my bass sound like crap and take all of its beautiful tone away?

I'm thinking about trying stainless steels. But i still don't think a set of nickel wounds should sound THAT flat.

 

[TSanders]

If brighter is what youre seeking, its the stainless steels youre after, IMO.

 

[Caca de Kick]

Agreed with the above....

 

[oli@bass]

Tuning down does have an impact on your tone, especially the low C! Also, heavier strings do sound duller.

 

[patricknorth]

Yeah i think im definitly going to try out a set of steels.

But im still a little confused because I have friends that play 130s on sting rays and they sound punchy as ever and im pretty positive they are playing on the standard nickel wounds. Maybe they just compensate in their EQs? ill have to check with them to make sure

I guess what im getting at is that im just a little dissapointed that i need to find stainless steel strings to get the tone i want.

I want to play on thicker strings because i want to sound heavier, do you guys think that i could get a decent enough tone on maybe 105s if i compensated with my eq?
I am playing through a tech 21 sans amp rbi into a peavey 2000 power amp into an ampeg fridge cab. so i have more than enough balls. what do you think?

 

[patricknorth]

sorry i forgot something!

The reason i asked about still getting a beefy sound with lighter strings, is that according to the ernie ball website..steels only get as thick as 105.

Does any other brand make steels in anything thicker? or maybe do i need to buy 5 string packs?

 

[oli@bass]

How did the bass sound trough your rig with the factory strings on? Did it produce the sound you were looking for?

 

[oli@bass]

I never saw a need to get heavier strings in order to get a beefier sound. On no bass I ever had. Actually, I was always more worried about the highs and therefore used lighter strings for many years. But I never tuned down, except for occasionally using a D-Tuner on the low E.

The problem with lighter strings is less that they do not produce enough low end but that they do not have enough tension when tuned down and may feel like rubber bands.


However, on the StingRay I think the factory set is simply a perfect choice and I don't see any need to used anything different.

 

[patricknorth]

The factory strings actually sounded pretty decent, even tuned to drop C. But i just thought that the 110s would make it sound alot beefier, i didnt think they would take away so much tone.
Do you know what size the factory strings are?
I think my next step is going to be trying out some steel 105s and see how it comes out.

 

[oli@bass]

Factory set is the Super Slinky Roundwounds 45-65-80-100.

I'd try the Hybrid Slinky set 45-65-85-105.

 

[bovinehost]

The factory strings actually sounded pretty decent, even tuned to drop C. But i just thought that the 110s would make it sound alot beefier

"If it ain't broke, I will fix it until it is." - USMC Maintenance Slogan

 

[Spectre]

Factory set is the Super Slinky Roundwounds 45-65-80-100.

I'd try the Hybrid Slinky set 45-65-85-105.

+1 on Hybrid Slinky

it is all personal preference. For me, I like the sound of the 85 & 105, and a bit added tension. Use them on 4s, and add a 130 for my 5 stringers.

 

[Freddels]

Heavier gauge strings do not equal "beefier" sound. When I first got my 30th Ann SR, I was on a flatwound kick (had them on all my basses) and I just didn't like the sound of the 30th with them on it. I put the steel rounds back on it and it came alive. Alive I tell you . . . ALIVE!

 

[Rick]

Maybe the new set of stings was just a bad set. It's happened before

 

[lomky]

I buy the Power Slinkies, seem to work for me. My tone sucks though.