Best Guitar and Bass strings for recording?

[Skinny Viking]

Sorry to bump this but was curious ... what would anyone recommend for a 4 string bass tuned to C# standard?

Was looking at the Pro Steels but can't really decide what gauge would be best

I have an Ibanez Musician MC-900, I believe 34" scale

 

[mstone564]

As a bass player, I HIGHLY recommend D'addario Pro Steels.

 

[neptunian]

For the Pro Steels, probably the EPS230 55-110 at C# standard. That's as heavy as the 4 string sets go anyway. I also like the steel DR Lo-Rider @ 50-110 for C/C# standard (on my ESP LTD B-304, 34").

 

[Tommy Evans]

For bass, DR hi beams.

 

[colonel kurtz]

Strings are just one piece of the puzzle. And I bet people can't tell the difference in a blindfold test.

maybe the difference isn't wholly audible(thought i'd say it is more so with bass strings), but a big part of it, for me, is the FEEL...and for whatever reason, i prefer the feel of good ol' ernie balls more than anything else i've played

in the end, the only "correct" answer to this question is NEW ONES

 

[Skinny Viking]

For the Pro Steels, probably the EPS230 55-110 at C# standard. That's as heavy as the 4 string sets go anyway. I also like the steel DR Lo-Rider @ 50-110 for C/C# standard (on my ESP LTD B-304, 34").

Thanks man, will look into these

So then you think I should be going for the heaviest set? Cause I was looking at the EPS160 set which is the gauge basically right above the 230s. Just wasn't sure if that would be too light for my tuning.

 

[neptunian]

So then you think I should be going for the heaviest set? Cause I was looking at the EPS160 set which is the gauge basically right above the 230s. Just wasn't sure if that would be too light for my tuning.

Well the EPS230 with its 55-110 would be perfectly playable, with enough looseness to give a little rattle/grit if picked hard. At C# it would feel relatively standard for a bass, neither very loose nor very tight.

[this part deleted -- was looking at the wrong string set]

 

[neptunian]

maybe the difference isn't wholly audible(thought i'd say it is more so with bass strings), but a big part of it, for me, is the FEEL...and for whatever reason, i prefer the feel of good ol' ernie balls more than anything else i've played

in the end, the only "correct" answer to this question is NEW ONES

When I got my bass, I put on some Ernie Ball Power Slinky strings. It was alright, but they had this rounded muffled tone to them. I wanted the chimey piano sound and couldn't get it, and thought the problem was my bass. Well, then I tried the DR Lo-Rider and problem solved. Taught me how much of a difference bass strings make, new vs old, and brand vs brand. There's a string set for every style, just gotta find one that matches your style.

 

[Skinny Viking]

The eps160 look to be a different gauge than you mentioned ... 50-105?

That's why I wasn't sure ... Unless I'm looking at the wrong set but I don't see anything with 70-135?
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/daddario-prosteels-eps160-medium-gauge-long-scale-bass-strings

 

[neptunian]

The eps160 look to be a different gauge than you mentioned ... 50-105?

That's why I wasn't sure ... Unless I'm looking at the wrong set but I don't see anything with 70-135?
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/accessories/daddario-prosteels-eps160-medium-gauge-long-scale-bass-strings

My mistake, I had googled EPS160 and saw the 5 string set by that code, and thought you meant using 4 strings from that set to get something heavier than even the 55-110 (since 55-110 is as high as the 4 string pro steels go).

Alright, so the 50-105 ... I use 105 for Eb and D standard, and it's a bit too rattly/floppy at C and C# standard. I just tuned my bass to C# standard with 110 and it feels just about right. So IMO the EPS230 would fit for C#.

 

[Skinny Viking]

^ awesome man ... thank you very much. Gonna go with the 230 set

 

[LeSedna]

By the way, since this is a thread about bass strings, what gauge would be a typical C standard tuning ? I have been using the 4 low strings of an "E" 5 stringed bass d'Addario set (can't remember the name but the "normal" 5 string set), but I have no experience not preference in bass yet ?

 

[colonel kurtz]

When I got my bass, I put on some Ernie Ball Power Slinky strings. It was alright, but they had this rounded muffled tone to them. I wanted the chimey piano sound and couldn't get it, and thought the problem was my bass. Well, then I tried the DR Lo-Rider and problem solved. Taught me how much of a difference bass strings make, new vs old, and brand vs brand. There's a string set for every style, just gotta find one that matches your style.

have to afmit, i've only ever used prosteels on my bass, and am happy enough with them that i have no plans of using anything else anytime soon...for guitar though, i'm just stuck on EB strings...have tried various other brands, and nothing else suits me quite the same

 

[plague_rider]

I have an Ibanez Musician MC-900, I believe 34" scale

FFFFFFFFFFfffffffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*Grabs the klenex*

 

[Skinny Viking]

^ like that shit huh?

 

[metalhead3ecr]

http://sitstrings.com/ I swear by these. they are always bright and play like new!! plus they are a hell of a lot cheaper...less than $4 for a pack.

 

[plague_rider]

^ like that shit huh?

Oh yeah baby!!!

 

[Skinny Viking]

It's mint too, not a nick on it and plays like butter

Got it for $275 with a hard case and new pack of strings at a small music shop in a farmers market

Talk about random

 

[plague_rider]

I love those Diamond-in-the-rough deals... i've been spying on a few of them on ebay... quite a few EMGs in them...

Others have a Precision/Jazz pickup set... I'm feeling some GAS...