Testing out strings is fun!
Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 1:55 pm
Been testing out round wounds to see which I like best on my 4003. Here are my impressions. Tell me yours.
So far I have tried:
Stock Ric strings - Bright and articulate, balanced lows/mids/highs. Fun factor is high, as in, it makes me want to keep grabbing it throughout the day to play it and hear the tones.
Daddario Pro Steels - Bright and articulate but mid scooped to the point of sounding "empty". Hard to put my finger on it. Like an ingredient is missing. Like a smily face EQ. Nothing wrong with that. But if you like more mids and warmth it lacks that.
Daddario Nickel wounds - Sounds just like the Prosteels to me but "duller". I guess cuz nickel is not as sparkly highs as steel.
It is interesting to note that the above strings all sound in the same ballpark - soundwise. The ones below sound in a different class - soundwise.
Rotosound SM66 - Bright and articulate with a very filled out and broad sounding mid and bass. Has its own voice compared to the above three. A very big, massive sound compared to the others so far. Even tone throughout all strings and registers. The most "powerful" sounding string compared to the others. One thing I don't like about them is the red wrap on them which sheds when removing them from the bass as the wrap passes thru the tailpiece holes. But that is a minor thing.
DR Fatbeams - As bright and articulate as the rest, but also has its own voice. "Rubbery" mids and lows. I don't know how to describe it. But it has a very dark and mysterious tone. Unexpected, but delightful sounds. More spicy and complex than the others. Like Indian food - lotsa different spices all together make for a complex flavor. The fun factor is high and it is the only one besides the Rics that made me come back throughout the day to pick it up just to have fun hearing the sound.
So, I am oddly surprised that I am finding myself liking the Fatbeams the best. But I cannot deny that they are the most fun to play.
So far I have tried:
Stock Ric strings - Bright and articulate, balanced lows/mids/highs. Fun factor is high, as in, it makes me want to keep grabbing it throughout the day to play it and hear the tones.
Daddario Pro Steels - Bright and articulate but mid scooped to the point of sounding "empty". Hard to put my finger on it. Like an ingredient is missing. Like a smily face EQ. Nothing wrong with that. But if you like more mids and warmth it lacks that.
Daddario Nickel wounds - Sounds just like the Prosteels to me but "duller". I guess cuz nickel is not as sparkly highs as steel.
It is interesting to note that the above strings all sound in the same ballpark - soundwise. The ones below sound in a different class - soundwise.
Rotosound SM66 - Bright and articulate with a very filled out and broad sounding mid and bass. Has its own voice compared to the above three. A very big, massive sound compared to the others so far. Even tone throughout all strings and registers. The most "powerful" sounding string compared to the others. One thing I don't like about them is the red wrap on them which sheds when removing them from the bass as the wrap passes thru the tailpiece holes. But that is a minor thing.
DR Fatbeams - As bright and articulate as the rest, but also has its own voice. "Rubbery" mids and lows. I don't know how to describe it. But it has a very dark and mysterious tone. Unexpected, but delightful sounds. More spicy and complex than the others. Like Indian food - lotsa different spices all together make for a complex flavor. The fun factor is high and it is the only one besides the Rics that made me come back throughout the day to pick it up just to have fun hearing the sound.
So, I am oddly surprised that I am finding myself liking the Fatbeams the best. But I cannot deny that they are the most fun to play.