Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I know this subject has been beat to death but, I've really only ever used stock RIC strings or Rotosounds for rounds. While I love the sound of both...Roto's for a really agressive sound. However, the old problem, tearing up the frets and fingers. I'm looking for a really good set of strings without high tension but easy on the frets. I play fingerstyle primarily. Like everyone, looking for the Geddy sound.

Have you tried Rotosound flats? D'Addario Chromes are also some very bright flatwounds.

Try TI Jazz Rounds, very light tension and they sound great.

If you are looking for the Geddy sound then you need roundwounds ... get nickelwound strings ... nickel is softer than steel so it will be easier on your frets ... as per your fingers ... well you need to play a lot and toughen up your fingers ...

Ric strings are good so are rotos ... and so are DR, Daddario, and my favorite is Copley ...

Another vote for Thomastik Infeld Jazz Rounds (JR344) - nickel roundwounds, they sound absolutely great on my Shadow. It may take a while to get used to the really low tension. I have already converted another forum member to TI rounds after he tried my Shadow.

DR Highbeams are bright, stainless rounds that are polished to not eat up frets. DR Sunbeams are nickel rounds that are less bright but even easier on the frets. I use Highbeams on most of my basses. My V63 wears a set of Sunbeams. All DR strings have very light pull so they are easy on the neck too.

I'm used to a fairly high tension flat (Fender 9050 ML), and so far I've found that the real light guage rounds that came with my Laredo haven't chewed my fingers up. I suppose the output of the humbuckers are playing a part in that, too...

Of course, this Wednesday night is the real test...first rehearsal with the drummer.

Ed they are going to play like rubber bands to you, haha!

I now use DR nickel Lo-Riders on my 4003 and V63, and I like the way they sound and feel. Plus, they don't eat my frets at all, which is the reason I used flats for so long. I still use flatwounds on my Jazz Bass. As far as flats goes, I like D'Addario Chromes. Roto flats are good too....if you can get a good set that won't go dead too soon. But the tension on the neck also is pretty hefty. So that is something to consider when choosing flats

This thread is about RW's but as far as flats go I think Pyramids are a great string for a 4003, they have enough tension so that they are not sloppy and they sound really good and lately seem to last a long time.

Reading all the threads about rounds/flats comments it seems that the D'Addario Chromes are among the best (if not the best) flats available. So I am getting pretty curious to listen to the "wonderful" bright and warm sound many of You guys have talked about. Maybe I'll try them on my 1967 4005. At the moment I use rounds (and I love them)... In case I take the decision to try D'Addario Chromes, will I have to choose between different string sets/lenghts? I woundn't like to go through neck and TR troubles changing type of strings although flats are supposed to have lower tension.

for me putting flats on a Ric just ruins its sound ... it removes a whole range of sounds from the bass

Flats aren't any lighter in tension nowadays except for TI's. What do you have on it now Ric nickles RW's? If so I would try med light Chromes or GHS, those are also bright. Flats also give another whole range of sounds to Rics, I get way more compliments on my sound now than I ever did when I played RW's, how do you spell S-0-l-I-D?

I made a decision so I just ordered some TI Jazz nickel rounds to try. This is not for a Ric bass. It's for my new T-40. I use Pyramid flats on my Ric. Very happy with those.

Francesco,
I have Chromes in a custom light set 40-55-75-95 that are very low tension and work quite nicely on my '67 4005WB. I buy the stock super light set and a single .055 string to replace the D string. This way the strings all have a similar feel to them; I find the stock .060 D string too high in tension compared to the other strings.