Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Firstly, apologies for starting a thread on the same subject as one I did ten months ago, but I cannot find the original thread...

I'm looking for roundwounds with a relatively low tension, as I don't want to stress the neck on my 4080.

Last time I asked, TI Jazz Rounds seemed to be the most popular suggestion. I've used a few sets over the past few months, but have decided that they are probably just a bit too floppy and 'flat' feeling for my taste. So, can anyone suggest something a wee bit more like my usual Rotos, but still with low enough tension not to bother a '75 neck?

I promise to save the suggestions this time.

Thanks

Jon

Most modern strings will fill the bill these days. Even Rotos seem to have improved in that area. The lowest tension rounds I have ever seen are TIs. They are too soft IMHO. I use DRs (Highbeams and lowriders) on nearly all of my basses. They work great on Ricks and they don't eat up the frets.

+1 on DRs. My '76 has been strung up with Lo Riders for 4-5 years with no problems.

I even have a set of Highbeams on my '63 4001.

My '72 4001 had Ernie Ball Super Slinkies on it when it arrived and played great. I then put a set of light GHS Boomers on and they don't have enough tension. I don't see a tension listed for them anywhere, but they must be low in comparison.

I just got a set of DR Highbeams for my '79 4001 last week. I have done 3 gigs with those strings. All I can say is JOY! Those strings are comfortable on the fingers and they sing. Thanks to the guys here for all the advice!

D'Addario EXL-170's are gauged 45-65-80-100 with a total tension of 163.5 lbs. I think these are pretty popular with the old 4001's.

Recently went to Hi Beams and WOW !! The best I tried so far. I use'em on my 4003 & T-Bird. They are not high tension and feel kind of ``loose`` ( Sorry if this is not the correct word for it but as a french speaking guy, I sometimes search for the right word...) What I mean is that they are easy to bend...I recently switched a set of Rotos 66 to a 4003 ( the one with the lifted bridge ) only to find them very ``tense`` & stiff...Perhaps it's the crooked bridge but the feel is not at all the same as when on the P Bass....Same strings-different bass = different feel !! So I'll stay with the Hi Beams...

I had a set of GHS sub-zero boomers on my 4001 and found them to be pretty low tension...too low for my tastes in fact. they were 95-40 though so that probably contributed to the low tension but I thought they they had good tone and were a pretty good string other than the low tension.

I like the nickel Lo-Riders the best. I tried the Hi-Beams on my Jazz Bass, and even though the tension was low, the sound was too cold for my tastes. I like the warm sound of nickel for rounds and the Lo-Riders fit the bill perfectly. And like Ted said, they are both real nice on the frets.

Try Carvin Stainless steel round wound strings ...

I have the DR High-Beams on my 4004CII and love them. I have D'Addario EPS 165 Stainless Steel roundwounds on my V63 and like them alot too.


The DR's do have a bit of a "smoother" feel than the D'Addario's.

DR. Hi-beams, Lo-riders, Sunbeams, whatever. I don't think DR makes a string that *isn't* absolutely amazing. And all of them are pretty much $20 a pack, and they last at least 6 months before dying, if not longer (a friend of mine has had his steel Lo-riders on his bass for almost a year, and, while they don't sound brand new, there's certainly life still left in them).

If you want something that's similar to DR Hi-beams but a bit more "unique" sounding, try Rotosound RS55 Solo Bass strings. They're compressed steel rounds like Hi-beams, but they have their own characteristic sound. VERY low tension too.

I'm going to try a set of HiBeams as I want to get back into round wounds on my new (to me)'S'.

I don't know what gauge to try, thought the lites, 40-60-80-100 would be a good bet. Any advice from Hi Beam users would be very much appreciated.

On my 4003's, I use D'Addario XL-170's guaged .45 .65 .80 .100

However, I use the standard guage DR Hi-Beams. .45-.105

They have a nice "lighter" feel. Dont feel "heavey" like most standard guage roundwounds.