Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just bought a nice used 5-string bass (Ibanez SR-905). It has some roundwound strings on it and the B string has very low tension. I like TI Jazz flats and D'Addario Chromes, and wanted to get some recommendations for strings like these with the best B string (best as far as clear tone and a tension that fits well with the tension I am used to on the other strings).

Any recommendations appreciated.

Thanks

What kind of tension are you used to? I switch to different types of strings occasionally on my Zon 5 string; at the moment I have a Super Soft set of D'Addario XLs with a .125 B string, pretty typical tension with a good feeling B string. I have used Chromes on it, the ECB80 set with an added .110 for the B string; this was a lower tension feeling set, but the B was a bit floppy.

I use the medium guage Chromes. As far as the TI Jazz Flats, do they come in different tensions? I bought some TI AcoustiCore strings for my acoustic bass, and they seem more loose than the Jazz Flats, but they still have a nice sound.

Maybe I am asking the wrong question. The B string on this bass just sounds "wobbly" compared to the other strings. It is not really bothering me as far as how it feels to play compared to the other strings. I would like the B string to put out a nice even tone like the other strings. There are rounds on this bass now.

Another type of string that I read about last night are Ken Smith "Slick Round" strings. I guess with these I'd buy a standard 4-string set then get the low B seperately. Have you ever tried these?

Thanks

The wobbly tone may be due to the pickups being too close to the strings. TI JFs only come in the one tension, no different gauges available. I have those TI Acousticores on my Rick Turner bass, they sound amazing on the RB4FL; you can check it out when you come to RIO!!!. You are coming, aren't you?

RIO?? I must have missed that conversation. Is that "Rickenbackers In Ohio" or something??

OK, I found all of the threads for RIO. Sounds like fun!

I need to spend more time back in this forum

Here's another one that I lost track of....what happened to the RicResource CD project?? Rare Blend is on that IIRC.

squirefan01 wrote:Here's another one that I lost track of....what happened to the RicResource CD project?? Rare Blend is on that IIRC.

It is moving in slow motion but still in progress.

FYI, I went with a set of Ken Smith Slick Rounds, with a .130 B string. The bass does sound a lot better now. While I had the strings off I looked at adjusting the pickups down a bit but there didn't seem to be a way to do that (soapbar Bartolini MK1-4 pickups come stock on this Ibanez SR-905).

These were quite a bit cheaper than others ($30 for the 5 strings). We'll see how they behave over time, but good so far.

I wanted to follow up on this thread. I tried those slick rounds on my Ibanez SR-905, and they were not for me. They didn't feel smooth to play and they were not tapered. One problem that was my fault was that I did not but Long Neck versions so I could not string the B string through the body, which is an option on the SR-905. YOu could always tell when you were playing the B string vs. the others.

Somebody told me that tapered straings could help with the B string tone, so I bought a set of DR Long Neck taperwound strings. This time, I also really went through the entire setup, as the truss rod needed some adjustment to get rid of some backbow in the neck, and the bridge height of the strings did not match the nack radius well. When all was said and done this bass now sounds great! Nice and even sound across all strings.

Another win for DR strings (and a decent setup doesn't hurt).

Sometimes it takes a bit of experimenting to get it all just right.