Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I realize this has been covered a bazillion times around the net, but I still like seeing the "buzz" about this topic from bassists...

If anyone knows how to tally this, please do!

I'll start... I prefer, so far, Pyramids on my Hofners (haven't tried 'em yet on a Rick... Maybe soon), and La Bellas on the Rick. All flats of course.

GHS flats, sometimes Chromes.

Right now, my v68 has old GHS flats, v63 has fresh Chromes (45-105), and my Jazz has GHS flats similar to the ones on the v68.

Either Chromes (modified Super Soft set) or TI Jazz Rounds.

71/2 4001 - TI Flats
77 Starfire - TI Flats
Kay Howlin' Wolf - TI Flats
74 Maple P Bass - Labella Jamersons
70 RW P Bass - GHS Flats
77 Ibanez Silver Series P - Rotosound flats
77 T-Bird - D'Addario Slowwound rounds - NOS (discontinued) - why even get a bird if your gonna put flats on it?

I'd really like to try some Pyramids on my rick - can anyone describe these strings for me? How is the tension in comparison to TI Flats?

i had pyramid flats on several of my basses,including my 74 4000. the tension on this set is pretty high,and resulted in some bridge lift.however,i LOVED the sound and the feel. the closest thing to them i have noticed is ghs/lakland flats-they have lighter gauges available so the tension problem should be workable. since my bass has a set-neck also,i decided to put a light set of dr sunbeams on,and also replaced the rickenbridge with an aluminum hipshot. i really like the sound/feel i am getting now,so much so that i have not yet installed a set of nos rick flats i bought 3 monthes ago. (eventually i will) and for roundwounds,ya can't beat dr (lowriders/hi beams/sunbeams) my experiences with ti flats and chromes have been less happy-they both sound good,but seem to be extremes of "tightness".

DR Black Beauties exclusively.

D'Addario XL 220

phlemmy wrote:DR Black Beauties exclusively.

+1 (except for my fretless, though I'm tempted to try them there too)

First place goes to D'Addario (EXL170 and EXL220-5) then i like Ric strings.

DR Hi-Beams, .045-.105

They have never failed me!

The now sadly discontinued D'Addario Slowounds. I stocked up on eBay a couple of years ago -- starting to run low now...

On my Ricks I use Lo Rider nickel
On my Fodera basses I use Fodera
On my Rob Allen I use La Bellas Taper wound – haven’t changed those strings in about two years now. Sounds better each time I play it
Chromes on my ’78 P bass
Phosphor Bronze on my Guild B50-FL ABG

When I had my C64, it was Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats all the way.

I have the stock Pyramids on my Hofner 500/1 V63 which I quite like.

Both my Lakland Skyline JO and the new '62 P-Bass RI I just picked up sport Thomastik-Infeld JF 344s.

I perfer the tone and feel of a flatwound string for bass. Guess that I'm just an old school guy at heart.

I used RS Swing Bass strings for many years but recently changed DR Hi-Beam 45-105. I like the feel and sound of them a lot and if they last a while too then I'll be even happier. I might try Hi-Beam 40-100 next as my old '75 4001's truss rods seems to be at full stretch keeping the neck straight and the lighter tension of the ligher guage might just allow the optimum set-up for me.

I used GHS Boomers for over 20 years, I recently switched to Ernie Ball.