Yes, we already have a plethora of string-related threads, but I didn’t quite find a good one to add this post to, so I opted for starting a new thread.
It’s also a little different in that it doesn’t start out with asking for recommendations or suggestions; instead I dish out unsolicited advice on strings based on my own experiences.
Ignore at your own peril 
Until recently, I was firmly in the nickel(-coated) roundwound camp. Anything else wasn’t really “good” enough. Stainless steel I found too harsh, flats I found too grabby, half-rounds were neither here nor there, and so on.
The first argument (too harsh) isn’t really a valid one. By adjusting how and where you attack a string, and by using proper EQ setting, you can get a lot of tones out of most strings (within limits given by type and age). The second argument (too grabby) was always the real argument driving me towards certain strings, which - for me - were almost exclusively Thomastik-Infeld Jazz roundwounds (but I also liked some of the DR strings, Elixir Nanowebs or the old Fodera nickels).
And two recent epiphanies have actually in a way confirmed to me that - again for me - it’s all about the feel of the strings: how supple and non-grabby they feel to the fingers, how they should be not too heavy in gauge, how I don’t want them too taut (which also depends on your type of neck and neck length etc.) and so on… much more so than any particular sound they may (or may not) produce, or are associated with.
Epiphany 1: I received a new bass recently which had some flats on it. I was wary, to say the least. However, they felt… good. I did some digging and it turned out to be stainless steel flats (La Bella 760FS-B) - and they are surprisingly good and feel great.
Epiphany 2: I had had a set of La Bella black nylon tape wounds (750N-B) for a while, but only just now put them on my Roks 5-string - they are amazing as well and feel really nice. Most sets I had had on this bass were very taut, but these have a nice suppleness to them, which I like. Might just be the perfect strings for this bass…
So, my own takeaways are:
- feel trumps sound (each day, every day, and all day long)
- don’t generalize from one bad experience to all strings of similar type and materials
- finding the right strings for you is a loooong and costly undertaking
Getting specific advice from others (on specific brands and makes) can as often lead to disappointment, as strings are very personal. It can, however, provide some inspiration, but you will need to test them yourself before making a verdict (hearsay and third party opinions have very limited usefulness in this context).
If the strings feel right, you will enjoy playing them and you will find ways to make them sound “good” for your music or projects!
OK - discuss
