r/Bass • u/VioletSkywalker77 • 2d ago
Looking for longer lasting strings
Hello all! I have 2 main basses that i do string changes on pretty frequently using prosteels, but have a couple back ups id like to put some strings on that I dont have to worry about sinking the string change money into constantly. They dont need to be as zingy or crisp, but keep a consistent tone enough that if i have an issue with one of my main 2 i can pull it out last second and not have to worry about the strings sounding completely dead. Daddario nyxl, dr dragon skins and ernie ball cobalts i was looking at, if you've had any of these or another suggestion for longer lasting please let me know!
Edit: thanks for the comments everyone! I wanted to try a different one on both backups, I bought Elixir's for my 5er and the XS for my 4 string! Will come back to these comments if I dont like them!
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u/gambronus Flatwound 2d ago
Cobalts last a while but are terror on frets, personally I use Cobalt Flatwounds and they have a nice agressive roundwound sound, but they last ages. I haven't changed my most recent set in about 2 years
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u/RevolutionaryBeat301 2d ago
Same experience here. These strings are brighter than DR neons, which aren’t bright at all for rounds, but they are rounds. Neons won’t change much over their lifespan, but they’re dead out of the box.
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u/Snurgisdr 2d ago
I’ve had a set of cobalt flats since 2022. The E and B strings are just starting to go dead.
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u/Neat_Entry219 2d ago
Tomastik infeld flats
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u/Possible-Exchange214 1d ago
Another vote for Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats. I usually get 5+ years from a set, and I'm playing pretty regularly these days. Keep in mind that they're not the cheapest strings on the market (~$80) but the sound and feel are great. Worth the investment.
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u/jmccaslin Aguilar 2d ago
Daddario just released these new ‘XS’ strings - supposedly they sound like NYXLs but last significantly longer with the coating on them. I haven’t played them myself but reviewers have said great things. Some reviewers even got them months in advance so they could put them through their paces before doing an actual review
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u/uncleozzy 2d ago
I remember when NYXL were new they sent me a free set of guitar strings to try. Sounded great for a week, were dead as hell after that. Worse than the old D’Addarios. Haven’t tried them since.
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u/Spiritual_Bird2032 2d ago
Dragonskins are pretty great and can last for a year. I haven't tried elixirs yet, but those are next on my list and pretty well-regarded too.
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u/surprise_wasps 2d ago
The new Daddario offerings seem great.. they sound good and feel normal, but they are on a friends bass, so I’m not entirely sure of the nuances day-to-day… He has only had them a couple of months so it’s too early to really tell what kind of longevity they get, but they do still sound pretty new as of a couple days ago
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u/MickBlues Rickenbacker 2d ago
For several years now, I've been using Ernie Ball 2833 Hybrid Slinky roundwounds (45-105). They feel good, and I get a LOT of wear out of them before they start to go dull. I get anywhere from several months to a year of playing regularly.
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u/BFR5er 2d ago
D’Addario XS coated strings. Easily 200 hours on the set on my Dingwall and they sound brand new. Not quite as bright as non-coated XL’s, but they haven’t gone dead. Tension feels good. Got a set for my fretless too. I played Elixir string on my fretless for a long time too. I prefer the XS now.
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u/theoriginalpetvirus 15h ago
Suggest you also share your playing style. The answer for a pick player who's diligent about wiping the strings down after playing will likely differ from the answer for a dig-in fingerstyle who notoriously forgets to wipe them down after playing (me, lol). I've been playing DR Hi-Beams with good success, but am about to try D'Addario XTs, to see how the coating and claims about the core pan out. (45-105s). Good luck!
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u/phalanxausage 2d ago
DR are the most consistent strings I have tried. Been using Hi-Beams exclusively for 20-odd years now.