Orion 5 String - String suggestions?

[4StringBliss]

So, I've had my Orion 5 string fretless for coming up on 25 years.  It's never been my main player, but I've always wanted it to be in heavier rotation.  I've had various rounds and flats on it over the years, but have yet to find the right set of strings to go with the bass.  I know everyone's definition of "right" is unique, but I'd love some suggestions of strings to try.

Here's perhaps a starting point

• I like the growl from round wounds, so a nickel round perhaps, but I'm open to other growly strings.
• What I'm missing most is a strong solid, full sounding B string.  It just doesn't stand up and say "I'm a Low B string.  Hear me rumble."  Not that I'm looking to shake things off of shelves, but the B string that's on there now is just not doing it for me.  Which results in me not playing the bass.
• I've liked DR Low-Riders on other basses in the past.  I've probably had them on this bass at some point.  There must have been a reason I switched them out, but can't remember.
• I've tried Tomastik on another bass.  They weren't for me.
• I'm liking La Bella flats on my P-Bass

I guess I'm looking for a well-balanced set of strings that has a B-string that sounds full, tight, round, and that will stand up and announce itself appropriately.

What do you all use for your 5ers? Fretted or fretless

[BeenDown139]

ok, as the resident curmudgeon, i'll jump in first:

rotosound rounds on the fretted basses - 5 string MK deluxe.  never had a problem with a weak B string, i like an agressive, in-your-face tone out of this bass that says "yeah, i'm pretty and i got tone for days, homie.  now what?"

thomastic flats on the fretless 5-string essence - as far as i'm concerned, a fretless bass's raison d'etre is that stand-up acoustic bass growl, other may not agree.  no problem with a wimpy B string here - i've been using these strings for years on my fretless basses and never been let down.  They seem to have lower tension than other strings, which may or may not work for you.  I think this lower tension contributes to the temperamental issues i have with this bass, the neck likes to go wonky on me when the seasons change (as they are now).

hope that helps.

[hammer]

Personally, I love TI flats on both fretted and fretless. I play the former, at times, with a pick and have found other strings to just be too bright for me. However I do understand how others do not appreciate the lower string tension. Have you tried Pyramid Gold flats? I have them on one of my fretted basses and they both sound good and have higher tension than the TIs.

[keith_h]

I currently have Dean Markley NPS Round Core on my Orion 5-string. I don't think they are manufactured any longer. Prior to that I used GHS Brite Flats which is a ground round wound and will likely go back to those after I use my last pack of the Dean Markley's.

[4StringBliss]

@BeenDown139 and @Hammer, I'm open to TIs again, only because I hear sooooo much about how great they are.  However, when I tried a set (TI Jazz flats?) on a different bass (4-string I think), I was highly disappointed.  I thought they had zero depth at all.  The low-end felt like it was completely missing.  It was really surprising.  Maybe it was the specific flavor of TIs...

Which TI's do y'all like?

[StephenR]

I currently have Dean Markley NPS Round Core on my Orion 5-string. I don't think they are manufactured any longer. Prior to that I used GHS Brite Flats which is a ground round wound and will likely go back to those after I use my last pack of the Dean Markley's.

I have been using Markley Blue Steel strings for at least 30 years, first the stainless steel ones then I switched to the NPS,  and really like them, no issues with the B string. As Keith mentions they may not be manufacturing bass strings any more, it has been tough finding them in the last few years. I found two sets last year but they have a .128 B and I prefer the set with the .125 so I haven't used them yet. When I was trying to find out what happened with the Markley strings it came to my attention that the  Markley employees that used to make the Blue Steel strings have a new company called Apex. Here is a link to their cryogenic strings, naturally they also make a traditional set. Apparently they will also make custom strings.
https://www.apex-strings.com/product-category/apex-bass-strings/apex-traditional-cryos-series-bass-sets/?v=9a0d701a3b2a

I don't have a lot of experience with flats but recently put a set of Pyramid Gold flats on my G. Gould five-string. The upper strings have a very "musical" quality that I like a lot and the tension is not floppy at all. I needed a custom set in order for them to fit properly on the 35" scale length of the Gould and Pyramid made me exactly what I needed after I sent pictures and measurements. I also ordered a B-string in a guage they do not list as being offered and they were happy to make it. Nice ordering experience and customer service, too.

Rick Turner gave me a set of TI jazz rounds to try years ago and I love the sound of them, the windings are smooth and there is much less string noise from them but I just couldn't handle the tension no matter which bass I put them on. It was really frustrating since I loved everything else about the strings. Haven't tried the flats and probably will not due to the tension thing.

[xlrogue6]

I like D'Addario Chromes on my Rogue fretless 6.

[mica]

Another vote for the Chromes - I don't play fretless but I like that they have a normal round-wound tension.

[el8ed]

I play a light set of DR Hi-Beams (LLR-40) on my fretless Brown Bass and I like the tone I am getting. I had it originally strung with a heavier set of different strings, but I like the lower mass a lot better for a lighter touch on the fingerboard. Short-scale fretless might be a special case though?

[keith_h]

I like the Chromes on my fretless Orion 4-string as well. As flats go they are the brightest I've ever used and very close to a ground round wound in that regard. Like  Mica I also prefer the higher tension of the Chromes over other flats. I'm not sure I would like them on a fretted bass as I tend to go for a fair amount of brightness in my fretted bass tone. 

[soflbass]

I use GHS pressurewound medium on my essence 4 string. If you want roundwound sound with a smoother surface, these are great strings. A bit stiff which I prefer. But the regular or light gauges are also fantastic on an Alembic. Punchy sounding strings, not boomy.

[StephenR]

I found the Chromes to be higher tension than I wanted, but that is just me, most people that use them really like them. One huge issue I had with the five-string Chrome set is that the five-string sets only seem to come in long and extra long scale. I ordered long scale and they were too long to fit properly on my 32" scale Series bass. The wraps on the B-string ended up around the tuning peg and the string basically broke when I put it on, it stayed in tune but I never trusted it entirely. If you have a long scale Orion the length should be fine.

To be honest I do not understand how they come up with string gauges for flat-would strings. A lot of them are way heavier than I would ever select if I was using round-wounds. I ended up ordering a custom .118 B from Pyramid and it isn't skinny by any means the .120 that comes in their five-sting set was a bit too thick for me. The .132 B in the Chromes felt huge to me. I know a lot of the reason for the thicker strings is related to string tension but over the years I have gone lighter and lighter on my B-strings mainly because I find it much easier to set intonation and action on a thinner B-string and the sound of the fundamental can be clearer, too. The thicker strings exhibit a larger string orbit in the center and I have to keep the action higher than I would like, the higher string height makes it trickier to set intonation because the string seems to go sharp when you press down on it in the upper registers, fine open, not so fine when you get up the neck. For the most part I find picking new strings to be hit and miss, the only way to know if they are going to work for you as a player and for the instrument you want to put them on is to buy a set and try them. Good luck with your quest and let us know what you come up with!

[rv_bass]

I love the sound (old school thud) and higher tension of Pyramid Gold flatwounds.  I use them on all of my Alembics regardless of scale length.  But that’s just my preference. 


Also, as Stephen noted, I like a thinner B string.  I ordered a .115 (I think) from Pyramid and it was no problem ordering, and it sounds and feels great (to me). 

[4StringBliss]

Thanks for all the recommendations.  I've got the Chromes on there now and they're not doing it for me.  I'm wondering if I would have a similar experience to @StephenR, with hearing more fundamentals out of a smaller gauge B-string.

I wonder if maybe I would like the Chromes better with different electronics.

[jacko]

I've had Chromes on my fretless Rogue 5 for at least ten years and love them. What I would say is that a new set might take a week or two of playing before they settle in. I gigged a brand new set once and they felt awful - almost sticky - but after a week they were perfect (for my tastes at least).
My fretted Alembics (Balance k  and Epic) both have DR Black beauties. I've been using them for over 20 years and don't think I'll ever need to try anything else.

Graeme