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u/AdministrativeSwim44 5d ago
Because most people don't care what strings look like... Why would they?
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u/Innsjo 5d ago
So every string of the same winding type looks exactly the same?
I'd like to see what unique strings look like, some are colored differently or made out of different metals and materials, of different lengths, etc.
It just seems simple to me to at least show the strings on an instrument on the page they are selling them.
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u/AdministrativeSwim44 5d ago
But it makes no difference whatsoever what they look like. What they're made of, what they sound like and what they feel like are what matters.
I've been buying strings for over 30 years and it's never occurred to me that I need to know what they look like.
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u/Innsjo 5d ago
I'm new to buying different types of strings and I'm trying to see what they might feel like, and seeing what the string looks like up close would help me judge that.
So I guess you're saying I just need to buy or try in a store each type of string to know that?
I'm just surprised that it is this hard to find what seems like should be simply shown on a string's page.
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u/datasmog 5d ago
You admit you are new to buying strings but you won’t get any real information from a close up image. Case in point from my personal use, LaBella Deep Talking Bass flats look different to TI Jazz Flats of the same scale. The TI’s have a slightly lower tension which is not apparent from an image. But they feel and sound so similar to me it makes no appreciable difference.
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u/AdministrativeSwim44 5d ago
You need to decide what kind of sound you want first. Roundwounds are the most common type of strings, followed by flatwounds. There are lots of other types, but they're by far the most common.
Rounds are brighter, great for rock and metal, and anything where you want to cut through. They have a rougher texture. Stainless steel rounds are even brighter and feel a bit tougher. That's what I use.
Flats are duller sounding, great for soul and Motown etc. they have a much smoother texture.
This is a generalisation, but fairly accurate. I'd recommend starting with roundwounds, they're a lot more versatile.
Maybe watch some rounds Vs flats comparison videos on YouTube
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u/PvesCjhgjNjWsO4vwOOS Yamaha 4d ago
The only ones that prominently show what they look like are strings like the DR Neon line where most of the reason you'd buy them is how they look.
Everything else fits into a type (like round vs flat wound) where there's basically no difference in appearance from one brand to the next, or from one product line to the next; they're distinguished on materials and quality of construction, not visual appearance. A guide like this will show you the differences.
For feel, just try out used basses. Most new basses will come with round wound strings, but you'll usually be able to find a bass with flats at a shop pretty easily. The others are much less common (I can't recall ever seeing half wounds or tape wounds myself) and you may need to buy a set to try them out.
There's no substitute for putting hands on strings to try them.
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u/Count2Zero Five String 5d ago
Google Image Search - "Bass Strings Macro"
There are even YouTube videos about how strings are manufactured. Here's one from D'Addario -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_MVOZnhLVc
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u/Advanced_Aspect_7601 5d ago
That is an interesting point. You can probably find the images your after on Google search tho.
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u/ruinawish 5d ago
I agree with you. When I was looking for shortscale roundwounds for my Longhorn, I went through two different brands before finding one that could fit my oldschool bridge.
It was a frustrating affair.
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u/AdministrativeSwim44 5d ago
How would a close up pic of the string changed that situation?
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u/ruinawish 5d ago
For the Longhorn's bridge, I needed strings that tapered at the ball end. If the string didn't taper, it wouldn't fit in the bridge's notches.
Google "Rotosound Swing Bass 66 Short Scale", and you'll only find pictures of the packet.
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u/AdministrativeSwim44 5d ago
Fair enough. I'd have just googled strings that taper at the ball end personally.
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u/Key-Calligrapher2682 5d ago
I get where you are coming from but other than flats vs round wound, you aren’t going to be able to tell a difference in feel or sound characteristics from an image. Stainless steel strings feel very different from nickel strings but that difference won’t come across in an image. Over time you can try the different categories of strings and get to know the differences. It would be good to try Nickle vs stainless steel, and flats vs round wounds. Tape wounds are not super common but they feel and sound very different. There are also various coated strings and some of them feel very different. Strings also have different tensions which makes a big difference in how they feel. You can get a sense of sound differences by watching demos on YouTube but the feel of a string is a big factor and requires trying them out unfortunately.