The Best Bass Strings for Playing Multiple Genres
Written by Jack Sutherland on 07/06/2021
If by some chance you stumbled upon this blog and have no clue who or what Exit 85 is... We're a rock band. And by "rock" I mean drum stick spinning, 2000-watt bass stack, and lots of guitar distortion and overdrive. That's us. However, we can't expect everyone to be as fanatic about Metallica or Rage Against the Machine as we are. So it's important to change up genres from time to time.
Maybe a little Wild Cherry to get people on the dance floor? Some Rapper's Delight, or a Rock/Hip-Hop crossover like Bring the Noise or Walk This Way? Whatever it is, sometimes you've got to mix it up. And when you do, it's hard to pull off funk, R&B or Jazz when you're only geared up to play rock. So when possible I try to find equipment or accessories that are versatile across multiple genres.

So which bass string is the most versatile?
When it comes to bass strings there are so many great options. If you asked 5 different bass players which strings they preferred, you'd likely get 5 different answers. So before I get to my personal favorite, here's a few that you definitely wouldn't regret going with instead.
D’Addario NYXL
D’Addario is a name you just can't go wrong with. Their NYXL for 4-string or 5-string basses found at this link, come light, medium or heavy and have a very versatile tone, at a competitive price. They were also listed as Guitar World's best bass strings of 2021.
Ernie Ball Slinky
Ernie Ball Slinky Nickel Wound Strings are also a popular option across many genres. They have a notorious brighter sound, that is great for funk slap bassists. And while they may not drive as deep as some rock bassists would prefer, they can definitely get the job done.
Rotosound Jazz Bass 77
A more uncommon pick from a legendary brand are the Rotosound Jazz Bass 77 Strings. Don't let the name fool you, these strings can handle a lot more than Jazz. Brighter than the typical warm sound of most flatwounds.
DR Black Beauties
I have to mention DR Black Beauties because they just look so damn cool! With so many great options it's hard to put them at the top based solely on their sound, however they sound surprisingly good for coated strings, especially when new. In my experience they do not last as long as uncoated strings. All of DR's coated strings tend to sound dead sooner than I'd prefer. However, I wouldn't hesitate to play with a new pair at any show, and do occasionally just to add a little extra pizazz.