They were a strong choice for me for many years, but the manufacturing process has substantially changed (including no silk which makes mounting on the G tuner a real pain). I'd steer clear these days. Enjoying DR Pure Blues as an alternative.
Just strung up my Ibanez SRX400 with a set of Pure Blues for a fest I played this past weekend. I used to have Sunbeams on that thing, too. Would have kept using them, but the local GC didn't have them. Went for the Pure Blues cuz the box was blue, like Sunbeams (which is a great reason to choose a set of strings). They sounded really great! The SRX400 has a 4 band Audere installed in it that lets me boost 1k, which mixed really really well with the voice of those strings. That's what made me pose this question, actually. I really liked the Sunbeams on that Ibanez, but the Pure Blues were just hitting the mark so well that I think they may have become my new go-to string for that bass. Got me thinking there might be a better string out there for the P, as well.
+1 for Boomers, but those red wraps on a blue bass are gonna annoy me. I know I shouldn't care, but I do. It's the same reason I won't stop using Rotos on my T-40s (one of the pair is red, and I like the matching wraps) despite the fact that they die faster than a mayfly.
Dunlop Super Brights worry me since the Split P pick-up is already brighter than your average P. I like some zing to my tone, but I dunno if the combo of bright strings and bright pick-ups will put me over. I watched two vids of the Super Brights at work, both on Jazz Basses - had to work with what was available. One demo seemed like they had a sweet kind of tamed high, the other demo the highs were out of control. Hard to get any real idea of what those strings will sound like with youtube vids, tho.
Really interested in checking out a set of the Sfarzos, but I am weary to try a coated string after getting burned by set of Elixirs a few years back. I know not all coated strings are created equal, tho. I have been using Black Beauties on a 91 SR PJ I have, and I'm happy enough with them. The coating is starting to wear, but it's not gumming up like the Elixirs did.
I used to use Blue Steels when I played guitar in high school. I really liked them, though my opinion on anything at that age should be taken with a grain of salt.
My thought process with the P bass and it's strings is this -
By the nature of the location and style of the pickups in the bass, I would say there is a propensity for 300-800hz to be somewhat augmented. The pick-ups seem to expand the top range and and focus around 4k, maybe even higher. I feel like the area I want a set of strings to shine would be in the 1-2K area.
