Definitely … Tone is in the hands of the player. But, strings add the character to the tone.
Guts are what I choose to play. I love the tone I get from them. I love the tone they get on recordings too.
I have a bass that is strung up with Steels. (thanks Djordje) Started out playing steels, but ripped my fingers to shreds one too many times… now that my technique has completely changed, I can handle steels for hours. But, for some reason, guts still sound best to me. That’s why I use them.
For someone to find their perfect string choice, I think it’s important to listen to your influences and find out what string they play. Once you have that set of strings on your bass, play them for at least 3-6 months before changing your mind.
Like all of the good players have said… it takes time to play and get comfortable and develop your style and technique. You can’t do that with a new set of strings in a week or two.
