Jim Dunlop LKS50105 Lemmy Signature Bass Strings Review: Unleashing the Tone of a Legend

I remember it vividly. We were in a cramped rehearsal space, the air thick with the sound of two downtuned guitars and a drummer who hit with the force of a pile driver. My bass, a trusty P-bass that had served me well for years, was completely lost. I was plucking away, my fingers flying, but all that came through was a low-end rumble, a muddy, indistinct thud that had no definition, no character, no bite. I’d crank the mids on my amp until they screamed, try different picks, dig in harder—nothing worked. I was just a ghost in the machine, providing a foundation that no one, including myself, could actually hear with any clarity. This is a frustration countless bassists in loud, aggressive bands know all too well. You’re the backbone, the sonic glue, yet you feel like you’re fighting a losing battle for your place in the sonic spectrum. It was this exact struggle that sent me on a quest for strings that didn’t just sit in the mix but ripped right through it—strings that were, in the words of the man himself, “louder than everything else.”

What to Consider Before Buying Bass Guitar Strings

A set of bass strings is more than just four or five lengths of wire; it’s the very source of your instrument’s voice, the critical first link in your signal chain. Choosing the right set is a key solution for defining your tone, improving your feel, and ensuring your instrument performs at its peak. The benefits are immediate: the right strings can transform a dull, lifeless bass into a vibrant, articulate machine, or tame an overly bright instrument into a smooth, warm groove-maker. They directly influence everything from the percussive attack of each note to the length of its sustain and the texture of your slides. Neglecting this choice is like putting budget tyres on a sports car—you’ll never unlock its true potential.

The ideal customer for a high-performance, aggressive string set like the ones we’re examining today is someone facing that “muddy mix” problem—rock, punk, and metal players who need to compete with loud guitars and heavy-hitting drummers. Pick-style players, in particular, will find that the right strings can accentuate the attack and grind they’re looking for. Conversely, these might not be the best fit for musicians in quieter, more nuanced genres like jazz, folk, or R&B, where a smoother, warmer, and less assertive tone is often preferred. For those players, flatwound or nickel-plated roundwound strings might be a more suitable alternative, offering a vintage thump and a silkier feel under the fingers.

Before investing in a new set, consider these crucial points in detail:

• String Gauge & Tension: This refers to the thickness of the strings, typically measured in thousandths of an inch. A heavier gauge, like the 50-105 set on the Jim Dunlop LKS50105 Lemmy Signature Bass Strings, generally provides a fatter tone with more low-end fundamental and higher tension. Lighter gauges are easier to play, better for slapping and bending, but may have a thinner sound. It’s crucial to match the gauge to your playing style and the music you play.
• Tonal Character & Performance: The material a string is made from is the primary driver of its tone. Stainless steel, used in this signature set, is known for its bright, aggressive, and punchy sound with a textured feel. Nickel-plated steel is the most common all-rounder, offering a warmer, more balanced tone. Pure nickel strings are warmer still, with a vintage vibe, while flatwounds offer a deep, percussive thump with no string noise.
• Materials & Winding: The winding of the string profoundly affects both feel and sound. Roundwound strings (the most common type) are bright and textured. Flatwound strings have a flat ribbon winding, making them incredibly smooth to the touch with a dark, thuddy tone. Half-rounds or groundwounds are a hybrid, attempting to offer the brightness of a roundwound with the smooth feel of a flat. The choice depends entirely on the sonic character you’re chasing.
• Durability & Longevity: How long will the strings retain their tone and feel? Stainless steel strings are highly resistant to corrosion from sweat and moisture, meaning they typically last longer and hold their brightness better than nickel-plated strings. Some strings feature special coatings to extend their life even further, though this can sometimes subtly dampen the tone. Consider how often you’re willing to change strings and factor that into your budget.

Understanding these elements is the key to moving beyond simply buying replacement strings and starting to actively sculpt your bass tone from the very source.

While the Jim Dunlop LKS50105 Lemmy Signature Bass Strings is an excellent choice for a specific sound, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models catering to various styles, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Forging the Sound of a Rock God

The moment you pick up the packaging for the Jim Dunlop LKS50105 Lemmy Signature Bass Strings, you know this isn’t your average set. The iconic War-Pig (or Snaggletooth) logo stares back at you, a promise of the sonic devastation contained within. Upon opening the cardboard sleeve, we were immediately impressed by Dunlop’s commitment to freshness. The strings are sealed in a VCI (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor) bag, a feature Dunlop calls “Fresh Technology.” This three-level moisture protection system ensures that the strings arrive as pristine and corrosion-free as the day they were wound in Benicia, California. There’s nothing worse than opening a new set of strings to find dull spots or oxidation, and Dunlop has effectively eliminated that risk.

Pulling the strings from the bag, the feel is immediately distinct. These are uncoated stainless steel strings, and they have a palpable texture under the fingertips—a fine, grippy quality that feels ready to grind against a pick. The custom gauge of .050, .070, .085, .105 feels substantial and balanced. Compared to a standard 45-105 set, that slightly beefier G-string (.050 vs .045) adds a welcome thickness to the higher register, preventing it from sounding thin when you dig in. They feel taut, powerful, and purpose-built for one thing: raw, unadulterated rock and roll power.

Performance Deep Dive: Channelling the Spirit of Motörhead

A signature set of strings carries a heavy burden. It must not only be a high-quality product but also convincingly capture the sonic essence of the artist it represents. In the case of Lemmy Kilmister, that essence is a singular, iconic bass tone that was as much a rhythm guitar as it was a bass. It was a sound defined by aggression, midrange grind, and relentless volume. After stringing these up on a Rickenbacker 4003—the quintessential Lemmy bass—and plugging into a Marshall-style amp, we can confirm that Dunlop has absolutely nailed it. This isn’t just a set of strings with a famous name on the package; this is a meticulously engineered tool for achieving that specific, legendary sound.

The Heart of the Motörhead Growl: Tone and Midrange Punch

The first thing we noticed upon playing was the sheer authority of the tone. As one user simply but perfectly put it, these strings are “Louder than everything else!” This isn’t just about volume; it’s about presence. The stainless steel winding, combined with the heavy custom gauge, produces a sound that is incredibly rich in harmonic overtones and upper-midrange content. When played with a pick, each note explodes with a clanky, metallic attack that demands to be heard. This is the “grind” that allowed Lemmy’s bass to function as a chordal, distorted rhythm instrument. Where other bass strings might provide a warm, round foundation, the Jim Dunlop LKS50105 Lemmy Signature Bass Strings provide a serrated-edge wall of sound.

We found the string-to-string balance to be exceptional. The .105 E string delivers a wide, powerful bottom end without becoming flubby or indistinct, while the custom .050 G string ensures that higher-register fills and chords have weight and don’t sound thin. This balance is critical for the chordal playing style Lemmy championed. Another user highlighted their “muy buen tono y brillo” (very good tone and brightness), and we wholeheartedly agree. The brightness here isn’t the “hi-fi” scoop of modern slap-style strings; it’s a raw, cutting treble that translates into pure aggression when paired with even a little bit of overdrive. These strings turn your bass into a weapon, ensuring that every note you play will be felt as much as it is heard, carving out its own space in even the most sonically dense arrangements.

Feel, Playability, and Low-Tension Innovation

There’s often a trade-off with heavy gauge stainless steel strings: great tone, but high tension and a rough feel that can be fatiguing to play. This is where Dunlop’s engineering really shines. The product description mentions “innovative hybrid wrapping techniques and custom core-to-wrap ratios for superior low-tension strings,” and while that might sound like marketing jargon, we could genuinely feel the difference. Despite the heavy .050-.105 gauge, the strings didn’t feel overly stiff or unyielding. The perceived tension was surprisingly manageable, making them comfortable for long sessions without sacrificing the powerful attack and solid feel you expect from a heavy set. This makes them more accessible to players who might typically shy away from heavier gauges due to concerns about playability.

The feel of the string surface itself is another matter. These are unapologetically roundwound stainless steel strings. If you’re coming from smooth flatwounds or coated strings, the texture will be immediately noticeable. You can feel the ridges of the winding under your fingertips. For some, this is a negative. For us, and for the style of music these are intended for, it’s a feature. This texture contributes to the signature grind and “zing” when you slide or use a pick. It’s a tactile connection to the aggressive sound you’re producing. While they may not be the best choice for buttery-smooth legato runs, for driving, eighth-note rock basslines played with a pick, the feel is inspiring and feels perfectly suited to the task. It’s an honest, raw playing experience that perfectly complements the tone they produce.

Durability and Longevity: Built for the Road

A great tone is useless if it dies after two gigs. Longevity is a crucial factor for any working musician, and this is an area where the Jim Dunlop LKS50105 Lemmy Signature Bass Strings truly excel. Stainless steel is inherently more resistant to the corrosive effects of sweat, oils, and humidity than nickel-plated steel. This means they retain their characteristic brightness and punch for a significantly longer period. We tested these strings over several weeks of intense playing, and the drop-off in tonal vibrancy was minimal. They settled in quickly after the initial stretching and then held their ground, delivering a consistent, aggressive tone night after night.

This longevity also translates to sustain. As one user noted after weeks of testing, “they have a very good sustain.” This is a key observation. Dead strings don’t just sound dull; they also have diminished sustain. The fact that these strings maintain their ability to ring out is a testament to the quality of the materials and construction. The strong fundamental note of each string remains clear and present, providing a solid core to the sound even after many hours of play. When you factor in the advanced VCI packaging that guarantees you’re starting with a perfectly fresh set, the value proposition becomes even clearer. These are not strings you’ll need to change every other week. They are built to withstand the rigours of the road, just like the man whose name they bear, offering a reliable and long-lasting performance that justifies their premium positioning.

What Other Users Are Saying

Synthesizing feedback from players who have put these strings to the test, the consensus is overwhelmingly positive, especially among those seeking a specific, powerful sound. The sentiment is frequently distilled into short, impactful statements like “Best strings I’ve played so far” and the emphatic quote, “Louder than everything else!” which perfectly captures the product’s core identity. Another player from Spain praised them as “Excelentes cuerdas y a un excelente precio,” highlighting not just their excellent tone and brightness but also their perceived value.

One French-speaking user, while mistakenly referencing Kerry King of Slayer, offered a crucial insight after several weeks of use: “elles ont un très bon sustain” (“they have very good sustain”). This confirms our findings about their longevity and ability to maintain tonal character over time. The only piece of critical feedback we found wasn’t about the strings themselves, but the shipping process. One Italian customer noted that while the item arrived early, “la confezione è arrivata sciupata” (“the packaging arrived damaged”). Thankfully, the VCI bag inside protected the strings, but it’s a reminder that external packaging can sometimes take a beating during transit, though this is not a reflection on Dunlop’s product quality.

How Do the Jim Dunlop Lemmy Strings Compare to Alternatives?

While the Jim Dunlop LKS50105 Lemmy Signature Bass Strings are masters of their specific craft, it’s important to understand where they sit in the broader market. Here’s how they stack up against three popular alternatives.

1. Fender Super 7250 Bass String Set

The Fender Super 7250s are a classic choice for a reason. Made from nickel-plated steel, their sound is warmer and more versatile than the aggressive stainless steel of the Lemmy set. They offer a rich, dynamic tone with a smoother feel under the fingers, making them a great all-rounder for everything from rock and pop to funk and blues. A player who needs to cover many different genres in a single gig might prefer the Fender 7250s for their balanced character. However, if your primary goal is to cut through a dense wall of guitars with maximum grind and aggression, the Lemmy strings will deliver a level of midrange punch that the smoother Fender strings simply can’t match.

2. Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Bass Strings 50-105

This is perhaps the most direct competitor in terms of gauge. The Ernie Ball Regular Slinky 50-105 set is a staple for rock bassists worldwide. Like the Fenders, they are nickel-plated steel, but they are known for a slightly brighter, more modern sound. They offer a fantastic blend of punchy lows and clear highs. The main difference lies in the material and resulting tonal texture. The Ernie Ball Slinkys are bright, but the Dunlop Lemmy strings are on another level of clank and grind due to their stainless steel construction. If you love the feel and gauge of a 50-105 set but find stainless steel too harsh or abrasive, the Ernie Ball Slinkys are the perfect middle ground, providing plenty of rock-ready tone with a more familiar feel.

3. Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky Flatwound Bass Strings

This alternative represents the polar opposite of the Lemmy strings. Ernie Ball’s flatwound strings are designed for a completely different sonic universe. With their flat ribbon winding, they are glassy smooth to the touch, eliminating all finger noise and providing a deep, thumpy, percussive tone reminiscent of classic Motown, soul, and jazz recordings. Where the Lemmy strings scream, these thump. A bassist playing in a jazz trio, a vintage R&B group, or a folk ensemble would find these flatwounds to be the perfect choice for laying down a warm, unobtrusive foundation. They are the antithesis of the Lemmy set’s aggressive, in-your-face character, making them an ideal choice for anyone seeking the exact opposite tonal goal.

Final Verdict: Are the Jim Dunlop Lemmy Strings Right for You?

After extensive playing and analysis, our conclusion is clear: the Jim Dunlop LKS50105 Lemmy Signature Bass Strings are not just a marketing exercise; they are a brilliantly executed tribute to one of rock’s most iconic bass sounds. Their genius lies in their singular focus. They are built to be loud, aggressive, and full of grinding midrange that will slice through the densest mix. The stainless steel construction ensures this ferocious tone lasts, providing excellent longevity and sustain that working musicians will appreciate. The surprisingly manageable tension, a result of Dunlop’s innovative core and wrapping, makes their heavy gauge more playable than you might expect.

However, this specialization is also their main limitation. They are not all-rounders. Their rough texture and assertive tone are not suited for players seeking warmth, smoothness, or subtlety. But for their intended purpose—fuelling the engine room of a rock, punk, or metal band—they are, without a doubt, one of the best options on the market. If you play with a pick, crave a tone that has as much bite as it has bottom end, and are tired of getting lost behind your guitarists, these strings are your solution. They are an essential tool for any bassist looking to channel the thunderous, uncompromising spirit of Lemmy Kilmister. If that sounds like you, then we cannot recommend them highly enough.