I've got DR Fat Beams on there. Honestly, if I was only playing rock or blues bass, I'd probably put a set of GHS Boomers back on there. However, for slapping and popping, the Fat Beams are all that. The nickel strings don't have that zing to them that the stainless ones do. The active controls do put a ton of options in your hands. The MM/J switchable pickup adds even more options. It really is a jack of all trades bass. I find that I spend most of my time on the P bass pickup. I get it when people say it doesn't sound vintagey. It sounds like what it is: an active P bass pickup. That is pretty much the official Rev. Rawk bass tone (tm). I love the neck and big frets too.