Acoustic strings on Electric bass, and vice versa

[Kylethelobo]

What would happen if I were to replace the strings on my electric bass with the phosphor bronze strings that are usually used on acoustic basses? Or what if I put electric nickels or some such strings on an acoustic bass?

This question is purely theoretical, but I'm extremely interested in the answer. Perhaps it could lead to new tones that aren't generally expressed on each flavor of bass? Or perhaps it would have improper tension and ruin the neck or something... I dunno. Anybody here have an idea?

[Samsound]

My understanding is that bronze strings don't interact very well with pickups.

[Kylethelobo]

Yep, my quick search returned just as you said. Very low output with acoustics on electric. But how is the sound of electric strings on an acoustic? Would it have any effects on the bass?

[Showdown]

I always use electric strings on my acoustic. I hate the sound of bronze strings. I currently use nickle plated steel strings, but I've also used flats and tapewound. I like them all better when the bass is amplified. The only advantage I see to bronze strings are playing acoustically they are louder. But I don't like the tone.

The reason you can use electric strings on an acoustic but not the other way around has to do with the pickups.

Electric basses use magnetic pickups that sense the vibration of a ferrous metal in it's magnetic field. It has to be ferrous (have enough iron content) for the pickups to sense them. Bronze strings don't have much steel in them, just the thin core.

Acoustic basses use a different type of pickup that senses pressure. It will pick up any vibration on the bass, regardless of the type of strings. It will pickup you tapping the body of the bass, the noise of your fingers on the strings, everything.

[atheos]

I was actually wondering the very same thing. I'd like to put flatwounds on my acoustic bass to reduce fret and finger noise but I only found flatwounds for electric bass. Soooo... Putting a .050 - .100 set of stainless steel flats on an acoustic bass shouldn't cause any trouble?

[Mr-Wunderful]

I currently have flatwounds on my acoustic bass. Sounds great amplified but is not very loud unplugged.

[atheos]

Would be no problem, I have a small 15W guitar combo (Crate GX-15R) to carry around on those "acoustic" or "unplugged" gigs which all are plugged and amplified, just not that loud By the way, surprisingly good with bass even though it's a guitar combo. Plus it costs nothing and weighs nothing.

[jallenbass]

Originally Posted by atheos

I was actually wondering the very same thing. I'd like to put flatwounds on my acoustic bass to reduce fret and finger noise but I only found flatwounds for electric bass. Soooo... Putting a .050 - .100 set of stainless steel flats on an acoustic bass shouldn't cause any trouble?

I had those on my Breedlove for a year or so. Worked fine. They're quieter than rounds but sound so much better when amplified.

[TimWeddle37]

New to this bass playing as well as this forum. I've been playing a year and am loving it, I recently bought a micheal Kelly dragonfly fretless and wanted to put on some fender flat wound strings on it. My question is would this cause any long term damage on the neck, truss rod, action with the string tension or if it is nothing to worry about? The reason I'm asking is because the action seems higher in the middle than it did, I adjusted the truss rod and it fixed the issue but after about a day it seems that the action is higher again. Do I need to keep adjusting it until it balances out or will this cause long term issues? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.