Flatwounds on Acoustic Bass Guitar

jbosco · #1 10-01-2009, 05:39 AM

I'm new here, and to bass actually, I've only been playing for a few months, I started with a Fender Squier Vintage Modified Jazz Bass, and just this week I purchased a Breedlove ABJ 250 acoustic bass. On the electric I switched to flatwounds and really enjoy the feel and sound I get. I would like to put flatwounds on my acoustic and was looking for some advice, pros/cons, does anyone make "acoustic bass flatwounds" or do I need to use "electrics", is there even such a thing as "acoustic bass" guitar strings, could i damage the guitar by using "electric" strings?

While on my hunt for this guitar I found an acoustic bass that was strung with black flatwounds that seemed to be nylon or something, those felt and played real nice, any idea what those were?

lmfreeman9 · #2 10-01-2009, 06:01 AM

They were probably black tapewounds. Fender makes some good ones and so does LaBella, I have also heard the GHS are good. I've used them but they are a little one dimensional. I prefer flatwounds, they last forever and actually get better with age.

I don't have alot of experience with acoustic electrics, but I have tried them with the bronze strings which are supposed to make more sound acoustically. I also put tapewounds and flatwounds on them. Like everything else I prefer flats. The bronze may make more noise, but if you play with a guitarist, you will need to plug in anyway.

Any strings should work on the Breedlove as long as they are the right size. (i.e. don't try to string a short scale with long scale strings)

joebrown · #3 10-01-2009, 06:04 AM

I'm in a similar boat. New here, and just started playing two months ago on an acoustic bass that my wife bought me to explore my interest in learning. I quickly learned from TalkBass and other forums/reviews that I'd improve tone and playability if I replaced the stock strings, so I did, with a set of acoustic-specific roundwounds from D'Addario. Hated them -- found them to be very "bright", not at all what I expected a bass to sound like. (Wife: "Sounds like a guitar.")

Poked around here a bit and learned about flatwounds. Ended up buying a set -- D'Addario XL Chromes -- ECB81 to be exact -- and love them. Feel great under my fingers and produce the (relatively) deep, smooth tone I associate with bass. They are making it much more pleasant to learn and practice. I've already decided that when I do purchase an electric bass (and the Squire VM Jazz is on my short list), I'll go with flatwounds on it as well.

In my research, I did learn that it's probably best to go with a relatively light gauge electric string on the acoustics -- D'Addario classifies the ECB81s as "regular light gauge" (.45 - .100). (I think the measurements are what matters -- the descriptions seem to vary across brands.) I had no problems installing these "electric" strings on my acoustic, they hold tune well (following some initial settling in), and haven't even had to adjust the truss rod, as I suspected I might.

By the way, from what I've read here it sounds like those black strings were likely tapewounds. Sounds like they're relatively expensive and don't have quite the lifespan of flatwounds.

I hope this is helpful. There are a few excellent threads on the topic if you search here.

Joe

lomo · #4 10-01-2009, 06:09 AM

Basically: flats will sound better IMO, as they will more resemble electric bass and reduce finger noise, but they will provide less unplugged volume.

MNAirHead · #5 10-01-2009, 06:10 AM

plug the hole.. tapes.. GHS makes the thinnest commonly avail

Pilgrim · #6 10-01-2009, 09:44 AM

I like flatwounds on an acoustic or A/E. I have Chromes on my Applause AE-40, and I like them much better than the phosphor rounds that came on it.

One thing to watch out for is (as mentioned earlier) to use light gauge strings. The string holes in the bridges tend to be small, and even the silks on the bottom of strings can jam the string so it won't go through the hole. Tapewounds are larger diameter because of the extra winding of tape. I had to strip the silks off the Chromes to get them through the bridge. No problem, but I learned from it.

I personally don't want to enlarge the holes in that wooden bridge, so I stay with lighter gauge strings on it.

Tahoe_Ed · #7 10-01-2009, 10:04 AM

I put Fender tapewounds on my Ibanez AEB10E and love the feel and sound. I did not have any issues with stringing through the bridge, though I did have to do some nut work. Much larger string than the D'Addario Phospher Bronze that I was using. Now; no string noise, higher volume and more of a URB sound.