Strings for Acoustic Bass Guitars

[JES]

Hi All,

I'm about to step into the ABG world and I'm wondering what kind and especially what gauge strings you use. Some indication of the acoustic sound you're going for would be great, too. For me, I'm more interested in a "low guitar" than an "upright bass" as my ideal model, if you know what I mean (if I wanted to sound like an upright, I'd play one).

Thanks!

--JES

[BartmanPDX]

Originally Posted by JES

Hi All,

I'm about to step into the ABG world and I'm wondering what kind and especially what gauge strings you use. Some indication of the acoustic sound you're going for would be great, too. For me, I'm more interested in a "low guitar" than an "upright bass" as my ideal model, if you know what I mean (if I wanted to sound like an upright, I'd play one).

Thanks!

--JES

If you want to sound like a "low guitar," then you should probably go with phosphor bronze strings. That's sort of what the ones sounded like that came on my Tacoma.

I put nylon tapewounds on my Tacoma, BTW. The bronze strings transferred too much finger noise for my tastes -- it was loud as heck and driving me crazy. It doesn't sound like anything like an upright bass with the nylon tapewounds, either, but there's no finger noise from my left hand any more.

[Richard Lindsey]

I'm using T-I Jazz Flats at the moment, though I may try tapes next time.

But then, I'm going for a tone leaning a little more to the upright side. I hate phosphor bronze on an ABG, precisely because I don't like the "low guitar" sound--it doesn't seem to me to inhabit its own register very well that way, because it's too close to the guitar's sound, but maybe that's just me.

So maybe you should just do the opposite of what I like.

[brooklynbassed]

On my Tacoma 5 Fretless: Labella nylon tape wound: A-D-G strings and DR Bronze B and E strings (for me these have better response on the lower strings than the Labella's).

I suggest that you experiment to see what's best for you.

BTW an ABG sounds like an ABG (even a fretless) compared to an upright. If you want an upright sound, nothing compares to a double bass. Take it from someone who's been a doubler most of his life.

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by JES

I'm about to step into the ABG world and I'm wondering what kind and especially what gauge strings you use. Some indication of the acoustic sound you're going for would be great, too. For me, I'm more interested in a "low guitar" than an "upright bass" as my ideal model, if you know what I mean (if I wanted to sound like an upright, I'd play one).

Be very careful to use the guage recommended by the manufacturer. Acoustic bass guitar tops are much more fragile than solidbody electrics. If you put too big a string on the ABG you may get problems.

D'Addario Phosphor Bronze ABG strings are what I use and what I recommend.

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by BartmanPDX

I put nylon tapewounds on my Tacoma, BTW. The bronze strings transferred too much finger noise for my tastes -- it was loud as heck and driving me crazy. It doesn't sound like anything like an upright bass with the nylon tapewounds, either, but there's no finger noise from my left hand any more.

Be careful, I think I may have damaged my Thunderchief with LaBella tapewound strings. They are a MUCH bigger guage than Tacoma recommends, and my top is bowing a little bit from the years that I had those high tension strings on by bass.

[BartmanPDX]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

Be careful, I think I may have damaged my Thunderchief with LaBella tapewound strings. They are a MUCH bigger guage than Tacoma recommends, and my top is bowing a little bit from the years that I had those high tension strings on by bass.

Thanks for the info. I'm going to have to look into that.

I have a 5-string, BTW, and the B string doesn't seem high tension, but I'll look into it for sure.

[JES]

Hi All,

Thanks for your replies. Especially since, like a n00b, I posted this on the wrong forum (instead of strings). As long as I have you here, what do you use to tune your ABG? Tuning fork? Some kind of thing that emits a constant tone? I was thinking the latter as I can't hold a tuning fork, turn a peg and pluck a string all at the same time.

Best,
--JES

[BartmanPDX]

Originally Posted by JES

Hi All,

Thanks for your replies. Especially since, like a n00b, I posted this on the wrong forum (instead of strings). As long as I have you here, what do you use to tune your ABG? Tuning fork? Some kind of thing that emits a constant tone? I was thinking the latter as I can't hold a tuning fork, turn a peg and pluck a string all at the same time.

Best,
--JES

I plug mine into a tuner, personally.

[rank_amateur]

Originally Posted by Philbiker

Be careful, I think I may have damaged my Thunderchief with LaBella tapewound strings. They are a MUCH bigger guage than Tacoma recommends, and my top is bowing a little bit from the years that I had those high tension strings on by bass.

I put a set of Status Graphite Hotwire tapewounds on mine. Same tone and feel as the LaBellas but the gauges are .045, .065, .085, and .105 - MUCH closer to the D'Addario phospher bronze roundwounds that Tacoma ships on the Thunderchief (.045, .065, .080, .100) than the huge LaBellas. I haven't had any problems with the Hotwires. I didn't have to do anything to the nut or the bridge, and only tightened the truss rod about 1/4 of a turn.

[Richard Lindsey]

From what I understand, I don't think you can really compare gauges between tapewounds and either roundwounds or flatwounds. Gauge is only a reliable indicator of relative tension if the physical construction of two strings is essentially the same. I doubt that a tapewound .060 (the Labella G) has the same tension as a SS roundwound .060 at the same pitch. Sure didn't feel that way when I tried one on my ABG.

I'm not saying the LaBellas weren't too high tension for Philbiker's Tacoma or that they couldn't be too high tension for anybody else. I'm just saying, don't assume that they're super high tension strings just because the gauges look so big.

[lpdeluxe]

I have a set of LaBella DTP tapewounds on my Ibanez AEB305LG without problems. They got rid of the sizzle the original brass roundwounds had.

[MAJOR METAL]

This belongs in Strings.

[OnlyMe]

Originally Posted by rank_amateur

I put a set on of Status Graphite Hotwire tapewounds on mine. ... I haven't had any problems with the Hotwires. I didn't have to to anything to the nut or the bridge, and only tightened the truss rod about 1/4 of a turn.

Didn't have to do anything to the bass, but were you able to fit the strings in the tuners without 'unwrapping' or 'dismanteling' the ends of the strings?

The reason I ask, is that I bought a set of those and found out to my supprise that they aren't tapered down into narrow ending like normal strings. And since I really don't feel like tampering with the strings to get them thin enough to fit in my tuners, they're absolutely useless to me. Second company that screwed me in this way. GHS did the same thing

[rank_amateur]

Originally Posted by OnlyMe

Didn't have to do anything to the bass, but were you able to fit the strings in the tuners without 'unwrapping' or 'dismanteling' the ends of the strings?

Yes...

BUT:

In the interest of full disclosure, I had to really work at jamming the .105, completely NOT tapered (as you noted) E string into the tuner slot. It took me a few tries and probably 15 minutes of swearing, sweating, and muttering to myself. But eventually I manged to force it in there.

The other three were no trouble at all, though.

[Lokire]

Originally Posted by rank_amateur

Yes...

BUT:

In the interest of full disclosure, I had to really work at jamming the .105, completely NOT tapered (as you noted) E string into the tuner slot. It took me a few tries and probably 15 minutes of swearing, sweating, and muttering to myself. But eventually I manged to force it in there.

The other three were no trouble at all, though.

Same here (I have the Status-Graphite Tapewounds too). Except I had them on a 5-string and I did have to put some work into dismantling the end of the B-string to get it to fit. The E went in with just a little force (for me).

It didn't take me that long to do though and I think, considering how long these strings will last you, it's completely worth it. I love those strings

[rank_amateur]

Originally Posted by Lokire

It didn't take me that long to do though and I think, considering how long these strings will last you, it's completely worth it. I love those strings

Oh I wholeheartedly agree. I will never use anything else on my Tacoma(Olympia) ABG, nor on my Godin A4. My Rob Allen mouse (that should be here by the end of summer) will have La Bella tapewounds, as do all piezo Allens.

Tapewounds simply make the sound I have in my head better than any other type of string.

Credit to Lokire is due for pointing me to the Status Hotwires in the first place.

[jonathan_matos5]

this is on the same topic so instead of making a new thread i will post here

i have daddario phosphor bronze strings on my abg and well they suck
any way has anybody used these


what do you think of them and do they last longer since they are coated strings

[Philbiker]

Originally Posted by jonathan_matos5

this is on the same topic so instead of making a new thread i will post here

i have daddario phosphor bronze strings on my abg and well they suck
any way has anybody used these


what do you think of them and do they last longer since they are coated strings

I have used the Elixer acoustic bass strings on my Tacoma. I liked them, but take that as you will; I like the D'Addarios a lot also. I like old strings and I didn't like the way the "nanoweb" coating started coming off the Elixers after a while.

[bass-shy]

On a side note: Where could one find some Status Nylon Tapes? I would like to give them a shot on my Martin ABG. Right now, I use DR Sunbeams and they sound nice, but I am looking for something smoother and darker. I have also used Sadowsky flats on this bass, (40-100) but the tension was too high and there were severe tonal inconsistancies between each string. So far, the DR's are the best I've tried but those Status strings are so highly praised around here that I would be remiss not to try them out. Thanks.