T.I Acousticore Strings

I'm using them on my fretted Alien 6. On fretted they sound very warm, with a good balance of mid and treble. Much like a big classical guitar.

What I really like about them is that the softer nylon core cuts down on a lot of the fret noise that you get with steel core strings.

mesaphlin said:

Hello everyone,

I want to play with Thomastik-Infeld Acousticore Acoustic Bass Strings - 4 String Set on my fretless bass. My question is that are they like flatwounds in terms of durability? I mean everyone knows that with flatwound strings, the one can play many years without changing them like roundwounds and they still stay playable.

Does this concept apply to acousticore strings also? Or are they like roundwounds? So after awhile they go dead or dull so they have to be changed regularly?

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I use AcoustiCores on both my fretted and fretless Renaissance basses. If you didn't already know- @Rick Turner worked with the folks at Thomastik-Infeld developing a string optimized for piezo-equipped basses, -specifically his Renaissance line- these being the result.

One other tip I'll add to the conversation, is to polish the bronze windings with some 600-grit sandpaper. This greatly reduces friction. I've also found that regular use of a string cleaner/lubricant (I like FastFret) not only prolongs the already incredibly long life, but also conditions the strings, meaning they feel 'played in' a lot sooner.

Shanannigan said:

I'm using them on my fretted Alien 6. On fretted they sound very warm, with a good balance of mid and treble. Much like a big classical guitar.

What I really like about them is that the softer nylon core cuts down on a lot of the fret noise that you get with steel core strings.

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That's the best way I could describe them. Like giant classical guitar strings.

I haven't played a giant classical guitar so I'll have to assume that's a good thing?

I can't stand bronze phosphor strings on an ABG or any other bass. They feel gauche and stink. And the surface wears off on fingers - yuch!

I've used tapes for many years, mostly on ABG but also on a few electrics. I prefer them on ABG. Just curious what the Acousticores would bring to the table that I'm not getting with the Taylor bass.

N. Kentucky Bass said:

...Just curious what the Acousticores would bring to the table that I'm not getting with the Taylor bass.

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Well, there is only one way to find out.

That is the one thing I'm not liking about the acousticores, is the bronze winding. The smell and feel is annoying. But as far as I know they're the only nylon core string available, and steel core strings sound too harsh on acoustic imo.

I believe classical guitars also use a bronze winding, but the winding is coated in silver. I wonder if that alleviates the problems I have with bronze.

N. Kentucky Bass said:

I haven't played a giant classical guitar so I'll have to assume that's a good thing?

I can't stand bronze phosphor strings on an ABG or any other bass. They feel gauche and stink. And the surface wears off on fingers - yuch!

I've used tapes for many years, mostly on ABG but also on a few electrics. I prefer them on ABG. Just curious what the Acousticores would bring to the table that I'm not getting with the Taylor bass.

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I use the Acousticores on my fretless Renaissance and really, really adore them. I've tried them on my fretted AB-1 and found them too floppy for my liking (tho' this was years ago - I should probably do the experiment again). These are unlike any of the other phosphor bronze string I've used. On the Renaissance I find them, for lack of a better word, welcoming. I think it's well worth it to check these guys out.

EdwardofHuncote said:

I use AcoustiCores on both my fretted and fretless Renaissance basses. If you didn't already know- @Rick Turner worked with the folks at Thomastik-Infeld developing a string optimized for piezo-equipped basses, -specifically his Renaissance line- these being the result.

One other tip I'll add to the conversation, is to polish the bronze windings with some 600-grit sandpaper. This greatly reduces friction. I've also found that regular use of a string cleaner/lubricant (I like FastFret) not only prolongs the already incredibly long life, but also conditions the strings, meaning they feel 'played in' a lot sooner.

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Thanks for the string hygiene tip, Sir Edward. I've an old set that is lying fallow - I'll see if I can spruce them up.

Shanannigan said:

That is the one thing I'm not liking about the acousticores, is the bronze winding. The smell and feel is annoying. But as far as I know they're the only nylon core string available, and steel core strings sound too harsh on acoustic imo.

I believe classical guitars also use a bronze winding, but the winding is coated in silver. I wonder if that alleviates the problems I have with bronze.

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Classical guitar "bass" strings are usually, but not always, silver-plated copper over a nylon core. Copper is even less resistant to sweat and finger crud than bronze, but thankfully the silver plating does perform much better in this regard (well, in flatulence-free rooms at least...); it's not mechanically eternal of course, and neither is the copper wire nor the core.

Good news is, there are a number of bass string products made just like classical guitar low strings, for octave-down version of classical guitars named contrabass guitars (usually about 30" scale) and variations thereof (longer scale and/or fewer strings; there are even octave-down sets for normal, 25.5" scale guitars), which makes the Acousticores not the only nyloncore bass guitar strings available by any means. It's just that this forum is mostly unaware of the fact.* A newly edited version of an old post of mine:

This is the set to get, to get one's feet wet:
elsewhere
They go for as much as 16.95 US bucks; spendy, I know, but perhaps worth a try. I use and love the medium-scale version. Tie-ends, which need to be tied into knots or to old ball-ends or similar.

If you end up hooked, and want to try a highly regarded company's version:
an old post of mine
(I know, fracking expensive and includes two strings you wouldn't use.)

That's it, to my knowledge, for long-scale nylon-silk-core silver-plated copper round-wound strings. (Which I've re-dubbed "mouthfulwound" elsewhere.)

Then, there are bronze-wound nylon-cores, the T-I's subject of this thread (phosphor bronze) and a Invalid Link Removed (80/20 bronze). La Bella too has periodically made Golden Alloy (80/20 brass) -wound nylon-core strings available but not currently. They also have two silver-copper sets for contrabass guitar - 6 and 4 string - but the latter is 30" only while the former (CB60), is indeed a long-scale one, or so they say
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
but I'd ask a vendor for confirmation first - two of them disagree on the matter:
Invalid Link Removed
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
(These come with ball-ends.)

Finally, if you're feeling adventurous, German manufacturer Lenzner/Fisoma makes a 5-string set:
Fisoma F2716 Classical 5 string Bass Guitar 860mm Standard Tension Ball end Bass Classical 5 string
which I'm already curious enough about to want to send an email and enquire into (diameters, and the non-negligible aspect whether they are for BEADG or EADGC...), early next week if I don't forget.


To bring this back on-topic, and to be clear, if one took the time to compare one of the silver- or bronze-plated sets I've linked to above to the Acousticores and found the latter to be the clear winner and worth exactly its cost relative to the less known item, I'd totally and sincerely take his/her word for it: the T-I's have a stellar reputation I'm absolutely aware of. I'm just contented with the Savarez (for the moment), personally, and felt like pointing out that, FWIW, cheaper nylon-core sets do exist and aren't too hard to get, either as alternatives or gateway solutions to the real Austrian thing.


*with the exception of a series of nylon-core silver-plated copper offerings for uke-basses and their ilk, by Pyramid, Kala, La Bella and D'Addario, which do get mentioned in relevant threads here.

Wow, thanks for all of that. My bass is actually a 6 string, so it's really helpful that you included those sets.

Shanannigan said:

Wow, thanks for all of that. My bass is actually a 6 string, so it's really helpful that you included those sets.

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If you do not and will not tune to octave-down Spanish E-e those 6-string sets aren't much of a help though: the Fisoma 5-string set, assuming it is for BEADG, is the first one, that I know of, to break Thomastik-Infeld's monopoly on nylon-core bass guitar low B sets - hence my curiosity. That the StringsbyMail page for the CB60 says it's B-c is a mistake.
Well, you do have the option of getting one of the EADGbe sets and tuning it down a 4th, because n-cores are very flexible and IME still wouldn't reach sproing point ( = impossible to intonate, wobbly on the attack, unreliable pitch at fretting) that way, but you'd have to get used to even less tension...

I ordered a set of the CB60 to try out. I agree judging by the gauges it seems like B-C might be a mistake. If that's the case I'm going to see how the tension is at standard, and if there's enough room tune the b and e up to C and F.

Shanannigan said:

I ordered a set of the CB60 to try out. I agree judging by the gauges it seems like B-C might be a mistake. If that's the case I'm going to see how the tension is at standard, and if there's enough room tune the b and e up to C and F.

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Please share your findings when you have time!

Well that was disappointing. I tried putting the strings on today, only to realize that they are not long enough. I don't know if this is a manufacturing error, or just another error in the listing (like the tuning). They are listed as being intended for 85cm scale. My bass is around 85cm scale, and they aren't near long enough to reach from bridge to tuning peg.

Shanannigan said:

Well that was disappointing. I tried putting the strings on today, only to realize that they are not long enough. I don't know if this is a manufacturing error, or just another error in the listing (like the tuning). They are listed as being intended for 85cm scale. My bass is around 85cm scale, and they aren't near long enough to reach from bridge to tuning peg.

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Sorry to hear it. Looks like JustStrings were right, and StringsbyMail and La Bella themselves wrong. (Either that, or a product update has occurred but SbM has older sets in stock and newer descriptions on the website.) I feared it might be the case.

I'm receiving a refund from Strings By Mail. I've written to La Bella asking for clarification on this because I really would like to try them. For the meantime I've ordered a pack of Hannabach for 90cm scale. They're plain end strings but it seems like certain knots can compensate for the ball to be used with bridge pins. So fingers crossed because I'm pretty set at this point on the idea of having nylon core strings tuned E-e or E-F on my acoustic.

I just put the Hannabachs on my bass. Just had to tie a simple knot at the bridge end, and they hold fine. The higher strings very easily tuned up to C and F. They sound very good. Similar sound to the acousticores, but maybe a bit more bright and rich. They feel better, none of the bronze string friction. I think I'm going to stick with these.

Shanannigan said:

I just put the Hannabachs on my bass. Just had to tie a simple knot at the bridge end, and they hold fine. The higher strings very easily tuned up to C and F. They sound very good. Similar sound to the acousticores, but maybe a bit more bright and rich. They feel better, none of the bronze string friction. I think I'm going to stick with these.

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Cool! User @Claus Rogge uses what I take to be the short-scale version (Nowhere I can try out an acoustic before buying) on his fretless acoustic 6 stringer built by Daniel Furlan of 13 Custom Instruments, based in Graz, Austria:
Nowhere I can try out an acoustic before buying &ff
handcrafted stringed instruments > Acoustic Bass > Acousticbass2015 > Acoustic bass guitar 2017

Anyone know what color the ball ends are on the TI Acousticore? I took an acoustic bass that I hadn't played in a while, which had TI Acousticores (5-string, A-C), in for some work; I am not 100% sure it came back with the same strings on it.

I'm starting to think I might want a set of these for my Ibanez AEB5E acoustic. I've had the same set of D'Addario Tapewounds on it for almost 7 years. I've had TIJFs on my Fretless Jazz for a year and a half and that experience has me interested in trying the Acousticores.

We shall see!