String Recommendation

aeb414 said:

I have flat wound strings on my Precision and love the sound and feel of them.
I would like to put flat wound strings on my acoustic bass but can’t seem to get a straight answer from anyone if they make flat wound strings for electric/acoustic bass guitars or can I just use the ones I have on my precision.

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What brand and gauges of flats do you have on your P?

I don’t know about acoustic-electric-specific-flatwound-bass-guitar strings, but you may want to look into Bronze Pressurewounds from GHS. Not so smooth as flats, but they should cut down on finger noise, project well acoustically, and would work with a magnetic sound hole pickup if you wanted to go that route. Many ABG players seem to like tapewound strings; that’s another consideration.

michael_t said:

What brand and gauges of flats do you have on your P?

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Of course you beat me to the punch

DR makes an acoustic string. Never tried them. Might want to look on strings by mail website---Dogal may make them too. Flats, I have no clue.

I put Chromes (flats) on my Applause acoustic. If the strings are correct length for the scale and fit through the bridge, you're good.

I’ve heard many people putting tapewounds on acoustic bass guitars. I’d put a set of labella copper white tapes on it if it were me. Labellas are rounds under the tape, so they can handle the bends at both bridge and nut.

aeb414 said:

Breedlove (Solo) electric/acoustic.

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Do you plan on playing the acoustic/electric mostly plugged in? Or, are you looking for strings that would allow you to play it acoustically with enough volume to be heard?

michael_t said:

Do you plan on playing the acoustic/electric mostly plugged in? Or, are you looking for strings that would allow you to play it acoustically with enough volume to be heard?

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This right here. Makes a huge difference. Nice Pbass BTW!!!

Riff Ranger said:

I don’t know about acoustic-electric-specific-flatwound-bass-guitar strings, but you may want to look into Bronze Pressurewounds from GHS. Not so smooth as flats, but they should cut down on finger noise, project well acoustically, and would work with a magnetic sound hole pickup if you wanted to go that route. Many ABG players seem to like tapewound strings; that’s another consideration.

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Interesting suggestion. Thanks. I have a Breedlove fiver and want to get rid of the stock bronze strings. I’ve thought about tapes, but am concerned about tension.

MCF said:

I have a Breedlove fiver and want to get rid of the stock bronze strings. I’ve thought about tapes, but am concerned about tension.

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Tapewounds in general are lower in tension than acoustic bronze strings of similar gauges. "Concerned about tension" as in tapewounds being too light?

I have GHS Precision Flats on my Breedlove. Not as loud as phosphor bronze round wounds, but I like the tone much more.

michael_t said:

Tapewounds in general are lower in tension than acoustic bronze strings of similar gauges. "Concerned about tension" as in tapewounds being too light?

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Thanks. Don’t want them to be floppy or higher either.

I put flat wounds on the A/E bass... recommended brand/gauge from Strings on Line...
Very satisfied...
(tried the flats from an old bass.. didn't fit well & did not want to modify anything...)

Used LaBella LTFs on an Epiphone El Capitan.

aeb414 said:

I currently have 2 bass guitars.
A Fender Precision (solid body electric) and a Breedlove (Solo) electric/acoustic.
(Both pictured below).
I have flat wound strings on my Precision and love the sound and feel of them.
I would like to put flat wound strings on my acoustic bass but can’t seem to get a straight answer from anyone if they make flat wound strings for electric/acoustic bass guitars or can I just use the ones I have on my precision.
I’d appreciate any advice.
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If as I suspect "acoustic flat" = bronze flat, here is an exhaustive (in all senses) writeup on what the bass string market currently offers, in terms of bronze/brass/copper non-rounds:


(processed rounds)
- GHS Pressurewound Bronze, available in a sole 4-string long-scale set, the 4L-RBB

(clear nylon tapewounds)
- La Bella 760G and 750G Gold White Nylon Tape Wound ("gold" being actually Golden Alloy i.e. 80/20 bronze/brass;
- La Bella 760C and 750C Copper White Nylon Tape Wound

(black nylon tapewounds)
- Warwick Black Nylon Tapewound Bronze, sets 34200 M LOS 4 and 34210 ML LOS 4

(flatwounds proper)
- 760FGS Deep Talkin’ Bass Gold Flats
(Golden-Alloy flatwound. Regarding how acousticky they sound, when installed on an ABG, reports say not much: not especially better-projecting or -sounding than steel or nickel flats, unlike what happens with roundwounds of the same materials. They are flatwounds, and of the thumpy sort, which seems to matter more than the flat ribbon being bronze. Nor do they market them for acoustic bass guitars specifically, for that matter.)
- the new Galli AJF45105 Bronze Jazz Flat
("Acoustic Bass Jazz Flat" they call 'em, and "powerful volume and long sustain" they say they have; if they true, they would seem to be a step in the right direction.)
- the also recent Aquila Flat Spirals 220U
(Varnished copper flatwound on a bioplastic "Sugar" core; they already have a couple enthusiastic reviewers here on these boards.)


The above having been said: no, you don't have to have "acoustic" strings on an acoustic bass guitar. Not mandatory for tone (let your ears be your guide for that, and piezo pickups work fine with whatever, anyway), much less for structural reasons (the top/bracing and neck only care about tension, not winding material).

So, if you like "electric" flats, you can use them on your Breedlove Solo no problem. I would just avoid very heavy gauges.

That acoustic seems like a fretless? From my point of view, that makes flat wounds an absolute "must".

I use TI flats on every solid, semi solid, & hollow body I own.

if you are plugging in, Labella black nylons are exceptional.

I had a fretless Breedlove acoustic bass and it came from the manufacturer with D'Addario Chrome flats, which I changed out for TI flats. Both worked fine.

TI Acousticore strings are the best choice IMO. I have a set on my Martin fretted acoustic bass and they're great, especially plugged in. They're expensive though.