5th string sounds like mud

[knuckle]

Well, what I mean is that I've read a lot about ABG in the past week and it seems that volume on the Low B is a problem for a lot of people. I realize this isn't an instrument you play unplugged. I've tried both tapewound and D'addario Phos Bronze strings. As you said, they are both nothing great.

I heard someone mention pro steel XL's, would you recommend these?

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May I ask what is the brand of your ABG?

 

[LowB-ing]

Well, what I mean is that I've read a lot about ABG in the past week and it seems that volume on the Low B is a problem for a lot of people. I realize this isn't an instrument you play unplugged. I've tried both tapewound and D'addario Phos Bronze strings. As you said, they are both nothing great.

I heard someone mention pro steel XL's, would you recommend these?

[This invalid link has been removed]


May I ask what is the brand of your ABG?

Low volume is a problem across the whole low end register on ABGs played acoustically, even on 4-strings. It's not 5-string specific. Once you plug in it's a different story.

The strings you linked are ProSteels. They are good if you like the SS sound but I would recommend going either 145, 105, 080, 060, 045 or 135, 100, 075, 055, 040 regardless if you go with ProSteels or XLs. I don't think D'Addario sells these gauges as prepackaged sets. Go to bassstringsonline.com and order them as singles. That's what I do.

I have ProSteels on my MusicMan bass for maximum aggressiveness. Gauge 145, 105, 080, 060, 045.

I recommend both ProSteels and XLs. Depends if you want the SS or nickel type of sound.

More on my ABG here:
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/campfire-acoustic-bass-guitar.1075120/page-2#post-15858943

and here:
http://www.talkbass.com/threads/mexican-guitarron.49544/page-3#post-10621305

It's got D'Addario Super long scale XLs on it, gauge 145, 105, 080, 060, 045. It's 36" scale instrument, hence the super long scale strings.