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Acoustic Bass Guitar Strings

T

turf3

Sep 26, 2011
6,855
16,334
#1
Some years ago I bought an inexpensive ABG (Dean) in the vain hope that it would provide me with a zero-electrons alternative to the upright bass in quiet settings. To that end, I replaced the stock strings with flatwound strings. Well, the ABG as substitute for upright didn't work, no surprise there; but now I think I'd like to try it out for some other things, and I'm wanting to try again the clanky, twangy sound of those roundwound strings on it. And I can't find the strings I took off it.

So what's the inexpensive standard for that? D'Addario phsophor bronze seem moderately priced. Are they an OK choice?

Again, I am NOT attempting to approach the sound of the upright bass. You don't need to tell me about tapewound strings, or flats, or all that stuff. I'm looking to go in the other direction now.
 
#2
D'Addarios work fine for the overly bright phosphor bronze sound. If you want something a touch more mellow (sounds like you do not), the GHS Bronze Pressurewounds work well.

Noting you are exploring the side of ABG that I am not a fan of. I have used several ABG strings and found that for me the order of preference is... TI Jazz Flats, Labella Tapewound, GHS Bronze Pressurewound, D'Addario Phosphor Bronze.
 
#3
I've used those D'Addario's on my ABG (Charvel Surfcaster) and they did the job - super zingy, clanky, twangy. Too much so, for me, and the feel under my fingers just doesn't work for me, so I personally prefer regular NPS rounds on that bass.

But they will give you what you're looking for.
 
#5
turf3 said:
So what's the inexpensive standard for that? D'Addario phsophor bronze seem moderately priced. Are they an OK choice?
Click to expand...
I would vote for the GHS Pressurewound Bronze as well. The traditional acoustic sound but without the squeaks and screeches.

www.ghsstrings.com

Products - PRESSUREWOUND™ BRONZE - GHS Strings

Since 1964, GHS Strings has been expertly winding high-quality electric guitar strings in the heart of southwestern Michigan. As a leading manufacturer, we blend tradition with innovation to produce a wide variety of strings for electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitars, classical guitars...
www.ghsstrings.com www.ghsstrings.com

Invalid Link Removed
 
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#6
The GHS Pressurewound Bronzes are great, and have the added benefit that the interior winding is steel so a magnetic pickup will pick them up as well (great if, for example, you have a latter-day Godin). But they tarnish soooooo fast. The Elixer bronzes are quite nice, and also avoid that squeak because of the coating, which also keeps them nice and shiny.
 
#7
ahbass2500 said:
D'Addarios work fine for the overly bright phosphor bronze sound. If you want something a touch more mellow (sounds like you do not), the GHS Bronze Pressurewounds work well.

Noting you are exploring the side of ABG that I am not a fan of. I have used several ABG strings and found that for me the order of preference is... TI Jazz Flats, Labella Tapewound, GHS Bronze Pressurewound, D'Addario Phosphor Bronze.
Click to expand...
I was not a fan of that sound either. That's why I put flats on it.

But now, some 10 years later, I have the upright bass, I have a Precision bass with flats on; the ABG was NOT a successful substitute for upright. Certainly not as compared to a Fender Precision with a small amp.

So, I look at this thing, say "I haven't even had it out of the case in 5 years; where could I use it?" and I think "well, I have heard people play ABG with that twangy clanky sound to good effect; maybe I'll give it a whirl". I'll keep the flatwound strings (this time, IN THE CASE SO I DON'T LOSE THEM) so I can always put them back on.
 
#8
turf3 said:
I was not a fan of that sound either. That's why I put flats on it.

But now, some 10 years later, I have the upright bass, I have a Precision bass with flats on; the ABG was NOT a successful substitute for upright. Certainly not as compared to a Fender Precision with a small amp.

So, I look at this thing, say "I haven't even had it out of the case in 5 years; where could I use it?" and I think "well, I have heard people play ABG with that twangy clanky sound to good effect; maybe I'll give it a whirl". I'll keep the flatwound strings (this time, IN THE CASE SO I DON'T LOSE THEM) so I can always put them back on.
Click to expand...

Then I would go with the GHS Bronze Pressure Wound. Gets you the more typical ABG sound without the noises that likely drove you away from Phosphor Bronze in the first place. I could tolerate the Pressure Wound. I absolutely hated round bronze.
 
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#9
A Bass And Its Boy said:
The Elixir bronzes are quite nice, and also avoid that squeak because of the coating, which also keeps them nice and shiny.
Click to expand...
(Note- I corrected the spelling of “Elixir” from the quoted message.)

I just put a set of these on my Ibanez AEB5E. They’re awesome. They have the high end without the screeching, and the coating means they’ll last a long time. They feel great, too.

I don’t ever plug in my acoustic bass, so amplified sound does not matter to me.

I can’t recommend Elixir bronze enough!
 
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#11
I don't want to sound like a DR shill, but Stuart Spector puts DR "Rare" phos bronze on his Esopus basses. He sent me a fretted and fretless model last year to play for quite a bit. The strings were great.
 

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