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Acoustic-Electric Bass Strings

A

androliv

Mar 5, 2014
3
0
#1
Hey everyone! I go to this forum all the time but this is my first time posting, always such good information! Anyway, I recently purchased my first acoustic-electric bass. It's a Breedlove Studio with fishman electronics in it. The question I have is, on an acoustic-electric, do you use electric strings or acoustic strings? on my Gibson Thunderbird I use DR's and on my Schecter electric i use EB's but I completely lost on an acoustic-electric.
 
#4
You can use whatever you want.

True, with an electric bass string, you are going to lose some volume. Given that I've yet to play an acoustic-electric that can hold its own unplugged, volume is really a moot point since you WILL be plugged in.
 
#6
I think I'm going to go with the Phosphor bronze acoustic. Thanks for the guidance everyone! And GHS, if I decide they don't sound great plugged in (which I will definitely be plugged in) then I'll try out some electric strings as per your suggestion. Thanks!
 
#9
I've tried phosphor bronze, regular e-bass strings, tape wounds, and some pyramid strings that I think were phosphor bronze wound on a nylon core... regular sounded quite crappy, bronze ok, tape wounds is what I use now but those pyramids were the best! much smoother sound, less bright but very pleasing highs and they felt awesome and totally different under the fingers... the downside was: the G-string snapped after about a month or so, the D-string a few weeks later...
 
#10
androliv said:
I think I'm going to go with the Phosphor bronze acoustic. Thanks for the guidance everyone! And GHS, if I decide they don't sound great plugged in (which I will definitely be plugged in) then I'll try out some electric strings as per your suggestion. Thanks!
Click to expand...

I've used a great many sets of strings on my Warwick Alien, so if there's anything I can do to help, let me know.
 
#11
I am currently using the GHS Black Tapewound strings on my Godin A5 Ultra. I have D'Addario Black Nylon Tapewound strings on my Italia Maranella. As mentioned by others, the Bronze strings offer up more volume, I just like the smoother tone of the Nylon tapewound. I've tried the Thomastik AcoustiCore strings on a formally owned, Carvin AC50, They are gorgeous sounding strings but the softer feeling true nylon core takes some getting used to. There is also the much higher price point. I use DR Strings on all of my electric/Magnetic pickup basses.
 
#14
Tapewounds are popular on AGB's & of course phospor bronze, but I've gotten into a less conventional string that I really like on 'em. D'Addario EXP Copper Reds. There's just a unique voicing that compliments an AGB with the coated Reds. Plus, they last a stupid long time!
 
#17
Alan Ace Cooper said:
@ Scotch - Really?!?! had some of those YEARS ago, like.. early 80s. They sounded great but would become brown in a second. How is the tension and feel with the coated copper, as compared to Bronze or Nickel winding?
Click to expand...

Yeah, these new ones have that thin EXP coating which prevents the tarnishing, thankfully! Tension feels about the same to nickels to me, feel is a little different. Perhaps a bit smoother (but not significantly). What I like is that they aren't too stringent or very bright when you first install them. There's a warmth of tone that stays more consistent longer.
 
#18
I'm very partial to Thomastik Jazz Flats, and won't use anything else on my fretless Godin A4. I used bronze ones on the Turner Renaissance I had, and they were one reason I sold the bass. Really squirmy under the fingers, and I thought they had a very unfocused sound. But I'm looking for a jazz "uprightish" tone, and you may be after something else.
 
#20
@ Matthew - That's good to know. I tried the T.I. AcousticCore strings. They were very good for natural sounding tones. However, the squirmy feel does take away from the "Guitar" element and caused me to alter some of my techniques. I got a Godin A5 Ultra a couple of weeks ago. Its a little unfortunate it does not have the delicious LR Baggs system like the non-Ultra series. The Godin preamp is a little dry sounding on the top end, so I am not fond of the GHS Tapewounds I put on it last week. The GHS G string sounds like it doesn't have enough inner wrap, and sounds "clacky" to my ears. I am installing some D'Addario Tapewounds today. If I don't get the results I want.. I will have to pay the piper and invest in the T.I. Jazz Flats.
 

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