I put some chromes on my Breedlove Atlas ABG on Friday and I really like the way they sound and feel. They're so much smoother than the rounds that I had on it.
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Acoustic-Electric Bass Strings
- Thread starter androliv
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I've changed strings depending upon my gear and the sound i am reaching for. With my Taylor and Breedlove i preferred TI Acousticores. On my Wechter i prefer ti jazz rounds.
Good luck with finding your sound and feel!
Good luck with finding your sound and feel!
Same here... I can say that I still love my GHS tapewounds on my ABG but this is true The G string is calcky. I've used Status tapewounds before, and the G string was even more "clacky". I wonder if this is why LaBella makes their tapewounds so thick? I'm also really curious about your future experience with the D'Addario tapewounds.
Alan Ace Cooper
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- Jan 6, 2004
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D'Addario Nylon installed, replacing the GHS tapes. The D'Addario strings sound and feel smoother... more substantial. The G string tonality is much improved. The GHS strings did feel more like a "Balanced" set. I think the GHS set would be better served with a heavier gauged G string... say a 55.
I found phos-bronze strings a bit too twangy for my taste.
I run D'Addario Chromes (which for the record are flatwounds design for electric bass) and have found my perfect blend of deep AGB tonal goodness with a hefty taste of upright vibe.
So yeah, on most ABGs you can run pretty much any string you want, don't be afraid to experiment.
I run D'Addario Chromes (which for the record are flatwounds design for electric bass) and have found my perfect blend of deep AGB tonal goodness with a hefty taste of upright vibe.
So yeah, on most ABGs you can run pretty much any string you want, don't be afraid to experiment.
Quoting my own post as a follow-up.
I used the ABG with chromes for rehearsal last night and they do sound really good. I did notice the string clank from my plucking hand. I tend to dig more aggressively when I'm practicing at home. When it comes to playing with the group I concentrate more on playing cleanly. I think the clank was more noticeable because I'm not getting the finger noise from the fret hand that I get with the phosphor/bronze roundwound.
I have a Boulder Creek 5-string fretless being delivered today. I was thinking about putting chromes on it but now I'm wondering if the tapewounds would be better. I was thinking about starting a thread on the question but I think I'll see if I can get opinions here.
Tapewounds vs Chromes. Thoughts?
- Sep 9, 2007
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Alan Ace Cooper
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- Jan 6, 2004
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One thing I get concerned with is string tension and how it will effect the neck set. If I can prolong a $400 neck reset with a lighter gauged set and proper humidifying... That's the direction I will always take. For an acoustic, I would lean towards the nylon tapes or the Thomastik Jazz Flats, that have much lighter tension than other flat wound sets.
The Boulder Creek is fretless
One nice thing about that is D'Addario shows the string tension on their packaging which is also shown on Amazon when you view the item. Once I see what strings are on the Boulder Creek I can compare string tensions to make sure I'm staying close to the same tension.
This was a good bit of information, thanks.
I compared string tensions and found the chromes have about 10lbs more tension per string than the phosphor bronze. That's 50lbs. per set.
The chromes have 50% higher tension than the tapes, i.e. about 40lbs. on G for the tapes and about 60lbs. for the chromes.
I'll keep the chromes on my 4-string because for some reason the tension wasn't much higher than the rounds but on the 5's it was enough of a difference that I decided to try the tapes first. I watched some youtube vids and they sounded pretty solid on electric bass so I'm hoping I can get as good n the ABG.
Yes, be careful of tension. I use DR Black Beauties on mine. I once sold an ABG to a guy who, as near as I can tell from the angry emails that followed, tried to restring it with much too high-tension strings and broke the nut and the bridge (and expected me to pay for his mistake).
For those using flats or roundwounds, do you have a preference in the gauges? Reading the above threads regarding neck tension is something I never really considered. Guess that's why we're here!
My Michael Kelly currently has flats, but I've been debating moving away from them for a more lively sound on it for the next change.
My Michael Kelly currently has flats, but I've been debating moving away from them for a more lively sound on it for the next change.
scotch
It's not rocket science!
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Both of the steel string acoustic bass guitars I have owned have had plywood tops. Neither of them have ever flinched at whatever 'regular' tension strings I've had on them. Were talking 10+ years. Unless your bass has a thin, solid wood top - I wouldn't get too worried about standard string tension.
I use regular Chromes. Never had a problem.
They've been on my Hondo for a long time, maybe 6 or 7 years now I guess (same set).
On this particular ABG I like that the strings are fed from under the saddle so I never have to worry about bridge pins, but it makes it a bit challenging and time consuming to change strings, so running flats that last for years and years just makes too much sense from a practical standpoint for me to change.
Plus I love the tone and I find it perfect for what it does, a nice deep bassy yet defined tone, and it does it at a pretty good volume (for an ABG that is). I can easily play along with a single guitarist - who usually happens to be my youngest son.
Oh, just FYI, before I switched to Chromes I ran Elixers for a year or so and found they lasted a good long time and gave that bright round wound twang that lots of folks look for in ABG strings. No complaints and highly recommended, although I'm sure the D'Addario coated versions would be worth considering for the same benefits.
Since there are so many posts about the TI's being lower tension (per same gauge, I assume), does anyone have any real "strung-to-pitch" tension charts or info to compare with D'Addario and others?
I put chromes on my 4-string on Friday and they sound great.
I'll be putting tapewounds on my 5-string tomorrow and plan on using both together on stage for an acoustic set I do on Saturdays.
I only have the D'Addario charts.
I'll be putting tapewounds on my 5-string tomorrow and plan on using both together on stage for an acoustic set I do on Saturdays.
I only have the D'Addario charts.
Thomastik Infeld has their string tensions on their website:
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And of course D'Addario publishes their tensions as well:
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For the sake of this thread, here's a glance at tensions for standard four string 34" flat wound sets, TI Jazz Flats vs. two similar D'Addario Chrome sets:
TI Jazz Flats (Long Scale 43-100 gauge):
E 34.39
A 31.30
D 37.47
G 37.03
D'Addario Chromes (Long Scale, 45-100 gauge):
E 40.29
A 47.52
D 58.63
G 53.31
D'Addario Chromes (Long Scale 40-95 gauge):
E 36.20
A 42.58
D 46.49
G 37.83
The new copper white tapewounds from Labella seem like they'd be the ultimate ABG string. The "acousticness" of copper coated strings with the smoothness of tapewounds.
