What strings are you using? I have an acoustic fretless Aria Bass and I've got it strung with LaBella Deep Talking Bass black nylon tape wound .050-.105. 4 string light. I'm loving these strings, but they don't produce much sound unless amped. When amped this bass sounds awesome!
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Acoustic Fretless Strings
- Thread starter SquadraJoJo
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- acoustic fretless
You could maybe get a touch more volume out of it with phos bronze rounds, but they'll tear up your fretboard. I use Rotosound Trubass 88 tapes, which I think give a little more power. Reality is, that Aria just isnt big enough to get a lot of volume unplugged. Very few ABGs are big enough, in fact. Reverb has an Earthwood that's been defretted...that would be very strong. Think they're asking $2500.
IMHO (which will probably in the minority here on TB) is your instrument will not 'really' get any louder, but using a brighter string will bring out more 'top end' and seem more present in the room.
It's hard to suggest string sets not knowing you or what sound you're looking for—check out some of the other LaBella tape 'flavors' (gold, copper, white) they are brighter than the blacks but have same feel and probably a closer pickup response to what you have now.
**If trying 1/4 DB sets, check that the combined tension weight of the set against the Labellas you're currently using. There are many ABG like your ARIA are just not designed to take more weight and will sound more 'choked' than loud. Playing a lighter/brighter string will help the presence, but will most likely change the pickup response—but that can be adjusted at the amp.
I've been looking at 1/4size DB for myself but disappointed in trying to find lighter tension sets. IIRC 1/4 DB Preludes are one of the few available sets, and surprisingly heavy (±58lbs/string) as a set. Ive been keen to try the 34-5" NS OMNI Bass/cello sets (but the price is too much for me as an experiment).
@GretschWretch have you found any lighter (tension) 1/4DB sets? love to get some brand options
It's hard to suggest string sets not knowing you or what sound you're looking for—check out some of the other LaBella tape 'flavors' (gold, copper, white) they are brighter than the blacks but have same feel and probably a closer pickup response to what you have now.
**If trying 1/4 DB sets, check that the combined tension weight of the set against the Labellas you're currently using. There are many ABG like your ARIA are just not designed to take more weight and will sound more 'choked' than loud. Playing a lighter/brighter string will help the presence, but will most likely change the pickup response—but that can be adjusted at the amp.
I've been looking at 1/4size DB for myself but disappointed in trying to find lighter tension sets. IIRC 1/4 DB Preludes are one of the few available sets, and surprisingly heavy (±58lbs/string) as a set. Ive been keen to try the 34-5" NS OMNI Bass/cello sets (but the price is too much for me as an experiment).
@GretschWretch have you found any lighter (tension) 1/4DB sets? love to get some brand options
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I don't have a fretless acoustic, but on my 5 string fretted acoustic, I'm using DR pink Neons. I don't like bronze strings, and I found the Neons to be punchy and loud when unplugged. They look pretty cool too.
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t sound
On my 3/4 DBs I use Spirocore Weich solos tuned down to standard, which gives me low tension and less string resistance against the fretting fingers. You might explore if these come in 1/4 size.
I'm not sure how much help my answer will be, since I don't have 1/4 DB strings on my Engle M3 although I do have a couple of unopened sets in my string cache. I was after a specific sound, and I knew that the old LaBella tape wounds I used to be able to get through the Carvin catalog supplied that sound (mwah for days). But to make the strings "long enough" I had to jury rig a tailpiece extension using aircraft cable. The action is crazy low, and notice the knee pad.
On my 3/4 DBs I use Spirocore Weich solos tuned down to standard, which gives me low tension and less string resistance against the fretting fingers. You might explore if these come in 1/4 size.
I was referring your comment for the OP using DB1/4 size on ABG. this is a viable option except for the higher tension. But thanks for the reply 
I misread your post, then. Apologies tendered. For low tension ABG strings Savarez and a few others make wire-on-gut strings. I have Savarez on my Dean Playmate, but the last sets of backups I ordered were unusably defective so I'm looking again.I was referring your comment for the OP using DB1/4 size on ABG. this is a viable option except for the higher tension. But thanks for the reply
Paging @HaphAsSard.
oh Ive been thru ALL the ABG sets at this point.
(No worries but again, my original comment was referring to using 1/4DB set on ABG)
(No worries but again, my original comment was referring to using 1/4DB set on ABG)
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Apologies, I misread YOUR post. I see now you were implying to go with a 1/4 DB over a ABG. Not 'using the 1/4DB string sets' on ABG correct?
To be honest, I've never used 1/4 DB strings on anything, not even a DB.Apologies, I misread YOUR post. I see now you were implying to go with a 1/4 DB over a ABG. Not 'using the 1/4DB string sets' on ABG correct?
I just knew the sound I wanted and knew what strings would give me that sound. But they were EB tapes and I had to figure a way to make them long enough for a 1/4 DB.My allegiance to the 1/4 DB stems largely from frustration over the never-ending battle on whether an unplugged, totally acoustic ABG can be loud enough to be heard in an ensemble. A 1/4 DB certainly can (and if it can't, I've always for my avatar for back-up). I know about the Bace, but I am in doubt about how loud it would unplugged.
