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Acoustic String Ideas

Jay Corwin

Jay Corwin

Supporting Member
Jan 29, 2008
4,672
5,815
Sanborn, NY
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#1
I'm looking to make a change with the strings on my acoustic bass guitar. I play BG and UB, and use flat wound strings on my electric bass guitars.

My acoustic bass has bronze round wounds that came on it, and I'm not a fan. Way to bright - guitar like. Does anyone here have any ideas on what might be better suited? Do they even make flats for acoustic basses?

Thanks for the input.
 
#2
I use GHS Precision Flats on mine, in .40-.95 gauge. I simply do not trust those thin tops to last with heavier gauges' tensions over the long haul. They sound really good on my Carvin AC40 fretless and give it sort of an "uprite-ish" vibe.:D

Tapes are another possiblity, and work well with ABGs. However, the ones with the bridges where you feed them thru the back and out the top won't let the tapes go through due to their thickness. I'd only use them if the ABG had pegs to secure the strings into the bridge, or perhaps a thin bodied one like mine that had the body-through feature.

I have also heard TI Jazz flats work well with the ABG although I haven't tried them on mine. Goodluck with your search.

FG
 
#4
I want to try some tapewounds on my dobro bass. Maybe tapes for you?

What I really want is for someone to tell me the real difference between the Fender sets, 91020 vs. 7120.
 
#11
davelowell2 said:
I want to try some tapewounds on my dobro bass. Maybe tapes for you?

What I really want is for someone to tell me the real difference between the Fender sets, 91020 vs. 7120.
Click to expand...

Fender makes two types of tapewound string. The 7120 sets are Nylon Filament Roundwound strings, and the 9120 sets are Nylon Tapewound. I haven't played any other brand of tapes other than Fenders, but from what I've read, the 9120 set is a lot closer to a standard tapewound string than the 7120. The 7120 has a very odd feel and a sound IMO closer to a roundwound than a tapewound or flatwound. Not too many people 'round these parts dig the 7120s it seems; I don't hate them but I don't love them.

I have the Fender 9120 nylon tapes on my ABG. No problems with them whatsoever.... Not the loudest string acoustically, but personally I'd take that anyday over the guitar-like zing of a bronze roundwound.
 
#12
Bassman316, thanks, one more question though.

What are the differences in feel? I think I read that the 7120 is like a cloth type? Also, are they both flat wound, the nylon part?
 
#14
davelowell2 said:
Bassman316, thanks, one more question though.

What are the differences in feel? I think I read that the 7120 is like a cloth type? Also, are they both flat wound, the nylon part?
Click to expand...

In my experience, the Fender 7120 feels almost like a cross between cloth and rubber, if that makes any sense. They have a feel unlike any other string I've played. I've tried them twice over the years on two different basses, and they seemed to have a very rubbery, floppy feel when playing them. The description on the packaging for the 7120s says they start out basically as a nylon ROUNDwound string but then is sanded smooth. But to answer your second question, yes both sets are what I suppose you could call "flat" wound, they just feel different from one another.
 

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