Just bought a used Boulder Creek 5 string. Beautifully made, built like a tank. As many reviewers have noted, it is loud enough for an acoustic jam, no amp required. I am hoping to make this box SING like a great acoustic guitar does. Definitely want to experiment with 3 note chords and voiceings, not just bass lines. Tones I'm hoping are: 1) Booming and ringing bass, not thumping. 2) Clear mid-range, not a covered up sound; 3) Highs need to be bell-like and bright, not tinny. The endless quest! I already know that TI acousticores are out. What do you suggest? Many thanks.
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Best Strings For Acoustic Bass Guitar? Help!
- Thread starter chronrondo
- Start date
I put some light gauge fender flatwounds on my Kingman and it sings..the bronze strings I had on it before sounded AWFUL compared to these. Once broken in they sound so great. Just my .02.
Tapewounds might make you happy too. But since you want some highs, GHS brite flats and SIT silencer nickels work.
Try your favorite brand of nickel or steel rounds. I would recommend DR Hi-beams or sun beams. Sounds like you want phosphor bronze strings but those are quite twangy.
Check out the La Bella AB20 set. They're brass wound on steel and they sound really good, especially once they're broken in. I'm not sure where you can find them, but here's where I get mine: [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
IME, When playing acoustically, bronze strings sound amazing on their own, but they also have a lot of string noise and get covered up easily by acoustic guitars using the same kind of strings. YMMV
I found a happy medium with some dead (2 year old) Rotosound 66 rounds, they have the singing mids and articulation, but with a more even sound and less finger noise. Recently they broke and I have been using GHS Pressurewounds on my ABG, they sound great too, louder than the steel rounds with even less finger noise, but they don't have that singing mid quality. Overall I recommend a higher tension string for the best projection (more harmonics, less fundamental).
I found a happy medium with some dead (2 year old) Rotosound 66 rounds, they have the singing mids and articulation, but with a more even sound and less finger noise. Recently they broke and I have been using GHS Pressurewounds on my ABG, they sound great too, louder than the steel rounds with even less finger noise, but they don't have that singing mid quality. Overall I recommend a higher tension string for the best projection (more harmonics, less fundamental).
Hi saw your posting from December. what did you decide on and how did it turn out? I have an Epiphone El Segundo and I want the same thing you were looking for in an unplugged setting.
adios
cliff
adios
cliff
I've put on chrome flatwounds, light guage. Very nice. Action on the bass is too high, so will take to a tech. Going to try nylon tapewounds next.
Hello, I'm new to the world of bass guitar. I've played classical guitar for years and would like to switch to bass. I would like to learn how to play jazz. Right, to the point, mates. I would like to purchase an acoustic bass guitar but dislike the bronze strings. Can I restring it with medium gauge electric bass strings? The reason why I'm going for an acoustic bass is that I don't want to bother my 87-year-old neighbours.
