Epiphone El Capitan Acoustic Bass

[Honk'n_down-low]

Picked up an Epiphone EL Capitan Acoustic Electric Bass for next to nothing. It plays and sounds really good - all Maple, Rosewood Fingerboard - on board EQ and Volume Control.

It is in need of new strings and I am wondering what other folks are using on their acoustic electric basses.

Any suggestions based on experience would be great!

Thanks!

 

[superfunk47]

Personally, I don't use an ABG for anything but playing for myself, so I kind of like flats on it. It nails a real juicy upright tone, at least to my ears. Anything else always sounds overly bright to me :/

 

[jambassist]

I only play ABG and I like the lite gauge D'Addario chromes. Phosphor bronze strings are too noisy for my taste.

 

[Slowgypsy]

I have a Tacoma Thunderchief. I tried all different types of strings, but in the end I've been most happy with D'darrio Chromes. I found rounds a bit too noisy. Flats just feel and sound right.

 

[millbrook]

I just switched my Ovation Applause AE140 from the stock D'Addario phosphor-bronze-over-steel thingies to TI Acousticores (p-b wound over nylon).

It is such an improvement! Unplugged, I have a more musical tone (especially on the low E) now, and none of that brassy jangle. I did have to adjust the action, as the Acousticores are a lower-tension string than most -- for the same reason, they feel great to play.

Other people on this board have recommended TI Jazz Flats on ABG's, do a search and see their comments.

 

[Pilgrim]

I have an Ovation AE-40 and just installed D'Addario chromes on it. I got tired of the phosphor rounds and wanted flats. They're working out very nicely, and since my AE-40 is short scale, I had no problem getting the right length strings.

NOTE: even though I bought the .045-.100 strings, they took up ALL the space in the bridge holes. I even had to strip the silks off the ball end of the strings to get them through the bridge. Because of the restrictions most ABG bridges place on string gauge, stay with the medium to light gauge strings or they may not fit through the bridge.

Here's the Ovation - showing the old strings.

 

[gckat]

I have LaBella Black Nylon Tape Wound strings on my Takamine acoustic/electric bass. The tape wounds keep down the fret clacking when playing acoustic and digging in to keep up with acoustic guitars. They sound and feel good as well.

 

[scotch]

I have been using D'Addario Chromes on my fretless El Capitan for years. Actually, now that I think about it, I've only changed strings on it twice over the 10 years I've owned it!

I love my El Capitan! I've used it on some important sessions & it has always sounded great. It is a bear to play, however. I keep a pretty high action on it & with the higher tension of the flats it can be a workout on longer gigs/sessions. I like the higher action for more of an upright-like response, but it surely would be easier to play with the action lowered!

 

[DavidMP]

I have a five string fretless ElCapitan and I use Rotosound Tru-Bass strings (RS-88) after trying Chromes (too zingy), Thomastik-Infeld Flats (too floppy) and LaBella Tapewounds (really unbalanced, the A string was the loudest of the lot). I try to imitate an upright sound.

 

[ZenMoto]

I put Elixer bronze acoustic bass strings on my Carvin AC50...After all of this talk about flats I'm thinking a change might be a fun experiment.

 

[Honk'n_down-low]

Thanks to everyone for their replies - I am digging playing this Bass - the current strings are 4 years old and the original set according to the guy I purchased it from.

So many choices - now I guess I have to decide and experiment.

What Gauge is best suited for this Bass - the current strings seem pretty light - lighter than my Jazz Basses.

Thanks for the feedback - much appreciated.