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flat acoustic strings

#3
If you want phosphor bronze GHS Pressurewound is as close as you will get. If you don’t care about bronze, electric flats work. Tapewounds are also popular on acoustics they feel like a coated flat IMO. Not sure what exactly you are after, but that is three popular options.

edit: note that for the GHS set I mentioned you have to buy a 4 string set and a single string B string. They do not package a five string set.
 
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#5
joenoone said:
Hi,
I picked up a 5-string fretless acoustic bass guitar a while back, but I can't find anything other than roundwound strings. Anyone know where I could find something different?
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A possibly unnecessary note but here goes anyway: you don't have to have "acoustic" string on an acoustic bass guitar. Not mandatory for tone, much less for structural reasons (the top/bracing and neck only care about tension, not winding material).

The above being said, if as T suspect acoustic=bronze, here is what the bass string market currently offers:

-bronze roundwounds
-coated bronze roundwounds
-Elixir 14502-15825 14502 Nanoweb Coated Acoustic Bass (80/20 bronze; unlike competitors, they coat the finished string instead of the windings, so they're a bit smoother to the touch)

-(processed rounds) GHS Pressurewound Bronze, available in a sole 4-string long-scale set, the 4L-RBB, and a separate low B, RBB120)

-(clear nylon tapewounds) La Bella 760G-B and 750G-B Gold White Nylon Tape Wound ("gold" being actually Golden Alloy i.e. 80/20 brass/bronze; they also make Copper White Nylon sets, the 760C-B and 750C-B)

-(black nylon tapewounds) Warwick Black Nylon Tapewound Bronze (4-string sets plus single B)

-(flatwounds proper) 760FGS-B Deep Talkin’ Bass Gold Flats – 5-String. No idea how acousticky they sound, if at all, when installed on an AGB.
 
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#8
Just like electric. Everyone has likes and dislikes.
My blab is I hate the way bronze strings feel and they sound like garage door springs. (Yes, even yours, yes, even if your bass is expensive).
But bronze gets big points for being louder. So if louder is the goal it’s a valid choice.
Tapes, flats, anything works. I have TI flats on one and DR Rounds one.
Any string set will work.
 
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#11
bholder said:
What are the best garage door springs for metal?? \m/
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What's the best metal for garage door springs?

OP, I use tapewound Rotosound Trubass 88s on all of my ABGs. For my personal uses I prefer the feel and the sound. @bholder has don extensive experimentation, and he should be listened to....even if we have different preferences. So try the Pressurewounds as well. Finally, as Haphasard said, any bass string can be used on an ABG.
 
#12
I will caveat the following statement that I have read a few times in this thread...

"Any bass string can be used on an ABG" I would add... as long as they fit :)

What I mean by as long as they fit is that certain strings are not going to like certain ABG bridge designs. Some flat wounds do not like string through body angles that are frequently found on ABGs using bridge pins. I have also personally had issues getting certain B Strings to work with the bridge pins on the MK Dragonfly I used to own. Some strings fit great. Some would cause the bridge pin to pull out or were too large for the pin.

That said, the point most are making that any string works is true. You could (as long as they fit) use your favorite electric string on your ABG.
 
#13
mikeoso said:
What's the best metal for garage door springs?

OP, I use tapewound Rotosound Trubass 88s on all of my ABGs. For my personal uses I prefer the feel and the sound. @bholder has don extensive experimentation, and he should be listened to....even if we have different preferences. So try the Pressurewounds as well. Finally, as Haphasard said, any bass string can be used on an ABG.
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Thanks, there's a bunch of us using the GHS pws now, though I guess maybe I "led the charge" (started with a set of prototypes from Jon, actually). ;) I haven't tried the Roto tapes, but I don't doubt they do the job for you - keeping in mind we may not both be trying to do quite the same "job". :D
 
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#16
bholder said:
Thanks, there's a bunch of us using the GHS pws now, though I guess maybe I "led the charge" (started with a set of prototypes from Jon, actually). ;) I haven't tried the Roto tapes, but I don't doubt they do the job for you - keeping in mind we may not both be trying to do quite the same "job". :D
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...and therein lies wisdom. Most of us are chasing a sound we can almost hear in our heads, and it's different for each of us. The idea that there's one "best" string, bass, amp, pedal, or style of play is just silliness.

Having said that, I think we can all agree that the Hope brand are the best metal for garage doors....or at least longest lasting.

"Hope springs...eternal!"
 
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#18
there’s nothing wrong using ‘electric’ steel flats. have you ever seen modern double bass strings? they’re stainless or nickel-plated steel and nobody complains they don’t sound acoustic enough.
 
#19
Aloe said:
there’s nothing wrong using ‘electric’ steel flats. have you ever seen modern double bass strings? they’re stainless or nickel-plated steel and nobody complains they don’t sound acoustic enough.
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Those are also made with synthetic cores, or nylon/silk internal covers to dampen the vibrations, darken the sound, etc.. Lots of things that aren't done with electric bass flats (unless you're TI), which makes this a poor analogy.

But you're right; absolutely nothing wrong with using typical bass flatwounds on an acoustic bass.
 
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