Guild B30 Acoustic Bass - what strings should I try?

[Jim Roshelli]

I bought this bass about 2 months ago. I'm primarily a guitar player but always wanted an acoustic bass so here I am. The guy that sold me the bass said he thought the strings were a couple of years old so I'm going to try some new strings. This is a 30.5" short scale bass so I need to buy short scale strings. Any recommendations? I'll play almost exclusively acoustic, with an occasional direct plug in to do some recording. I've had people recommend tapes, some say phos bronze wound. FYI, I play by myself almost all the time if that helps.

 

[Gorn]

TI acousticores would be my choice. Not cheap but they last a long time and they feel and sound great. Tapes or flats will give you a completely different sound and standard rounds or phosphor bronze are harsh and noisy.

 

[bholder]

GHS Pressurewound Bronze would be my choice.

 

[mikeoso]

TI acousticores would be my choice. Not cheap but they last a long time and they feel and sound great. Tapes or flats will give you a completely different sound and standard rounds or phosphor bronze are harsh and noisy.

I note that the TIs are a low tension lightweight string...tops out at .086 where my Rotosound tapes go to .115. Does this take away much volume?

 

[MD]

I note that the TIs are a low tension lightweight string...tops out at .086 where my Rotosound tapes go to .115. Does this take away much volume?

Yes, very low tension, to the point you really can't dig in for any kind of acoustic volume - they don't get the top moving. Forget about setting a low action, you'll be fret clacking and bottoming out on the board from the start. Get them off the board and plug in, they sound very nice.
On a side note - I had a set on an ABG for two months or so, I wore notches to the core on the D/G string. Could have been the frets were the problem (they're long gone), but at that price, I'd expect to grow old with them.

 

[Robal]

Reviving this thread because I have the same Guild bass and want to try some strings besides phosphor bronze. I was thinking of tape wound strings. I don't want to sacrifice too much acoustic volume, because I play unplugged with acoustic guitars too.

 

[Inkadibass]

anyone tried La Bella ???