I am leaning towards a D’Addario tapes right now. Are there any issues with Gauge I need to consider? Is it possible that an acoustic couldn’t handle a thick gauge
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Help me choose strings please!
- Thread starter Kevin Doyle
- Start date
D'A Black Nylon Tapes only come in one set of gauges, 50-65-85-105, which are actually very light-gauge rounds (something like 40-95) under the tape, weighing only 146 lbs. in total tension, vs. 190 lbs. on the D'A Phosphor Bronze 45-65-80-100. They're also quite flexible.
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I have owned acoustic bass guitars since the first must-have-unplugged-stuff 1987 Kramer Ferrington. Also have a Guild B30.
Repeat after me:
Bronze strings 100% suck.
But they are louder than typical rounds. If volume is your top criteria get them. But they squeak and sound sproingy and have really poor low end. So I use bright rounds on one (DR) and TI flats on the other. Suck it up and play through a small amp if you just need to add volume to keep up. But you'll hate your ABG if you play it with bronze. Hard stop.
Repeat after me:
Bronze strings 100% suck.
But they are louder than typical rounds. If volume is your top criteria get them. But they squeak and sound sproingy and have really poor low end. So I use bright rounds on one (DR) and TI flats on the other. Suck it up and play through a small amp if you just need to add volume to keep up. But you'll hate your ABG if you play it with bronze. Hard stop.
No I wasn’t considering brands. I am basically deciding between Daddario tapewound’s and Labella tapewound at this point
I've played LaBella tapes and thought they felt really nice. I like the balance. Never played Dad tapes?
I hate bronze strings for bass. I use flats on acoustic, but not the labellas ot TIs I would prefer on electric - something stiffer and brighter like DRs, Dunlops, or Chromes project MUCH better. I'm also a big proponent of piccolo tunings for ABGs (a fourth or more up from standard), if your intention is to not be plugging it in most of the time - with flats it still sounds like a bass.
JeezyMcNuggles
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- Feb 23, 2018
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D
I never liked acoustic basses until I tried the Thomastik-Infeld acoustic bass strings. For my personal taste they are so far superior to any other acoustic bass strings I've tried that I honestly can't understand why anyone would use anything else. Every other acoustic bass strings I've tried sound grotesquely bright, sterile and clanky by comparison. The TI strings have a unique warm, organic tone and they also feel a lot smoother and more responsive than any other acoustic bass strings I've tried. It's not even close.
However....
The TI acoustic strings are extremely light gauge and they "roll" under the fingers like classical guitar strings so if you're looking for something that feels like an electric 45-105 they might not be the best choice. But if you're prepared to adapt to the low tension there are no other acoustic bass string that will give you that amazing warm, organic tone. They really are in a league of their own. No other acoustic bass strings are even remotely close if you're looking for a warm organic tone. Roundwounds, tapewounds, flatwounds, there are no strings even remotely like the TI acoustic bass strings.
However....
The TI acoustic strings are extremely light gauge and they "roll" under the fingers like classical guitar strings so if you're looking for something that feels like an electric 45-105 they might not be the best choice. But if you're prepared to adapt to the low tension there are no other acoustic bass string that will give you that amazing warm, organic tone. They really are in a league of their own. No other acoustic bass strings are even remotely close if you're looking for a warm organic tone. Roundwounds, tapewounds, flatwounds, there are no strings even remotely like the TI acoustic bass strings.
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I use TIs on my Guild acoustic guitar, and they are the best I’ve tried on this particular acoustic instrument. I’d get the heaviest gauge they have available. Good strings. Not for me on electric, though...go figure.
If you’re going tapes and can handle tension, I’d get the heaviest gauge round under ribbon due to the fact that you are worried about projection. A brighter tape should help, too. In that case, La Bella all the way.
If you’re going tapes and can handle tension, I’d get the heaviest gauge round under ribbon due to the fact that you are worried about projection. A brighter tape should help, too. In that case, La Bella all the way.
Amen. Only string I’ve had to actually reverse the truss rod past neutral. Had them on a short scale Gibson SG.
D
Not exactly a ringing endorsement for basses without dual action truss rods, like most Fenders and many others too...
Not my problem. String tension should be a consideration in those cases without dual action rods I suppose. Luckily it’s just not used much. I needed a dual action rod once in over two decades. Still, glad it’s there.
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Did I read somewhere that the D’Addario tapes have slightly higher tension Than the Labellas?
I wouldn’t be the guy to ask about that. D’Addario tapes are one of the tapes I’ve never used.
Don't know about tension, exactly, but in terms of flexibility, the D'Adds (which are 50-105) are a bit stiffer than the 50-105 versions of the LaBella Whites, Gold Whites, and Copper Whites. I haven't tried the LaBella Blacks, nor have I tried any of the 60-115 LaBellas.
