• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Hollowbody players…what strings do you use?

#21
lastminute said:
I want to get a hollowbody bass and a flat wound combination to get me those woody, thumpy, sounds…but retaining clarity, especially with the low E not getting flubby. Don't have a super specific sound in mind, but I want it to be versatile enough to do stuff ranging from Beach Boys, Jack Johnson, Beatles, Lemon Twigs, Motown stuff. Not too wide a range. I already have a Precision with flats but want an even woodier flavor.

For people playing moreso on that side of music, and use hollow bodies,

1) which hollowbody do you use
2) what strings do you use, and why?
Click to expand...

First of all, I LOVE your taste in music!

I've used TI Flats exclusively since 2014 - buy 'em once, and you're done. My primary basses are Rickenbacker 4005V models, but I also have a Rickenbacker 4005XC (short scale) and a Fender Starcaster (short scale.) I play in an acoustic/electric Beatles band.

Question - Which bass are you considering? It's important to know the scale length as that will influence which model of string you purchase. ;)

BTW, long-scale TI flats on Amazon right now are the most affordable I've seen in quite some time. These were $95 a few weeks ago (and still worth it at that price.) Here's the price today:
1779131689244.png
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2saddleslab
#22
I have the heaviest gauge of Pyramid Gold on my Harmony H22. It takes long-scale strings even though it's a short-scale bass, because of the distance between the bridge and the end of the tailpiece. I like lots of thickness and thumpiness to the sound with zero twang. Currently I'm using that bass to play mid 1960s rock tunes with a cover band. I use a Danelectro Longhorn strung with LaBella white nylon tapewounds for the tunes that call for a brighter sound (e.g., the Who's "Substitute").
 
#23
When I bought my Gretsch 6072 "Country Gentleman" RI hollow body bass, it came with La Bella flat wounds. I happen to love LB 760FLs on my Precision and Jazz basses, but on the Gretsch, the tones seemed muffled. I switched to the T.I. Jazz Flats and the bass came alive, especially hearing the rich, lush acoustic overtones. Night and day difference. I switched after playing @2saddleslab's identical Gretsch with TIs, so the credit for this idea goes to him! Here are our basses together, probably the only time you'll see two of these beasts with TIs side by side.

Two Gretsch 6072s in Kentucky.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rezdog, 2saddleslab, ahbass2500 and 2 others
#26
I used black nylon tapewounds for a few years on a Tacoma Thunderchief fretless. They sound different than flatwounds like the TIs, a slightly airier tone without quite as much bite. This video lets you hear how they sounded next to an acoustic guitar and a mandolin. The Thunderchief went through a Euphonics Audio 800 amp (flat) and a Greenboy 12/6 cab. All three instruments were recorded with a Marantz stereo mic about three feet in front of the band. OP should try a few different types of strings on his acoustic bass to see which tone and feel he prefers. Our opinions are just preferences. You need to chose what works for you.

 
Last edited:
#29
scuzzy said:
AFB200. They are the standard 34" scale length. A bit of the metal windings around the posts, but no breaks. Been on there a few years.
Click to expand...
Same Ibanez I have. I have a few old worn-in long-scale TI sets I could put on there and have been thinking of trying a set given how flexible they are (and it wouldn't be a huge loss if a string broke as these sets have already lived a long life!). Thanks for the encouragement!
 
  • Like
Reactions: scuzzy
#32
While I owned a '68 Gibson EB-2 it was strung with Pyramids - first tapewounds and than flats. I prefer the sound of flats as does its current owner.

My current 2014 Gibson Midtown Signature Bass - which sports a fairly unusual semi-hollow design - wears DR Lo Riders which are a splendid fit IMO, but would likely be too aggressive for the sonic goals stated in the OP.
 
#33
lastminute said:
I want to get a hollowbody bass and a flat wound combination to get me those woody, thumpy, sounds…but retaining clarity, especially with the low E not getting flubby. Don't have a super specific sound in mind, but I want it to be versatile enough to do stuff ranging from Beach Boys, Jack Johnson, Beatles, Lemon Twigs, Motown stuff. Not too wide a range. I already have a Precision with flats but want an even woodier flavor.

For people playing moreso on that side of music, and use hollow bodies,

1) which hollowbody do you use
2) what strings do you use, and why?
Click to expand...
Well... Okay, here they are;
1- 2007 Starfire Violin Bass. Cheap and Chinese, but sounds surprisingly good with medium scale La Bella 760FL DTFs..
2- 1991 MIK Rogue VB-100 Violin Bass. It's worn a set of Rotosound TruBass 88m tape wounds for... about 15 years now. IMO, they sound like a violin bass is supposed to sound. A certain other left handed violin bass player thinks so, too...
3- 2017 Hofner 500/2 Club Bass. It was NOS, when I bought it in 2023; it came to me with a set of Pyramid #640 Gold Flats. Even broken in, the E string is... not quite as loud as the other strings - but it's loud enough for me, and they sound like a German Hofner should...
4- 2022 Epiphone Jack Casady Bass (yes, a JC bass is technically a hollow body). Rotosound RS77LD Mono Flats. Yeah, the tension is pretty high; yeah, they really are stiff. But, they sound really, reaIly good for the music I play on it...
I also have some semi-hollow body basses, too. Here's what they wear...
1- 1998 Danelectro DC59 Pro. It's 39-96 La Bella 760FX DTF's still sound like La Bella flats, but for Surf and Garage Rock? Hard to beat...
2- 1998 Danelectro DC59 Pro. Fender 9050L Flats on this bass work really well for a wide variety of music...
3- 2017 Danelectro Longhorn. La Bella makes 39-86 760FD DTF's especially for the Longhorn, but the 86 E string is a little too light to play with a pick, IMO. The 760FX DTF's work better, and the bass works for Surf and Garage Rock as well as the DC59 does...
4- 2023 Guild Starfire 1. It wears Rotosound RS77M Monel Flats, like the JC Bass does. They sound really good on the Guild, too...
I have a lot of basses, and all but 3 of them wear flats. Those 3 wear tapes. I've been playing basses with flats, almost exclusively, for about 55 years now, and one thing I've learned? There's as much difference between flats, as there is between rounds. I've had to experiment occasionally to find the flats that worked with a particular bass, but... it's always been worth it... :cool:
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: neil|lien

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back