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NS Design strings on Takamine TB10 - any reason this should fail to work?

coyote1

coyote1

Mar 23, 2012
2,297
3,106
#1
I’m considering using the D’addario NS Design helicore strings on my Takamine TB10 acoustic bass. The concept seems right, and sound samples on YouTube of players using such strings on their acoustic basses seem to show a nice ‘thump’ when playing.

So then. Has anyone here tried these on a fretless acoustic bass? If so, how did they sound?

And... I’m not familiar with the Steinberger electric basses. Do the ball ends of the strings have any ‘special’ features that might prevent them from working on a regular acoustic bass guitar?
 
#2
Are you talking about the ND Design "Traditional" (which ARE the Helicores; the "Modern" are basically Chromes) strings for the Omni Bass? Those are made for a 34" scale instrument, so it should fit the Takamine just fine. Never hurts to email them with the measurements of the strings on the bass right now, just to be 100% positive. Don't use the ones made for the EUB, as those will be too long.

Also, these are NOT Steinberger electric basses, so any specific quirks of those instruments and their string needs are different from NS Design. The NS ones are more akin to regular instruments, so the ball ends of the Traditional for Omni Bass will fit an acoustic bass fine.
 
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#3
These are the ones I’m considering:

176CA1B2-CEBA-43B9-860E-E2A7C840FA78.jpeg
 
#4
coyote1 said:
These are the ones I’m considering:
Click to expand...

Yep, those are for the Omni Bass, so they should fit. If they had the winding length on there, it would be of more help, but should be okay.

--

EDIT - I don't think they'll work for your Takamine AB10.

I forgot that I have an Omni Bass here in the office, so I grabbed the OEM strings (which you're looking at) and took some measurements. The winding length for them is 37.5" long, which will work for a standard 34"-35" bass guitar.

BUT with the way the tailpiece is on your Takamine, I think the E/A strings are going to be too short, and I wouldn't want to drop $110 to find out the hard way.
 
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#5
Jon, thanks for that info. Incredibly helpful! Two further questions if you don’t mind:

1. I took images on my computer and measured them. The distance from bridge to ball end location in the tailpiece isn’t more than 3/4” longer on the TB10 than on the Omni. Does the thread at the winding end of the string start right at the nut on your Omni? or is there an inch or more to give?

2. Are the helicore strings on the Omni flatwounds?
 
#6
coyote1 said:
1. I took images on my computer and measured them. The distance from bridge to ball end location in the tailpiece isn’t more than 3/4” longer on the TB10 than on the Omni. Does the thread at the winding end of the string start right at the nut on your Omni? or is there an inch or more to give?
Click to expand...

I'm assuming you already have the bass? I'd check it on the instrument itself to be sure. We're not talking about a $20 set of strings, so I'm being a bit more cautious than normal.

Currently my Omni has a different set of strings on it, but those have a 37.25" winding length, which clears the nut by about .75"


coyote1 said:
2. Are the helicore strings on the Omni flatwounds?
Click to expand...

Yes.
 
#7
Jon, the length from string ball end to the nut is 37.5 inches.
I contacted D’addario. Will await their reply.... but I think it will work.

The real question is: will the difference in sound be substantial enough to justify the cost?
 
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#8
When I last had an NS Design EUB I found the stock strings way too light so I replaced them with a set of D'Addario Helicore Hybrids which transformed the instrument. Not cheap though and not sure the length would be right for the TB10.
 
#11
Helicores are strings for double bass. That's why they cost so much. Welcome to the joys of playing DB.

coyote1 said:
I’m not familiar with the Steinberger electric basses. Do the ball ends of the strings have any ‘special’ features that might prevent them from working on a regular acoustic bass guitar?
Click to expand...

NS Design is different than Steinberger. If you are asking about NS Design strings, the ball ends might be too large to fit your ABG. Certainly the Helicores for DB have ball ends that would likely be too large. The Helicore orchestral strings are avilable for 1/4 size DB which is about 36" scale, $150 a set. The Hybrid (brighter) and Pizzicato (brightest) strings are not offered in 1/4 size.
 
#13
The bass came with flatwounds.
When I listen to the comparisons of flatwounds to tapewounds, the flats sound more natural. The tapes sound good in lower registers too. But as you climb the neck they begin to sound more rubbery, almost synth-like.

The thing I’m going for of course is to get closer to an upright sound (yeah, I know lol). So just in thinking things through, it seems to me that a multicore wound string should have more internal friction as it vibrates - and that friction should, hypothetically, result in a quicker decay. Of course one could say similar about wrapping plastic tape around a steel string.

Here’s a guy comparing strings on an acoustic fretless bass guitar. Chrome flats, tapewound, and bronze:


And here’s a guy walking on an actual upright bass. I think his tone is a good representation of what I’m seeking.


To my ears, the chrome flatwounds overall have the closest overall character to the upright**. The only thing they are missing is a quicker decay. And in practicing on the Tak, I’m practicing the more forceful pluck you’d use on the upright in order to generate that decay. But it would be great if the natural character of the string assisted the process.

Here are Helicore orchestral strings played pizzicato on an upright. While the reviewer doesn’t like it for that purpose, I think I’m hearing what I want there.


**My TB10 already has chrome flats. No point in changing, and in spending $100+, if there’s no benefit :cool:
 
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#14
@coyote1 Have you considered the D'addario Tapewounds ETB92 for this bass?

I strung my TB-10 with these and never looked back. They sound so good that I like recording the bass with both a Tube Condenser mic and a DI. Check this test I did with that set up.
 

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#15
@coyote1 if you’re not in a hurry, give me a couple days. I’ll throw the set of NS Omni Bass strings on my chambered fretless and let you know what I think. It’s not the Takamine, but it might give you an idea if it’ll get closer to what you’re looking for.
 
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#16
Jon Moody said:
@coyote1 if you’re not in a hurry, give me a couple days. I’ll throw the set of NS Omni Bass strings on my chambered fretless and let you know what I think. It’s not the Takamine, but it might give you an idea if it’ll get closer to what you’re looking for.
Click to expand...
Wow, that’s kind of you! Awesome!

Yeah I’m not in a hurry. I just got this instrument, and the existing strings ain’t bad at all. Quite good in fact. I just played for a half hour after returning from work, and it turns out that technique matters. Just playing arpeggios and basic walking lines to get acclimated. And getting sound balance too, between the mic I have on it and the piezo. It has a very nice acoustic sound when you get your ear right up to the f-hole, and that comes thru with the mic.
 
#17
A question. I’ve never done it on bass, but it’s common with the guitar: What are the consequences of getting a longer string set and clipping the tops off? I mean, imagining that the string can actually fit in the tuning peg....

Guitar strings don’t unwind at the clip point, and integrity is preserved anyway at the juncture on the tuning peg where it first bends to catch the peg. Not that I intend to do it, but wondering just in case.
 
#18
coyote1 said:
A question. I’ve never done it on bass, but it’s common with the guitar: What are the consequences of getting a longer string set and clipping the tops off? I mean, imagining that the string can actually fit in the tuning peg....
Click to expand...

Can you? Sure, it's possible. Many have done it with good results.

However, it bears mentioning that there is a possibility that you can destroy the string. Clipping a bass string at the full diameter can possibly allow one of the cover wires to come loose which causes buzzing up/down the string, tuning instability, etc..

That's also assuming that, when putting the string on the tuning peg, that the full diameter doesn't snap the core. It's not as big of an issue with Fender style tuners, as much as it is on the smaller ones.

So, while you "can," there are some considerations to take into account.


coyote1 said:
Guitar strings don’t unwind at the clip point, and integrity is preserved anyway at the juncture on the tuning peg where it first bends to catch the peg. Not that I intend to do it, but wondering just in case.
Click to expand...

Not always the case. Round core guitar strings can easily come unraveled if crimped early (the cover wire is usually anchored at the end), so they need a little extra care/attention to make sure it's done successfully. Not so much with a hex core string; the cover grabs pretty well to the core on those.
 

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