Other strings for an acoustic Fender CB60-SCE

[Mister Mo]

My band wants to play unplugged gigs, too, and though I know I will still need a small amp, I decided to go for an acoustic bass instead of going on stage with an unplugged band, a big 5-string Yamaha BB and a Fender Rumble 800.

I didn’t want to spend much time and money for this and bought surprisingly cheap Fender. It looks and sounds like a downturned guitar, the strings are awful, it’s like playing weird wires stapled to a cigar box.

The slightest noise, such as a string touching down on a fret or when I slide down the fretboard, are amplified and that is extremely distracting. If you pluck the strings even a little bit harder to play a little bit louder, there are buzzing noises though seems to me that the instrument is setup reasonably. Another thing that bothers me about it is that the strings blacken the fingers, much more than I have ever experienced.

In other words, the bass is, I think, usable, but I would probably prefer to play with flatwounds. What can you recommend for such a middle scale?

 

[bass-shy]

D'addario nylon tapewounds are really nice on those basses.

 

[iiipopes]

GHS makes a pressurewound version of bronze AEB strings. They have good reviews. No, they are not flats or tapes, but the pressurewound characteristic gets rid of a lot of finger noise. SETS - PRESSUREWOUND™ BRONZE - GHS Strings Also, Elixir makes a set of coated AEB strings that may help with the green finger syndrome. Acoustic Bass 80/20 Bronze with NANOWEB Coating | Elixir® Strings (elixirstrings.com) In addition, I suggest a setup to make sure the frets are level, the neck has the proper relief, and the bridge saddle is the right height and has the correct witness points.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

I don’t currently own an acoustic BG, but in the past I’ve had pretty good luck with tapewounds.

Currently have D’Addario tapes on my Ibanez electric upright.

 

[bass-shy]

GHS makes a pressurewound version of bronze AEB strings. They have good reviews. No, they are not flats or tapes, but the pressurewound characteristic gets rid of a lot of finger noise. SETS - PRESSUREWOUND™ BRONZE - GHS Strings Also, Elixir makes a set of coated AEB strings that may help with the green finger syndrome. Acoustic Bass 80/20 Bronze with NANOWEB Coating | Elixir® Strings (elixirstrings.com) In addition, I suggest a setup to make sure the frets are level, the neck has the proper relief, and the bridge saddle is the right height and has the correct witness points.
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I have been using Elixirs on my Martin ABG for years. Absolutely love them and they last for ages.

Tried the GHS on the Martin and my Fender (same bass as OP) and they were great when new but they died pretty quickly in my hands.

I'm back to the Elixirs on the Martin and the D'addario Black Nylon Tapewounds on the Fender. Couldn't be happier. Each has strengths and weaknesses and having two different sounding ABGs covers a lot of ground.

 

[iiipopes]

I just now ordered a set of GHS Brite Flats in medium scale for a project 32-inch scale bass. That might be another option to get rid of both green finger and finger noise since the set is ground Alloy 52.