strings for 8 string bass

[Ric5]

I am thinking of building an 8 string bass ... 30" scale ... and stringing it DGCF or BEAD with octaves.

My question is ... where do 8 string players get their bass strings?

I am thinking one of the online retailers would be the best place to start.

 

[lowendblues]

I'd give Welcome to Bass Strings Online - A Bass Store for Bass Players! a try. They got just about everything you'd need.

 

[lz4005]

I am thinking of building an 8 string bass ... 30" scale ... and stringing it DGCF or BEAD with octaves.
My question is ... where do 8 string players get their bass strings?
I am thinking one of the online retailers would be the best place to start.

I've always gotten mine from juststrings and/or bassstringsonline.
GHS, D'Addario and Rotosound all make 8 string sets for standard tuning, or you can combine a regular set with a piccolo set, or assemble your own from singles.
Depending on the length you need, you might be able to use guitar strings for the octaves.

 

[woodyng2]

I had a daddario set on my Fernandes,which seemed to exert a lot of tension/pressure.
I replaced them with a custom balanced set ordered from Kalium,and they sound great,and play like melted oleo.

 

[davelowell2]

I liked Circle K/ Kallium when I had an 8 stringer.

 

[mellowinman]

The answer will always lie in my sig...

 

[TolerancEJ]

I've had good purchasing experiences from both www.bassstringsonline.com and [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[HaphAsSard]

Depending on the length you need, you might be able to use guitar strings for the octaves.

This. On a 30" instrument I'd at least consider getting my favourite 4-string set for bass, and either singles or the bottom four strings from a guitar set*: some brands - e.g. D'Addario (IME), and I've heard the same about GHS - wind them as much as 38" long.

For best bass results I'd look at the heaviest electric sets available, or singles as said. Choosing them to have each half the gauge of the corresponding lower-octave string ensures equal or very close tension.

 

[lz4005]

This. On a 30" instrument I'd at least consider getting my favourite 4-string set for bass, and either singles or the bottom four strings from a guitar set*: some brands - e.g. D'Addario (IME), and I've heard the same about GHS - wind them as much as 38" long.
For best bass results I'd look at the heaviest electric sets available, or singles as said. Choosing them to have each half the gauge of the corresponding lower-octave string ensures equal or very close tension.

Half the thickness is a good starting point. Some people prefer them a bit heavier or lighter than that, OP should be prepared to experiment a little.

Headstock design plays a big part in whether guitar strings will fit. I've been told many brands won't quite reach the G tuner of a 30" bass with a Fender-style head, but work fine with the same scale and a 2+2 head.

 

[Bob_Ross]

I've had good purchasing experiences from both www.bassstringsonline.com and [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

^^^This

As far as which strings... I've screwed around in the past with cobbling together double-course sets from individual singles and/or standard 4-string + piccolo sets, but in the end I found it was way easier just to use D'Addario XL-8s as my go-to on all my 8-string basses. It's probably the only double-course set you'll find routinely in stock at the local Sam Ash or Guitar Center, which can be a life saver if you need strings when out on the road.