Strings for unplugged acoustic electric bass (AEB)

[Shardik]

Hi

I recently got an Ibanez AEB10E fretted. I mainly have it for convenient practice without amp or anything. So even if it's cool plugged in, I am using it mostly unplugged.

The current strings I suspect are the original ones. Probably some kind of phosporous bronze. I like the tone, but I think they are a bit weak sounding. I also would like a tiny bit more tension om the heaviest string.

I tried a d'Addario Chrome string, but didn't bother with more than one, since I didn't like the sound of them on the AEB (too "clanky" against the frets). Love them on the electric, though.

Any thoughts/experiences on what strings may give me louder sound on my fretted AEB without moving too far away from the normal tone of the phosphorous bronze strings?

 

[Jon Moody]

Sadly, nothing.

The acoustic/electric bass is not really a loud instrument. Moving away from the phosphor bronze strings that are on it usually will result in LESS volume, which is not what you want. I've owned a number of AEBs (a Hohner, Fender, Tacoma Thunderchief and Warwick Alien), and only the last two on my list had any sort of actual volume to them that could keep up in an acoustic setting, unplugged. Otherwise, they were all plugged in.

As for keeping that same type of timbre on the AEB, I've found that a set of broken in nickel-plated steel strings works pretty well. They retain the brightness and attack of the phosphor bronze, but still retain the warmth of the phosphor.

 

[Gorn]

Most people dislike phosphor bronze strings, myself included. But they're there for a reason. They make the acoustic bass sound like an acoustic guitar but an octave down. Anything else is gonna diminish that acoustic sound.

 

[MD]

LaBella 760N Black Nylon Tapewounds.

 

[Gorn]

LaBella 760N Black Nylon Tapewounds.

Those sound fantastic on an acoustic, but wouldn't be louder or sound at all similar to the tone of phosphor bronze strings.

 

[MD]

Those sound fantastic on an acoustic, but wouldn't be louder or sound at all similar to the tone of phosphor bronze strings.

Exactly why they're on both my ABG's.

 

[Gorn]

Exactly why they're on both my ABG's.

They'd be on my ABG if I owned one, but they're the opposite of what the OP is looking for.

 

[Shardik]

Ok. And there is no relevant difference between different brands of phosphorous bronze strings, either. Like I said, I'd like a bit more tension on the heaviest string, as I kinda feel it would vibrate more clearly with a bit more tension. And while I am at it: Are there any balanced tension sets for the AEB?

 

[Jon Moody]

Ok. And there is no relevant difference between different brands of phosphorous bronze strings, either. Like I said, I'd like a bit more tension on the heaviest string, as I kinda feel it would vibrate more clearly with a bit more tension. And while I am at it: Are there any balanced tension sets for the AEB?

Not really. Most of the phosphor bronze strings are probably pretty close to everyone.

And no, no balanced tension sets in the phosphor bronze sets per se. Meaning, there may be some that are more balanced than others, but none are marketed as such.

 

[Will_White]

Labella gold or copper white nylon tape wounds, I like the coppers on my archtop acoustic, about as bright as week old nickel rounds and they stay that way for well I've had mine for a few months and it hasn't changed, it has a chunkier sound then the nickels aswell.

 

[JustForSport]

Nylon tapes will be a little more flexible than all metal strings, usually, and not feel 'higher tension'.
I let a friend try a set of D'Addario Ground-Wounds on his AEB- they sounded good, felt good, and are stiffer that Tapes. More mass= more volume on acoustic. That's where they went...

 

[bobsax]

So do the Nylon strings have the warmest sound? like a classical guitar?

 

[jthisdell]

I have Earnie Ball bronze strings on my AEB10. I am thinking of trying LaBella Tapewounds but have not had the opportunity yet.

 

[HaphAsSard]

So do the Nylon strings have the warmest sound? like a classical guitar?

I still have no experience with nylon tapewounds (which, in case you don't know, are normal metal roundwounds wrapped in nylon), but FYI bass strings made like the low E, A and D on classical guitars (silver-plated copper roundwound on a nylon silk core) do exist.
La Bella, Savarez and Hannabach make them (look up "contrabass guitar" on stringsbymail.com).
Hannabach Nylon Strings for Classical Bass Guitar... | TalkBass.com
Also, Thomastik-Infeld makes the acclaimed Acousticores, which are similar but bronze wound instead of plated copper (and, also, very expensive); La Bella has put out a similar set more than once; Pyramid makes one as well.

 

[Shardik]

So what you're saying is that heavy nylon core and tapewounds also have good volume when unplugged, compared to phosphorus bronze?

I tried playing with a pick, and that sounded louder, but I am not sure if it's just the sharper attack. The sustained tone didn't get much louder if at all, but while playing with my son on a classic guitar, playing with a pick sounded ok, volume wise.

 

[iiipopes]

So do the Nylon strings have the warmest sound? like a classical guitar?

Yes. But it is all relative. The La Bella white tapes are the brightest, almost as bright as well seasoned conventional rounds. The La Bella blacks are the darkest, darker than some flats. The gold is similar to a well-seasoned phosphor bronze or nickel, and the copper has a different midrange characteristic that makes them warm but defined.

I have Rotosound Tru-Bass nylon tapes on my AEB because I like a little more punch and a little less sustain. I agree with Jon that you're not going to get an acoustic volume out of an AEB to really match other acoustic guitars, especially if you are jamming with more than one player.

A friend of mine just recently borrowed my AEB for a weekend jam. I asked if he needed a battery and cord. He said no, it was "just an acoustic jam." Well, when he brought it back yesterday, he confessed he had to plug in after getting the jam going in order to balance everyone else.

 

[HaphAsSard]

So what you're saying is that heavy nylon core and tapewounds also have good volume when unplugged, compared to phosphorus bronze?

Tapewounds I don't know, I'm afraid. The 32", 4-string nylon-core set I do have experience with, i.e. the Savarez 660R, now renamed 4CB640R, sounds very balanced low-mid to top, with some nice growl to boot, and it's surprisingly loud given it is low tension and doesn't move the top as much as phosphor bronze strings. This said, I honestly think it's not as loud as the latter, which have more highs and more lows (AFAICR, but this instrument is not about tha lows anyway, if not plugged in) than the nyloncores.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them with confidence considering they're very affordable (Invalid Link Removed this side of the Pond, Invalid Link Removed in the US!). May not be the answer to your question, at least as far as acoustic volume. The three white nylon sets from La Bella are worth enquiring about, but you'll need to find specific info about how loud they are acoustically when compared to conventional rounds.

 

[HaphAsSard]

In case you feel like trying the Pyramid alternative to TI Acousticores I hinted at above, here's a store that has them:
[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
(Thomann doesn't anymore, but it sold them for about the same, a couple euros more to be precise.)

Never tried them myself so no endorsement, just a heads-up: they might be a little louder than the Savarez - then again, they might not, or they could bring back some of what you don't like about normal (steel-core) phosphor bronze strings tone-wise.

 

[loveandbass]

try some groundwounds and play with a pick maybe

thats what i do and get plenty of volume

 

[bearfoot]

Hi

I recently got an Ibanez AEB10E fretted. I mainly have it for convenient practice without amp or anything. So even if it's cool plugged in, I am using it mostly unplugged.

The current strings I suspect are the original ones. Probably some kind of phosporous bronze. I like the tone, but I think they are a bit weak sounding. I also would like a tiny bit more tension om the heaviest string.

I tried a d'Addario Chrome string, but didn't bother with more than one, since I didn't like the sound of them on the AEB (too "clanky" against the frets). Love them on the electric, though.

Any thoughts/experiences on what strings may give me louder sound on my fretted AEB without moving too far away from the normal tone of the phosphorous bronze strings?

Hard to say since we don't know what gauge your current E string is.

This might be what you want
[This invalid link has been removed]