I suspect nickels may be too bright/clanky the way the Chromes were. I'll see if I can make a ballpark measurement of my current gauges.
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Strings for unplugged acoustic electric bass (AEB)
- Thread starter Shardik
- Start date
I've tried nicke rounds on ABG in a shop. The sound is similar to bronze, not brighter (I found them darker) but maybe not as much overall volume. However a balanced set is especially appealing in regards to ABG, IMO. But we'd have to buy both medium and light string sets to get balanced phosphour bronze set.
Maybe the white tapewounds are where your ears are at? So many options...
I've never A/B'd the bronze/tapes concerning volume, but I can say, that my ABG has been heard in neighboring campsites, probably more than 60' away.
*** Stay away from TI Acousticores if you're looking for acoustic volume/projection. They have a great tone, but the tension is too light to get the bass' top moving... no volume.
Keep in mind, it's up to you to pull the volume out of the bass. Low action and a light touch to keep the strings from buzzing ain't gonna cut it. You want volume, get the strings up off the board and dig in.
Acousticores really do have great tone when plugged in. I had some on my Dean EAB for several months and as long as I had an amp or was DI they were great. Unplugged they were weak.
An unusual issue I encountered is they don't hold up well in heat. We were playing an outdoor gig when it was 102 in the shade. I never had a problem with them going out of tune before. On this sweltering hot day they all kept going flat. Had to retune after most every song. Finally the G string wouldn't sharpen to pitch no matter how much I turned the key. Then the string just went slack. The nylon cores stretched in the heat and the thinnest one broke. Fortunately I had a backup bass.
^^^
My TI's developed notches from the frets in the upper register after two months. Not subtle either; the winding was totally worn away. It was only a matter of time before on snapped. I suppose it could've been a fret issue the caused this, but they've long since been removed.
My TI's developed notches from the frets in the upper register after two months. Not subtle either; the winding was totally worn away. It was only a matter of time before on snapped. I suppose it could've been a fret issue the caused this, but they've long since been removed.
I think living in Norway, combined with the fact that I'll not gig this on a hot stage makes heat less of a problem. Anyway, volume is the most important thing here for me.
Hey Shardik,
i've tried a bunch of acoustic strings in the last year to get the most reasonable volume and decent tone i could get acoustic.
I'm more towards round, dark and upright-like sound and for that I'd definitely go for LaBella Nylon Tape 0.60, they have a very warm and short sound but plenty of volume for being an electric bass string set. Sadly i broke one and i had to get a quick set for a gig that very same night and i happen to find a set of Savarez contrabass strings. These are nylon core wrapped on silver, like actual classical guitar strings but an octave lower. The guys on the store kept on talking me out because of the tension and all the usual thing that happens with these string on a proper ABG. Anyways, they sound lovely, kinda perfect meeting point between bronze and tape strings. They're a pain to get in tune and keep 'em there for more than five minutes but they do sound really nice and loud enough for an coustic gig with another two acoustic guitars and a small/quiet percussion set.
I've tried a bunch of bronze/phosphore and personally i really can't stand them, they're too zingy and bright.
You might wanna try as well the regular D'Addario chromes, they're flats but quite bright. I've tried some GHS precision flats which are fantastic on an electric bass but they really lack volume on my acoustic.
That said, i own a Czech Stanford bass which is by itself very loud, so please don't blame me if you don't get the volume i'm talking about here!
Good luck there, i know how it feels!!!
i've tried a bunch of acoustic strings in the last year to get the most reasonable volume and decent tone i could get acoustic.
I'm more towards round, dark and upright-like sound and for that I'd definitely go for LaBella Nylon Tape 0.60, they have a very warm and short sound but plenty of volume for being an electric bass string set. Sadly i broke one and i had to get a quick set for a gig that very same night and i happen to find a set of Savarez contrabass strings. These are nylon core wrapped on silver, like actual classical guitar strings but an octave lower. The guys on the store kept on talking me out because of the tension and all the usual thing that happens with these string on a proper ABG. Anyways, they sound lovely, kinda perfect meeting point between bronze and tape strings. They're a pain to get in tune and keep 'em there for more than five minutes but they do sound really nice and loud enough for an coustic gig with another two acoustic guitars and a small/quiet percussion set.
I've tried a bunch of bronze/phosphore and personally i really can't stand them, they're too zingy and bright.
You might wanna try as well the regular D'Addario chromes, they're flats but quite bright. I've tried some GHS precision flats which are fantastic on an electric bass but they really lack volume on my acoustic.
That said, i own a Czech Stanford bass which is by itself very loud, so please don't blame me if you don't get the volume i'm talking about here!
Good luck there, i know how it feels!!!
If you are looking for volume from an AEB, you wont find it. The double bass has a body that large for a reason.
I have a Mike Kelly Dragonfly V fretless that has the phosphor bronze strings. I keep the sound hole blocked because it will feed back like crazy on stage. No, I don't get even enough volume to keep up with an acoustic guitar. I know there are some that are a bit louder, but non will match an acoustic guitar.
I keep the phosphor bronze string on it for a couple of reasons. First, it sound correct playing with acoustic guitars, second the tension isn't too great. More tension on an AEB may be bad for it.
The one thing I don't like is the strings are damaging the fingerboard. I think next time I change, I may try some tape wound.
I have a Mike Kelly Dragonfly V fretless that has the phosphor bronze strings. I keep the sound hole blocked because it will feed back like crazy on stage. No, I don't get even enough volume to keep up with an acoustic guitar. I know there are some that are a bit louder, but non will match an acoustic guitar.
I keep the phosphor bronze string on it for a couple of reasons. First, it sound correct playing with acoustic guitars, second the tension isn't too great. More tension on an AEB may be bad for it.
The one thing I don't like is the strings are damaging the fingerboard. I think next time I change, I may try some tape wound.
I actually tried Chromes. Hated them on the AEB (and they are pretty much standard on all my electrics).
Could be interesting to try tapewounds, though, but only if you get more acoustic volume than the ordinary phosphor bronze strings.
Could be interesting to try tapewounds, though, but only if you get more acoustic volume than the ordinary phosphor bronze strings.
