looking for acoustic bass string recommendations

T.Rex

T.Rex

Sep 19, 2015
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#1
Hey everyone, I'm looking at getting a set of acoustic bass strings for a 4 string acoustic bass I bought not too long ago, I'm new to playing acoustic bass but my preference in electric bass strings is Dr sunbeams nickel plated or Ernie ball bass strings.
 
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#2
Probably depends on what you want it to sound like. I've still got the phosphor-bronze strings that came with mine, but I'm a dead string kind of guy so that works for me. I suppose some day I might put on a set of flats, probably a light set so as not to put to much stress on the soundboard and neck.
 
#4
And if you're looking for something different, there's always TI Acousticores. Bronze on a nylon core. Not everybody's cup of tea. And they don't work well on every ABG IMO. But they bring an unusual character to the mix. Think giant classical guitar. That's the closest I can come to describing it.

I've got mixed feelings about them. I like their sound. But there's been times when I really wished they had a little more oomph than I can pull out of them. There's only so much energy a nylon core can deliver. So it should come as no surprise.

Right now I'm using a fairly standard bronze set on my ABG. I'll eventually do another one of my string safaris to identify what I think is the ideal string for my ABG. But it's going to have to wait until there's a little less on my plate, and I have a little more free cash to burn since the holidays are coming up.
 
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#6
There were times I had wanted to swap the EXP Coated Phosphor Bronze strings that came with my AEBG with flats or tape. But after giving it a lot of thought, I conclude that I don't want to make my AEBG sounds the same as my electrics. I just didn't like the squeaky finger sound of the stock strings. So I limited my search within the available acoustic strings.

I ended this with Elixir Acoustic Bass String 80/20 Bronze. These strings don't completely remove the finger squeak sound, but noticeably reduce it, as they have smoother feel on fingertips. Seems like, at least IME, the Nanoweb coating technology is proven way better than stock's EXP coating.
 
#7
Aidil said:
There were times I had wanted to swap the EXP Coated Phosphor Bronze strings that came with my AEBG with flats or tape. But after giving it a lot of thought, I conclude that I don't want to make my AEBG sounds the same as my electrics. I just didn't like the squeaky finger sound of the stock strings. So I limited my search within the available acoustic strings.

I ended this with Elixir Acoustic Bass String 80/20 Bronze. These strings don't completely remove the finger squeak sound, but noticeably reduce it, as they have smoother feel on fingertips. Seems like, at least IME, the Nanoweb coating technology is proven way better than stock's EXP coating.
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have you tried the Dr RARE acoustic bass strings?
 
#8
T.Rex said:
have you tried the Dr RARE acoustic bass strings?
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Nope... despite I bought many strings yearly, they weren't bronze strings. So I have to admit that my search for AEBG string was only within reading all the available reviews, and among those, I took the plunge and bought the Elixir 80/20 Bronze strings. Turned out I like them above the previous bronze string.
 
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#9
40Hz said:
And if you're looking for something different, there's always TI Acousticores. Bronze on a nylon core. Not everybody's cup of tea. And they don't work well on every ABG IMO. But they bring an unusual character to the mix. Think giant classical guitar. That's the closest I can come to describing it.

I've got mixed feelings about them. I like their sound. But there's been times when I really wished they had a little more oomph than I can pull out of them. There's only so much energy a nylon core can deliver. So it should come as no surprise.
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TI's lack of oomph, is, in MHO, due to their lack of tension. They're just plain weak. They do, however. have a very nice tone, and if the bass is to be amplified all the time, then they're a nice option. A bit pricey though. Also, their nickel wrapping is real soft. I guess it could have been the frets, but I wore through a set in two months, with notches on the D/G above to octave. They're probably better on fretless I would think.

OP... LaBella 760N.
 
#10
I like bronze on mine, which is crazy bright at first, then of course mellows. I have also used tapes and acousticores. TI's will require some more significant setup work. Tapes sound great. But I have an upright bass, and my ABG is fretted, and to me that means Violent Femmes.
 
#11
I left the bronze strings long ago. I use flats or tapes. I use Fender tapes on my Carvin AC40 fretless. These work fine and their lower tension do not cause any issues on the neck. I use a set of GHS P-Flats in the light (.45-95) when I am in a more metallic sort of mood.
If you do go with tapes, which I fully suggest, you might want to go with a set of D'Addario tapes. They are normal guages (.50-.105) and fit through certain types of bridges better than the really thick LaBella/Fender tapes.
 
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#12
fretlessguy said:
I left the bronze strings long ago. I use flats or tapes. I use Fender tapes on my Carvin AC40 fretless. These work fine and their lower tension do not cause any issues on the neck. I use a set of GHS P-Flats in the light (.45-95) when I am in a more metallic sort of mood.
If you do go with tapes, which I fully suggest, you might want to go with a set of D'Addario tapes. They are normal guages (.50-.105) and fit through certain types of bridges better than the really thick LaBella/Fender tapes.
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Does having a bigger guage make the string tension tighter or looser? And ill look into thr GHS p flats
 
#13
T.Rex said:
Does having a bigger guage make the string tension tighter or looser?
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Assuming equal construction, tighter. Not apples to apples, or not knowing to what extent it is, still tighter in most cases. I mean, sure, if you were to compare inherently loose-ish products with inherently tight-arse ones you could find for ex. a .105" from a manufacturer or product line that is looser that a .100" from another (case in point, a D'Addario ProSteel .105 vs. a D'Addario phosphor bronze .100), but all else equal and generally speaking, fatter means more tension. "All else equal" means comparing two strings tuned to the same note and at the same scale, of course, or else we're back to mismatching fruits (a .120 low B is way looser than a .045 G, regardless of the fact that one is biiig and the other thin).
 
#15
I have been enjoying La Bella White Gold Tapes on my fretless ABG. They're the top four strings from a five string set, and I tune them down to C: boing!
They feel good and I like how they respond/resonate - more chimey and bright than other tapes I've tried, but still with enough thumpy roundness to keep me satisfied.
 
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