DISCOVER the Best Brands in Electric Bass Strings, their Features and Qualities, Types, Gauges, and some Extra Tips.
Strings play a fundamental role in the sound and feel of an acoustic or electric guitar. In the case of an electric or acoustic bass, things are no different.
While a particular gauge of string may work for one bassist, it may not work for another bassist with a different technique, different musical taste, or simply less experience playing bass.
In the market we can find a wide range of gauges, manufacturing materials, different types of wound, and coated strings.
Well, on this page we will analyze all the properties and characteristics of all these factors. The most popular brands, and of course the way to extend the life of our bass strings. Because a set of bass strings is not usually cheap.
Electric Bass Strings: Gauges
As for gauges, and taking a standard four-string bass as a reference, thicknesses can range from gauge 40 to 55 for the thinnest string. Between these gauges we can find two intermediate gauges, which would be 45 and 50.
For the thickest strings, gauges can range from 95 to 120. Although they can reach gauge 135 on 5-string basses.
Thinner string gauges are more suitable for fingerstyle and slap techniques. As their lower tension makes it easier to pull the string more comfortably. A thinner set of strings gives a more defined sound and obviously a thinner string makes fingerstyle easier.
While thick gauges would offer us a very powerful sound. These thicknesses would be more appropriate for pick techniques and drop tunings for the fourth string, as in the case of 115 or 120 gauges. Although these thicknesses are more difficult to master.
Generally, 45 gauge is considered the standard for thin strings. And 100 or 105 gauge for thick strings due to their high versatility. With these gauges we can develop practically any type of technique, while maintaining a balance between tone and comfort.
These gauges can vary depending on the scale length of our bass. There are specific sets for each type of scale, since the same gauge has different tension and behavior, at different scale lengths.
Manufacturing Material an Bass Strings
Bass strings are usually wound with nickel-plated steel or stainless steel. Nickel-plated steel is the most common due to its lower cost, soft feel and full-bodied sound. This alloy has the advantage of wearing down the frets less, as it is a softer alloy than stainless steel.
On the other hand, stainless steel strings are more durable and have a higher shine than nickel-plated steel strings.
Due to these characteristics, nickel-plated steel strings are recommended for bassists looking for a warm and traditional sound. While stainless steel strings would be oriented towards bassists who need more presence. Highly recommended for slap techniques, and for genres such as modern rock and metal.
There are also pure nickel strings. The sound of this type of string is very warm, suitable for genres such as jazz, and for use with acoustic instruments.
Types of Bass String Wound
As far as the type of wound is concerned, we can find:
- Roundwound: this is the most commonly used, as it provides the string with greater flexibility. While at the same time improving the free vibration of the string. As a result, we will obtain more volume and sustain, as well as greater brightness and dynamic range.
- Flatwound: it has a very distinctive retro sound, with a soft attack and no squeaks. The tone of the flatwound string is more muted. The string vibrates less freely than the roundwound string, and it has a harder feel.
- Halfwound: it would be similar to roundwound, but with a recess applied to the top of the string to provide a smoother surface. Halfwound is somewhere in the middle in terms of tone and noise reduction, compared to roundwound and Flatwound.
Core of Bass Strings
The wound is attached to a central steel wire known as the core. This core (as in the case of electric guitar strings) can be:
- Hex or Hexagonal: this is the standard for most bass string sets, due to its greater adherence to the wound. It provides a brighter sound compared to the round core.
- Round: it provides a warmer sound, lower tension and greater flexibility compared to the hex core.
Acoustic Bass Strings
Phosphor bronze strings are the most commonly used strings for this type of instrument, due to their warm tone and longer durability, compared to the 80/20 alloy with a brighter and clearer tone.
If we need our acoustic bass strings to last longer, we should opt for polymer-coated strings, such as the Elixir series.
Although we can also use nylon strings for our acoustic bass, and we will get a sound similar to that of a double bass.
Bass Strings Best Brands
As for the most reputable brands in the manufacture of bass strings, we find, as could not be otherwise, the main manufacturers of strings for instruments such as D’Addario, Ernie Ball, or GHS.
Including the Elixir brand, a benchmark in coated strings that extend their properties for longer, since this coating insulates the string from external elements such as dirt, humidity or sweat. This protection makes the final product more expensive, but it can be amortized due to its longer lifespan.
One of the drawbacks of coated strings is that these polymers that cover the string prevent the bassist’s body from acting as ground. In short, they are not conductive.
So if our electric bass makes a lot of noise when we take our hands off the strings, something very common in instruments with single-coil pickups, this type of strings may not be the most advisable.
DR is a very popular brand among bassists in general, and has its own patented K3 coating. The brand claims that this coating protects the string and maintains the natural sound of uncoated strings. DR is also a well-known brand for its fluorescent models in different colors.
Without disdaining other specialist brands such as Rotosound or Dunlop. And leading manufacturers in the manufacture of basses such as Fender, Warwick, or Ibanez.
Bass String Maintenance
The maintenance of our strings is something to take into account, due to the often high cost of a complete set. The best way to make our strings last longer is to always have the habit of cleaning them after playing, with a microfibre cloth that we can get at any supermarket.
We also have specific products that clean and lightly lubricate the strings. They are suitable for use after playing, but also before starting a session, to help the fingers slide on strings that have lost their smoothness.
Cleaning your strings is what really helps to extend their useful life. But we can always squeeze a little more life out of our bass strings by boiling them in water for a few minutes. We can also add a little vinegar or baking soda, or both if possible, to optimize a good cleaning and recovery process.
Although this is usually a one-off option. Unfortunately after the process, the strings will not take long to lose the definition they have regained. In any case, it is not a good idea to remove the strings to boiling them continuously.