Can you put flatwound strings on an acoustic bass?

Using electric flatwound strings on an acoustic bass guitar is not recommended unless you will be playing with an amplifier, since acoustically, they will sound very dull. If you are changing the strings on your acoustic bass for the first time, you may want to stick with regular acoustic bass guitar strings.

Why do bass strings have flat wounds?

Flatwound strings have reduced high end, giving them more emphasis on mids and lows. Bassists playing rock, punk, and pop styles often choose roundwounds for their enhanced presence in a busy mix. For reggae, R&B, and jazz, the smoother, warmer sound of flatwounds is often more appropriate.

What are flatwound bass strings good for?

As a general rule, roundwound strings tend to be brighter sounding, more flexible and less expensive; traditional flatwound strings tend to be warmer sounding, smoother feeling and more durable; and our Slinky Flatwound strings tend to be a great middle of the road option for those who don’t find that either …

How long do flat wound bass strings last?

These strings usually last me 5-6 months. I usually play on average 2-3 hours/day but I have a very light touch, don’t sweat much and do only a little bending. My only reason for changing is the bass strings seem to get a little dull after 5-6 months.

Is there a difference between electric and acoustic bass strings?

Acoustics generally come with bronze strings, which won’t work on electrics because they are not magnetic. Electric strings should work fine on an acoustic as long as they deliver the sound you’re after.

Can I use electric bass strings on acoustic bass?

I checked with the tech department at the GHS String Co., and they said that you can use any electric bass string on an acoustic/electric bass. The low volume goes with the turf, but I won’t be playing with loud drums and guitars. The acoustic bass fits right in with the other low volume instruments.

Why are flatwound bass strings so expensive?

Craftsmanship. Another thing to consider is the amount of processing that must go into the fabrication. This is why Flatwound or nylon tapewound strings will generally cost more than a typical roundwound string especially if they are hand wound (which is rare these days).

How long should bass strings last?

So bass strings last from roughly 1 month to 5 years. 😉 As some people have said already it depends on how you want to sound. Depending on how often you play your strings will sound a lot more dull after some time. I personally think that if you’re slapping, newer strings sound much better.

Why do bass players boil their strings?

Over time, bass strings get grime pushed into them. And no matter how often you clean your strings, once grime gets in there, it’s very difficult to get out. What boiling the strings does is simply loosen and release the grime you can’t get to.

How do I know if my bass strings are dead?

When they get old, you’ll also notice a pronounced lack of sustain and they will sound extremely dull. Many bass players describe the sound of dead bass strings as muffled or muddy. They look funky. Another telltale sign of strings gone bad is rust, dark spots, or other discolorations along the length of them.

Is it OK to put electric strings on an acoustic?

The truth is, electric guitar strings will work just fine on an acoustic. There’s no reason that nickel guitar strings are any better or worse than 80/20 bronze acoustic guitar strings or phosphor bronze acoustic guitar strings.

Is it worth getting an acoustic bass?

Acoustic basses are not usually any good unless you go into the $1000+ range. This question comes up from time to time, and here’s the answer. Acoustic guitars are not a well executed idea. They’re very boxy sounding, very very quiet, and have extremely unbalanced string volume.

Which is the best flatwound string for bass?

La Bella flatwounds are the epitome of old-school tone, and rightfully so – the Original 1954 Vintage set was the go-to string for top session players like Jamerson, Chuck Rainey, Jerry Jemmott, Duck Dunn, and a host of others.

What kind of bass strings do La Bella make?

Sold as part of its Deep Talkin’ Bass series, La Bella now makes flatwounds in gauges ranging from extra-light (.039″–.096″) to the stout set that Jamerson used (.052″ through .110″.) The La Bella 760-series flats can be generally described as full and punchy, with a taut feel.

What kind of strings do electric basses use?

But during the formative decade prior, the electric bass was equipped with what we now call flatwound strings – a flat ribbon of steel wound over a steel core, which works best with magnetic electric-bass pickups. (Before Rotosounds, these were simply called ‘strings’.)

When did Rotosound make round wound bass strings?

It wasn’t until 1962 that Rotosound developed the first round-wound strings for electric bass – the famed Swing Bass 66 set. Volumes can be written on how this new technology changed bass tone, and hence the shape of modern music.