Which bass strings to buy?
✅ Here is my selection of 👉🏻 BASS STRINGS
Check out this string set we recommend. It’s on sale for two for one:
Heavy Gauge Bass Strings
Light Gauge Bass Strings
Medium Gauge Bass Strings
The bass guitar strings, as in any musical instrument, completely determine the final sound.
Therefore, among the different types of electric bass strings that we can find today there are different materials, different thicknesses or calibers and also different qualities.
In this guide for bassists we are going to explain all the characteristics that must be taken into account when choosing bass strings…but..,
How many strings does a bass guitar have ?
Four, five, six. Do you know ?
The most common number of strings that have a bass is 4, but we have five and six.
Here we are going to explain everything about bass strings, materials, calibres and which one adapts best to the pulsation and to each style.
We select the best price on 4-string bass strings and also give tips on how to clean strings.
Bass Strings Gauge (Types)
What bass strings to buy?
Well, good question but you must continue reading this guide to find the ideal strings, another aspect to keep in mind is the gauge of bass strings, which is the size or width of the string, this greatly influences the comfort according to the style and way of playing that we have.
How to choose the right gauge of strings for the Electric Bass ?
To choose the right thickness or caliber of strings in our bass we must take into account several factors.
Depending on the manufacturer this may vary but we can structure the strings in the three most common sizes, always take as a reference the thickness of the first string G :
Light gauge bass strings
Soft – 040 ✅ SEE SETS
A 0,40 is perfect for this ! We play SLAP !
If you play a lot of slap or want to start studying this technique, the soft bass strings are ideal for this as they make it much easier to pull the string.
Are soft and comfortable strings to pull.
Medium gauge bass strings
Medium- 045 ✅ SEE SETS
We play with our fingers. Depending on this it will be more advisable to use a stronger thickness for the pulsation with pick than with fingers but even so, we may like to play with medium thickness plectrum and we can also use a medium size of strings.
Heavy gauge bass strings
Strong – 050 ✅ SEE SETS
We play with pick. Here we will surely be more comfortable to play with speed with heavier calibres that hold well the tension of the string with the strong pulsation of the pick.
What is the standard size of bass strings ?
As we have already mentioned, the gauge of the bass string will depend a little on several factors but even so we can choose a set of strings with a thickness that allows us to adapt to any situation, style or technique.
As we have already mentioned, the gauge of the bass string will depend a little on several factors but even so we can choose a set of strings with a thickness that allows us to adapt to any situation, style or technique.
A calibre of strings that can be very versatile would be the medium-smooth ✅ 045-105 ✅
1st string G – 045
2nd String D- 065
3rd String A – 085
4th String E – 105 some packs change it by 100
Type of winding on Bass Strings
There are several types of winding for a string but let’s explain what it is.
What is the winding of a bass string ?
A string is made up of the core and then different types of winding which is what we technically call twisting.
Roundwound Winding
It is the most common to play any style because the final sound will be brighter and more harmonic than the flatwound finish, also have greater sustain, even so much will depend on the material we choose for this.
For example, a very bright set of strings would be with this twisted roundwound and stainless steel material.
Flatwound Winding
It makes the timbre turn off and also the harmonics, so they are ideal for playing jazz or blues because they have less sustain and also facilitate the drag or glisandos because they are the strings more similar to those of a double bass.
Halfround Winding
They would be a mixture of the previous ones and for that reason they will give a balanced timbre even so this type is the least extended but it would be good to try it.
The winding is usually done mechanically but there are some strings that are wound by hand which makes them a bit special and a little more expensive.
Electric Bass Strings Materials
Winding materials may vary and this will also affect our final tone.
This will precisely make the sound have different nuances, besides, the core can be round or hexagonal and that will also create different nuances.
Nickel
Warm and less bright
Nickel-plated steel
Warm and bright
Stainless steel
Very bright, crisp
Coating of bass strings
Apart from the Winding, the strings can be covered with a layer of some material that makes them maintain their properties over time.
There are some brands that use different types of coating and this allows the brightness of the strings to last longer, because among other things, protects them from corrosion of sweat, rust, oil, etc..
It does make the final product more expensive but it is also worth it if we want a more durable product.
They will hold us better the sustain and the brightness and apart they will tune better.
Elixir bass strings are the pioneer in this type of strings covering.