Help an Old Bass Player Out Here...

[TrevsAudio]

Hey guys!

Looking for recommendations. My Epiphone Dreadnought is up for a re-string and I have no idea what I should shoot for.

Of course you know, us bass players never change strings - had the same set of flat-wounds on for decades.

Oh, and also, I keep my acoustic drop tuned to D so I'm guessing light gauge are no good.

What say The People?

EDIT: Sorry, did not make it clear. The Epiphone is a conventional 6 string acoustic guitar that I have as well.

[outteh]

D'Addario Nickel Wound XL Medium Top/Heavy Bottom
EXZl 117

IMG_0303.jpeg (114.03 KiB) Viewed 87906 times

About $6.00

[TrevsAudio]

Thanks Tom - I phoned Sweetwater and they recommended bronze for acoustics. So I ordered a 3 pack bundle of D'Addario 12 - 56 - on special at the moment for $11.97.

Won't need strings for the rest of my life!

[outteh]

I prefer flat wounds, les string squeek but the main key is the string guages.

[Sturdy]

To clarify, is your epiphone dreadnought an acoustic bass or guitar? fwiw, I've contacted the manufacturer for what string and guage they recommend and use for setup for their builds.

edit: for example response I got from Larrivee: "Larrivee sets up and recommends D'Addario phosphor bronze strings (EXP, XT, XS, or EJ) either 12-53's for playability, or 13-56's for maximum tone. The EXP, XT, and XS all last longer due to their specialty coatings."

[TrevsAudio]

Thanks for looking into this, Sturdy.

Yes, the Epiphone is a conventional 6 string acoustic. I'm not overly concerned about optimum tone, as it's used mainly for rhythm bits and scratch tracks.

[Mark Bliss]

I don't understand.

What's wrong with the strings on it?
They aren't rusted out or half broke?

[TrevsAudio]

A bit dull on the lower two Bro. Mark

[Mark Bliss]

Have you tried boiling them?

I have heard bass players often get another decade or more out of boiled strings...

[TrevsAudio]

Nope! The missus won't let me near the kitchen.

[Sturdy]

Actually changed the strings on my bass for the first time ever this year. Made a big difference. I think I've had the bass nearly 25yrs maybe? dead, dead, dead.... I bought the bass used, and bet the strings were original. Bass is Yamaha RBX650 - I think built in the early 90s, but not sure. The actual strings sound much fresher, but in truth they're strings I might've bought 20yrs ago and never got around to changing, lol.

[TrevsAudio]

Yeah, tend to agree, Sturdy. I suppose genre plays a part too. Modern styles seem to have a more 'spiky' sound, but I'm a kid of the 50's and 60's. Back in the day, round wound bass strings were unheard of.

I have a parts-caster P-Bass with Seymore Duncan vintage Alnico pups and decent pots and capacitors. Very happy with the sound.

[Sturdy]

Yeah, tend to agree, Sturdy. I suppose genre plays a part too. Modern styles seem to have a more 'spiky' sound, but I'm a kid of the 50's and 60's. Back in the day, round wound bass strings were unheard of.

Yeah, I needed a brighter sound and the dead sound worked for some stuff but was detrimental in some of the songs I was working on. I had a friend with active pickups and I really liked the sound of his bass so considered getting a new bass, but he suggested just changing strings first to see, and it improved alot. My bass playing also got better as I worked harder on more interesting bass lines. I'm limited by playing with a pick, but usually can find interesting bass parts to play now.

But even my really dead sound with the old strings was way too dead. just sounded bad, not mellow, just bad. and eq or good amp sim really couldn't help it much. ha!