Strings for Basses

Buy bass strings at session

As the name string instrument suggests, the strings are also an essential part of basses . The string is always the basis for the sound development of a stringed instrument. If it's played, the sound seems dull, if it's new, the sound sounds brilliant. However, other factors also play a major role when it comes to strings . A steel string, for example, usually sounds clearer. The sound is very defined in both the bass and high frequencies. A nickel string, on the other hand, is more emphasized in the middle frequencies and offers warmer bass. However, these details are only approximate guidelines, as each manufacturer has its own manufacturing process and therefore its own sound.

Bass strings - sound and feel

For example , Ernie Ball strings are relatively rich in treble despite nickel. In contrast, Rotosound steel strings are known for their mid-emphasized sound , which is less pronounced in the high frequencies. Another type are the bronze and phosphor bronze strings , which sound just as brilliant as steel strings, but are acoustically significantly louder. They are primarily used on acoustic basses in order to be more effective when not amplified. But it's not just the material that's important, the finish also plays a very important role in the sound development. A general distinction is made between roundwound, flatwound and halfwound strings . In principle, a string consists of a core and the wrapping spun around it. This is how roundwound describes a string where the wrapping remains untouched. This preserves the entire overtone spectrum and the brilliance of the string, but it usually feels very rough, especially at the beginning. A flatwound string, on the other hand, is ground completely flat to eliminate all playing noise and provide a pleasant playing feel. However, the sound of flatwound strings can be classified as dull. In the halfwound version, the wire surrounding the string is sanded to create a slightly smoother finish , but not to eliminate all high frequencies. A special form of flatwound strings are the Black Nylons from manufacturers such as GHS or La bella . They have an additional wrapping of black nylon around the wrapping to produce a tone that is best compared to that of double basses or others Nylon or gut string instruments can be compared. Given the many factors, every bass player should simply try out which strings they like best in terms of sound and feel and experiment a bit. Especially when it comes to wanting to change your own sound without changing the entire setup, the strings are usually a good starting point. You can of course find a large and well-stocked range of bass strings from the popular brands D'addario , Ernie Ball, GHS, Rotosound, DR and Elixir as well as the strings from bass manufacturers at session. We'll show you how you can change the strings without much effort in our guides on changing electric bass strings .