All Bass Strings Explained | feat. Julia Hofer | Guitar Tech Tips | Ep. 78 | Thomann
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- čas přidán 3. 08. 2024
- Which strings should I get? How does stainless steel and nickel plated steel compare?
Do pure nickels sound super warm, or can I use them for every style?
What's up with flat wounds and coated strings?
Get all your answers and let Julia show you how all bass string types sound in this episode of Guitar Tech Tips!
Enjoy!
Thanks Julia for the awesome playing examples! Check out her videos:
• Bass with Julia
Here's the full Guitar Tech Tips playlist:
• Guitar Tech Tips with ...
Gear used: bit.ly/3EAFYUH
Recorded and mixed with Universal Audio: tho.mn/uadx1
Monitors optimised through Sonarworks: tho.mn/sonar
Interesting bits and pieces:
0:00 Introduction
0:46 1st | Nickel plated steel strings
1:09 Playing | Nickel plated steel
1:52 2nd | Coated strings
2:20 Playing | Coated strings
3:01 3rd | Hardened strings
3:27 Playing | Hardened strings
4:09 4th | Cobalt strings
4:41 Playing | Cobalt strings
5:21 5th | Stainless steel strings
5:45 Playing | Stainless steel strings
6:20 6th | Pure nickel strings
7:05 Playing | Pure nickel strings
7:54 7th | Flat wound strings
8:07 Playing | Flat wound strings
8:48 8th | Half round strings
9:09 Playing | Half round strings
9:48 9th | Gold strings
10:06 Playing | Gold strings
10:46 String gauges
11:50 Outtakes
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Ok thanks, but what's Julia's opinion? And her comments? 🤔
She really liked the following strings: Nickel plated steel, Elixir, stainless steel, flats, pure nickel. She normally uses Roto stainless on her basses, but she told she will consider using Elixirs and pure nickels too in the future. Cheers //Kris
Where is Frank's "Distorted Face" opinion??
It would be valuable!
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses So Juilia liked them all :-)
@@ThomannsGuitarsBasses HI, very informative video, great reference for tying new strings out. Can you tell me what it is about upright bass strings that makes it so you can play them with a bow? Do they make strings like this for an electric bass? If they did, could you play an electric bass with a bow?
Watch Julias face If you want to know what she likes its a smirk followed by a slight carcrash face. Elixir & Cobalt is my deduction. Well Julia am I right or did I just carcrash myself?
As a layman on the subject, I really liked the sound of Cobalt strings. I can imagine the work it took to make the video. Julia and you had a lot of patience. Congratulations from Brazil!
Finally: Julia joins you! Moar bass!
Juila has incredible feel and "human" time which also impressed Marcus Miller, I hope you will do many more collabs
Julia’s playing is just sick. Something special for you 6-stringers!
Careful! Lest ye be labeled a simp!
@@DMSProduktions ???
@@williambarnes4612 WAS I talking to you?
I started watching this and realized nope, absolutely need headphones and will start it over later. What I saw so far, very interesting and informative. Thank you, as I can only imagine this took a while to produce with all the string changes and playing examples for each string type. Julia as always is a super solid player!
I love that you acknowledged the “sticky” quality of stainless strings. I tried them and noticed that, and then comments on line did not reflect my opinion. Thank you for letting me know it wasn’t my imagination !
Thanks for the great format of pros and cons and top observations + playing the same licks for each set of strings. Really helps delineate the differences!
Good format, but what about Tapewounds?
Tapewounds are for fretless, honestly. They get worn terribly on a fretted bass. I'd had a set of tapewounds on a fretless carvin for a decade and that was absolutely the right strings for that bass. I'd tried half rounds and flatwounds. But the tapewounds worked incredibly well with the bartolini quad coils I had in that.
I have discovered, and LOVE La Bella black nylon tape wound bass strings.
Oh my goodness! The sensual feel of upright bass strings, with a rich, warm sound that can make church pews vibrate. After the first couple of songs, you aren't so much playing the bass, as you become one with it. The sound Motown wishes they could have had, if only sub-sonic sound reproduction had been up to it in the 1960s. Play McCartney's bass riff from the Beatles' song, "Come Together" and hear a whole new dimension to a song you thought you knew. The strings make it fun to play in the deep end of the swimming pool!
Maybe not the best choice for metal bands.
Not good for most music, but they certainly shine in their niches.
Have you also tried DR Strings Black Beauties (or even their Red Devils or Neon) ?
I use the Black Beauties on a fretless.
@@Br0adCastYourS3lf red or neon might be a bit over the top for me, but I'll try the black bueaties!
@@darpope2752 Yeah thought so. That's why they were in parentheses. Are you rocking the La Bella 760N's? If so I might have to try them.
@@Br0adCastYourS3lf nothing too fast, the La Bellas can become a bit awkward, but, as I said, "Come Together", the Eagles, "Hotel California", that type of stuff just sound wonderful. The strings make me a better player than I am.
BUT I am gonna get a set of the DRs. Let me state the obvious - there's something I find appealing about black beauties! LOL!
Already that bass has had more string changes than most basses in the world!
Hahahaha.
Great stuff! Finally some explanation of the differences however subtle of the myriad of choices we have.
Now I’m going to experiment on my 63 P Bass.
Thank you🙏
Great to see Julia on this episode🙂👍
This explanation and comparison was very useful. Thank you.
Didn't expect a such drastic difference - wow! I love Stainless Steel on most of my basses, it's just a feel thing. (nylon tape wounds would have completed the collection)
I was totally gonna say that it's actually the reason I was watching the video,to hear tape wounds... Damn.
Are all tape wounds nylon?
Well how would you characterize the sound of tape wounds, compared to these others? Are the more like flat wounds, or what makes them different?
Also do you know the type of strings on an upright? What makes them able to be played with a bow?
@@buckemptier Uprights generally use stainless steel flats or gut (less common since mid 20th century- they don't last long and good ones are expensive). The resin on the bow hair grabs the string to vibrate it.
My 5 string is tunned up to drop C/D standard. Feels/sounds so much better than de-tuning my shorter scale 4 string. Which needs new strings. This video really helped.🍻
I really like how the gold strings matched the color pretty well with that bass paint
Soooo cool looking
Great playing and great info!
Wow, great video. Love the string combo's.
Thank you very much. Everything I needed to know in one place
Yeah this is what I needed. More bass. Great video. Very informative and useful.
Thanks! //Kris
The Queen of Bass is there, Top notch. 👏👏👏👏🇬🇧
OMG !!! what a beautiful Jazz Bass !!! Danka Shern Julia !!!!!!
Great video, well done and we'll explained.
Julia’s is simply the best ☮️
Awesomely helpful thank you!
Elixir for me (for guitar and bass). They're more expensive but they last a really long time
I liked the Optima quite a lot, even though I'm not allergic or looking for something exotic! Other than that, the regular flatwound is pretty nice.
Thank you so m much for this video. It's impossible for us to try all those strings, but they are expensive, and buying the right strings is very important.
Great review thanks!
Thanks guys !
Great video.
this was informative, thanks!
Great video! Cobalts are perfect for drop D tuning and aggressive tones. Half-rounds always go on my multipurpose PJ bass. I recently tried Rotosound swing bass strings on my Geddy Lee signature jazz bass and they sound amazing.
what a great playing, i really enjoying it, and thx for all the infos.
I think all types of strings and brands can be interesting and enlightening to play around with. There is a lot to discover.
My recommendation for all Drop D players: Fodera - Medium Heavy "E" Nickel-Roundwound (45, 65, 85, 110)
🖖
DR 's ... my favorite... round core ... you can play anything with these .. in my 40+ years of playing guitar and bass , round core is Key 🔑
I use a small trolley as my gig bag to drag around. I play double bass going from pizz to arco, electric bass, acoustic bass with pickups so I always use an Ernie Ball volume pedal. I always use an LR Baggs preamp to sculpt my sound. I carry a 9 led light and an extra smaller one if a band mate needs one. I have a small baggie of extra batteries for all my equipment. Cloth pins as wind clips as even air conditioning can disturb music charts. I have nail clippers, finger nail files, bandages, and baby powder for clammy hands. Pencils and scotch tape are a necessity to share for marking up music, taking notes, and taping music. I like the older Kong tuners.
I love and have learned a lot from your Utubes Julia.
I appreciate the tedium involved with all the string changes, and thank you Julia, for playing the same phrases over and over, you were pretty rock-steady and nearly identical each time. Perhaps in another episode you could do a comparison of tonality for fretless bass with various types and brands. Thanks for this comparison, it was very useful. Best regards.
Thanks a lot! Needless to say how thrilled I was when I asked Julia to do this and she agreed on it. It was a lot of work but we all believe it's a useful video for many. Cheers! //Kris
I'm glad you mentioned that steel wound strings are actually lower output. I have come to the same conclusion in my experience, but many other outlets, forums, and brands claim otherwise.
Fantastic comparison! I could actually hear the difference between the strings. Thanks for making this video, must have taken a lot of work.
Thanks a lot! We really hope this helps many people to chose the best strings for their needs. :) Cheers //Kris
In just one video we learn a lot, bass strings are very expensive, double for flat wound, gold some at 74euro!!
I'm missing the ghs that I had and were doing well, well done to you ♥
Thanks for investing all the time to restring the bass. This viedo will definitely help choosing the right type of bass strings. Maybe you could make a video about inspecting a new guitar after receiving it, when shopping online.
Very good comparisation thank you
excellent playing! i aspire to be as good as Julia someday
Thank you for the video. I use rotosound rs665-ld, low end is not muddy any more. Sounds much clearer. Good for Reggae too!!
Really helpfull overview for strings you did there.
I have one point to add regarding the Elexir Nanoweb coated strings. From my experience they also have reduced friction, which I really like for sliding or when you playing a lot of fingerstyle. So much more comfortable for me, especially because I'm mainly a guitar player and only pick up my Basses now or then (another argument for coated string for me).
I also tried some coated Boomer, but there you don't have that advantage. I'm guessing they only have the outer wire coated and not the whole strings.
What I want for Christmas is a video with the out-takes from all of you this year.
Excellent vid, as always!
🤘🎅🏻
Haha, that'd be the weirdest and most random gift of all times. 😆 Cheers man, thanks for much for your support!! //Kris
THE video I was looking for, right when I was thinking about changing the type of string on my bass depending of the sound I was looking for. And... cherry on top: Julia playing each string with the same settings for good comparison. Seriously, who disliked this video?
BTW: There is a real problem of stock with coated elixir strings. The set julia is using (the 45-105 4 strings) can still be found, but unfortunately, it's not the same story for 45-100 or some fifth extra string... and this for months. Hope it will come back soon
Yes, I can’t find the coated Elexir strings for 5-string bass anywhere. That’s why I’m watching this video!
You can say so much without sayin' a single word ❤
I really like to listen to the tone of the strings but to look at Julias face - she says quite a lot without loosing a word here ;)
Very informative. Would like to have seen your take on nylon tape wound strings.
Rotosound Steels all day long. 👌🏿
Great for Graphite Basses.
I'm using the Optima E-Bass 24K GOLD Unique Studio and the Chrome Unique Studio Bass Strings at the moment.
Greetings from Uganda 🇺🇬👊🏿🖤
This is awesome, definitely showing this to students interested in chasing tone. Only wish you'd included tapewounds, but great video nonetheless!
I would expect a much better comment about the Flatwounds, maybe try some real good ones like the D'Addario Chromes ECB80 instead of the Rotosounds. I play these on all my basses incl. my acoustic one, but not on the Steinberger, on which I use LaBella Flatwounds with double ball ends. Everybody that tries my basses is amazed about the playability and the sound of the D'Addarios, two bass playing friends of mine switch to Flatwounds recently. In fact players like Paul McCartney, John-Paul Jones, Bill Wyman and many others use Flatwounds on their basses. Haven't you seen Julia's smile when she played them ?
I prefer flatwound since I got into those on guitar first (see my Jaguar profile pic, flats are a must on the threaded bridge saddles). I like the smoother feeling over roundwounds (on bass the low E winding feels huge to me) and the slightly darker tone.
As I'm getting older I'm definitely appreciating flats a lot more. Can't beet the vibe of a passive bass strung with flats. I always have an active bass with nickels and a passive with flats when I turn up at any gig.
Passive bass, 34" scale, with Labella flats, 45-105, feels right for me.
YAY JULIA IS BACK
HI JULIA AND KRIS
Hey Mark, yesss! I mean... we're better off this way. I love playing bass but we needed a proper bassist for this job. :) Cheers //Kris
She's amasing!
🎵All about that bass 🎶
Julia ❤️ playing.
Honestly I've played a myriad of strings and the best by far as far as comfort , tone , longevity , versility are basic nickel / round wound D'ADDARIO !
Never realized there is so much different kind of strings !
thanks!!!
Great video. I had thought I had already known everything about bass strings and learned a lot from this video. But: Tapewounds were not introduced. Missed that one or was it on purpose?
I am just here for Julias bass face.
I've been listening to a lot of these videos lately, and this one sounds like it was produced underwater. I think all we're hearing is the signal chain.
Funny accent, sounds like Swedish :) thanks for the video, I'm always using nickel plated or coated strings by one or two manufacturers.
I was very pleasantly surprised by the hardened strings.
I'm a huge Ernie Ball lover and my choise is Cobalt ones. But any way Rotosound Flatwounds were also cool
While this video was actually informative, using Rotosound flats was actually a fatal mistake as they are one of the brightest sounding Flatwound strings in the market (same to be said with Dadarrio chromes, Slinky Cobalt flats, etc etc). A better example of a more fundamental and old school sounding Flatwound would have been Labella Deep Talkin Flats, or even Optima Flats.
None of these sounded better than the Daddario EXL160BT Balanced Tension on my bass... tuned to drop C... and when "Big Muff" drops in, things are just great! 😁
Drop C + Big Muff... you legend! 💪 //Kris
Favourite tone for me was, nickel plated ernie balls and the cobalt
You guys forgot about tapewounds and pressurewounds. Tape wounds work great in toning down an overly bright bass ie. Swamp Ash Body, Maple Neck, Steel Bridge, brass or bone nut. You get the picture.
The pressure-wounds(also called ground-wounds) are great for getting the traditional Motown sound out of an otherwise dark bass ie. Basswood or Mahogany Body, Rosewood fretboard, Brass Bridge and Bone or Graphite nut. They are just a pinch brighter than Flatwounds so they do have a time and place. Otherwise a pretty good tutorial, thanks.(note: this statement contains factual inaccuracies which I correct below in subsequent conversation. I have left it as originally posted so as to maintain the continuity of the conversation)
Pressure wounds are not the same as ground wounds which were included in this comparison.
@@stephenshoihet2590 The ones I buy are called GHS Pressurewounds. They are made by taking a large diameter roundwound string and grinding it smooth, like a flatwound. This type of string construction is not mentioned here. They have a bit of a niche application, but if you need them they work wonders, and that is why I brought it up.(note to any readers, please read my comment below concerning strings and construction techniques. This statement I made here is factually inaccurate but I left it intact as it relates to the direct response below and to my subsequent comment. I decided that editing this comment to correct the inaccuracies would make the conversation completely unintelligible so I have left it as originally posted, warts and all)
@@jomamma1750 ghs pressure wounds are not ground, they're put through rollers that flatten the outer windings, hence the "pressure" in pressure wound. Pressure wound strings generally feels smoother than ground wound strings.
Ground wound strings are mentioned here, they're the d'addario half round strings.
@@stephenshoihet2590 Ok, What I did was to get the Nomenclature incorrect, hence the confusion. The GHS Strings that I use(besides Boomers) are called Brite Flats. They ARE groundwounds. However, unlike the description given in the video the GHS version does not sit halfway between rounds and flats on a tonal scale. They sit only slightly brighter than true traditional flatwounds. They are also absolutely smooth and feel essentialy identical to a true flatwound. Hence the confusion as I have never used D'addario's "half rounds". I have also never knowingly used Pressurewounds, which sit much closer to the halfway point on a tonal scale than the Brite Flats, according to the manufacturer. I, therefore, had made the incorrect assumption that what he calls "half rounds" in the video were indeed pressurewound strings. Having never played that type of string I have no frame of reference as to the feel under the hands and the implication in the video is that the "half rounds" are not glass-smooth. Brite Flats are glass-smooth.
So that does leave 2 styles of string construction, Tapewound and Pressurewound, unmentioned in this video.
There may very well also be a considerable tonal difference between D'addario's "Half Rounds" and GHS's "Brite Flats". These differences in tone amongst manufacturers will stem from somewhat different construction techniques and, at times, radically different metallurgies used.
For a pleasant surprise, try the cobalt flats from EB.
For aggressive styles of music ie hardcore, metal, and punk I loved using cobalts. Issues, I noticed they wouldn't last as long as other strings I had used, and from what I remember they were limited in the lengths you can get. So extended range players are a little out of luck.
Julia is a great bass player. How long does it take to get that good? I'm taking my first bass lesson this summer and I'm excited.
Ah yes time to watch things about all the string types while I play on the 5 euro mystery metal harley benton strings
I went thru them all over a couple years and found out ,The Hybrid Slinkys NPS 45-105 are what I like .Now they'r on all my Basses . Recommendations for the Series .... "More Julia!" she is great and a killer player .Love you Julia . Yes Julia "What are your favorite strings ? Not to mention a whole Rig rundown ?!"~ Please
Hola Kris, quisiera saber si nos podrías enseñar en un video a instalar un Capacitor Treble Bleed en un potenciómetro de Volumen de una guitarra Stratocaster por favor. Estaré atento. Saludos y Gracias!!!
I wouldn't know a good bass string from a bad 1. Lucked into a Dr Tech bass for $80. Fixed it all up as it had a little bow in the neck. Decided to get some new strings for it. Found a 3 pack deal for Fender x light red pack on Ebay. For $18. Got them thinking a string is a string. When they showed up it was 4 packs and I haven't changed strings in since. But don't use this bass much. As I'm a guitar player. With 4 very different guitars and each has specific string set for each guitar. These Fender bass strings work. That's all I know. Interesting video to maybe learn something about my bass.
Very informative video, thank you. My question is; Please can I have all the old strings you used for the demonstrations? ;)
Thanks Pubert! The strings ended up on display instruments and in the workshop as spare strings. It would've been a huge waste throwing them away after a few minutes of usage. Cheers //Kris
Cobalt flats changed my entire rig. I not only record with flats, I play live with flats now
I play frettless with flats ,might try some of the brighter sounding ones next but round wounds will chew up your fretboard!
Probably over much time. It's one of the reasons my fretless has an ebony fingerboard (the other reason was feel and familiarity switching between upright and bass guitar).
You did not include nylon coated electric bass strings, which have a unique sound of their own. Would have liked to hear your comments on those as well!
Don’t wanna read through all the comments, but this also apply to PBass and other types of basses such as active? Great video! I’m a GHS Boomers medium
Hi. Thanks for this Information-boost. I'm wondering what Strings to use on my fretless to realize this singing-fretless-sound. And second: what will flatwounds do to the fretless-sound?
Mine were not tested, I only play on Fender 45 in gauge 45-105. In the test I like the sound of the DR's.
Ibanez SR506,Tuned Drop A scale 34" for rock/metal progressive with finger and sometimes slaps...best strings?
Question: What about acoustic Basses? I have a Dean and looking for a good set
Great comparison. Enjoyed it. Which strings will make a Short Scale Bass " sound closest " to a full scale bass or possibly have more-tension? oNe LovE from NYC
Increase string gage to increase string tension. try a 50-105 set. may need nut slots filed and truss rod adjusted.
Do you have a video with tapewound nylon strings? I think what my bass sound will be
what do you think of this type of rope?
Great vid even though you left Out tapes and chromes
What if you don't know the size strings that came on your bass but want to keep that gauge how do you find out?
Can we use any length of cords on a short-scale bass ?
I have found with SS strings on bass, it was LIKE having a chorus pedal on all the time. Too much upper partial with less fundamental! However, I LOVE SS guitar strings! Not so much uppers on thinner strings. But more elastic @ the same guage/tensions than nickel doped steel, which is stiffer!
I use medium gauge SS flats (55s) and never have a chorus problem. I also play on a fretless.
@@juzek1958 Prob cos they're FLATS! Round wounds are definitely more zingy, so get more upper partials than fundamentals, causing the chorusing!
If only i knew that was an option for single frets! Guess I'm buying another hammer... Because i need all the hammers i can get apparently
I've been playing Ernie Ball cobalt flat wounds, how would you rate those? I think they are warmer than round wound and super smooth and so far are really holding there tone.
That's a great mix: cobalt + flat wound. Normal flats don't have a lot of attack so if you want a bit more of it, cobalt flat is a great choice. Nice! //Kris
dont go for halfrounds, they are super unevan from string to string and feel horrible, I would reccommend to choose flatwounds anytime.
Any videos on short scale bass guitars?
Can someone explain me what tapper wound strings are?
They are not in the video
The ibanez K5 signature bass says in the description that u should use tapper wound strings
Were are the tapewound? Also the picollo bass strings need a shout out!