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GHS Strings Reintroduces Tapewound Bass Strings
Accessories & Strings

GHS Strings Reintroduces Tapewound Bass Strings

After discontinuing the line in 2015, GHS Strings has reintroduced their Tapewound Bass strings. They’re designed to be dark and thumpy like a double bass, the company writes. “Tapewound bass strings combine the thump and decay of an upright bass string while retaining the characteristics of an electric bass string,” GHS says. “Flatwound strings are wrapped with a black nylon...

Sadowsky Guitars Launches Re-engineered Blue Label Flatwound Strings
Accessories & Strings

Sadowsky Guitars Launches Re-engineered Blue Label Flatwound Strings

Sadowsky Guitars has re-engineered their line of flatwound strings including their sets for bass guitar. The new Blue Label Flatwound strings, which come in four and five-string sets, are described as “superb for fretless basses or that classic Motown sound.” “Our challenge was to create a string with a true vintage tone and feel that retains a strong fundamental to...

GHS Strings Unveils Balanced Nickels Bass Strings
Accessories & Strings

GHS Strings Unveils Balanced Nickels Bass Strings

GHS Strings has expanded their line of bass strings with the new Balanced Nickels set, which they describe as a combination of traditional string materials and modern string design. “Traditionally, bass strings are made by wrapping one cover wire around the core to create the G, two covers for the D and A, and three covers for the E string,”...

GHS Announces BEAD Tuned Bass Boomers
Accessories & Strings

GHS Announces BEAD Tuned Bass Boomers

If you like things nice and low, GHS has you covered with their latest set of Bass Boomers. The new four-string sets are designed for BEAD tuning and described as having “deep low end with a midrange crunch that cuts through a band mix.” The BEAD Tuned Bass Boomers come in three gauges – Medium Light, Medium, and Heavy –...

GHS Updates Short Scale Strings
Accessories & Strings

GHS Updates Short Scale Strings

GHS Strings has updated their short-scale bass strings to be a bit longer. The extra length, they say, is to accommodate for short-scale basses that have a tailpiece or are strung thru-body. “Traditionally, the winding length (ball end to taper/silk) of a short scale bass string has been 32 [inches],” the company writes. “However, this measurement did not work easily...

La Bella Strings Introduces Gold Flats
Accessories & Strings

La Bella Strings Introduces Gold Flats

La Bella Strings has added to their Deep Talkin’ Bass series with the Gold Flats. Available in four, five, and six-string sets, the flat wound strings use a golden alloy ribbon wire for the exterior wrap that the company says adds a unique tonal mid-range. The Gold Flats also have more attack with a softer feel than their traditional stainless...

Gamut Music Announces Red Diamond Gut Double Bass Strings
Accessories & Strings

Gamut Music Announces Red Diamond Gut Double Bass Strings

Gamut Music has expanded their line of double bass strings with the Red Diamond series. The gut strings are described as having a strong bottom end and a full tone. “The G-1 and D-2 strings are made of the finest beef serosa from the green fields of Ireland, twisted in our famous Lyon gut style, then wrapped with nylon to...

My Double Bass Setup: Part 3 – String Spacing and String Height
The Lowdown with Dr. D

My Double Bass Setup: Part 3 – String Spacing and String Height

String Spacing My string spacing at the nut is approximately 8 millimeters between each string and my string spacing at the bridge is about 22 millimeters between each string. By contrast a more traditional setup might be 10 mm at the nut and 28 mm at the bridge. Although this particular change may seem small (8 vs. 10 and 22...

My Double Bass Setup: Part 2 – Number of Strings, Tuning and Fingerboard Length
The Lowdown with Dr. D

My Double Bass Setup: Part 2 – Number of Strings, Tuning and Fingerboard Length

I play a five-string bass with both a higher string and a low C, via an extension. My specific tuning is (from lowest to highest) C, B, E, A, D. The low C string can be tuned via capos (on the C extension) to any chromatic note between C and E (the more standard low string on a double bass)....

String Gauge vs. Speed
Ask Damian Erskine

String Gauge vs. Speed

Q: I had a major breakthrough in part inspired by our visit. For the first time in years I’m playing normal, not light strings. I guess I thought all the pro virtuosos used G=40 strings. Victor does I think. Anyway when I stopped feeling like that was my path I tried the stiffer strings and paradoxically I can play faster...

D’Addario Adapts NYXL Strings For Bass
Accessories & Strings

D’Addario Adapts NYXL Strings For Bass

D’Addario has adapted their NYXL strings to their line of bass products. The new NYXL Bass sets feature the company’s NY Steel core and reformulated nickel-plated wrap wire, which they say offer a more powerful low end, accentuated harmonics, and focused punch. The NY Steel core also adds to the string’s durability and stability, while a new core-to-wrap ratio give...

Dunlop Introduces Flatwound Bass Strings
Accessories & Strings

Dunlop Introduces Flatwound Bass Strings

Dunlop went old school at NAMM this year by introducing a new set of flatwound strings. The Dunlop Flatwound Strings are designed to give the tone of classic rock, funk, and R&B recordings while providing a more modern feel. Designed for lower tension, the strings are described as providing a solid fundamental with rich articulation on top. “Rolling off your...