In contrast to its widely popular electric cousin, the acoustic bass guitar is rarely seen as much in contemporary music. This might be attributed to some disadvantages of the acoustic bass, stemming from the physical differences between the two instruments.
Despite not being as well recognized as its electric variant, the acoustic bass guitar has an interesting origin story and utilized by numerous influential bassists across history. Continue reading to learn all about this instrument, the best acoustic bass guitar strings for new players, and how it works.
What is an Acoustic Bass Guitar?
Similar to how an acoustic and electric guitar differ from one another, an acoustic bass has a large hollow wooden body through which sound is produced, as opposed to the solid wood body of the electric bass, which produces the sound through the use of pick-ups. Another important distinction is the type of strings used. The acoustic bass features separate acoustic bass guitar strings that are different from those seen on electric bass. Although they can be used interchangeably, this is usually discouraged, as it results in an even more toned-down sound, which will be difficult to hear on a live set without an amplifier.
What Are the Types of Bass Strings for Acoustic Bass?
There are three commonly used types of bass strings, each producing a different sound. The most popular acoustic bass string set these days is the phosphorus bronze, which has a deep, warmer, responsive tone.
- Phosphor bronze: A big selling point for phosphorus acoustic bass guitar strings is their greater longevity, owing to their better corrosion resistance.
- 80/20 bronze: This type of acoustic bass guitar strings is not as popular as the newer phosphorus ones, but it has a much brighter, crisper sound that has a punch to it.
- Black nylon: To recreate the sound of a vintage double bass, some players go for black nylon tape wound strings, while others opt for electric bass strings, which, as mentioned above, is not very advantageous.
How to Tune Acoustic Bass Strings?
The process of tuning your acoustic bass guitar strings is fairly straightforward. The strings are tuned to the notes E A D G by using the tuning machines on the headstock, which tightens and loosens the acoustic bass guitar strings to increase or lower the pitch of the string. If your acoustic bass does not have a built-in tuner along with the pick-ups, use a good handheld or clip-on tuner. Alternatively, a tuning app like GuitarTuna will work fine.
How to Stay in Tune Longer?
An instrument that keeps going out of tune is a hindrance to playing effectively and enjoyably. If you find that your acoustic bass guitar strings are frequently off-pitch, here are a few important things to practice that will help the acoustic bass guitar in tune.
- Change the Strings Often
Older acoustic bass guitar strings tend to progressively lose the ability to hold tension in the strings because of continual wear and tear. So, it’s always a good idea to change your acoustic bass strings once every four to six weeks.
- Keep the Bass Clean
After every practice session or performance, wipe the body and neck of the acoustic bass with a clean cloth. Use a dust cloth for the hardware, including the fretboards and tuning machines.
- Keep the Bass Protected in the Case
When not in use, keep the acoustic bass in its case so that it doesn’t go out of tune and remains safe from accidental damage.
Benefits of Using Alice A616 Acoustic Bass Strings
The Alice A616 acoustic bass strings offer a multitude of benefits to those who are just starting out with the instrument. These include a warm and elegant timbre for a balanced and full sound. Additionally, these strings feature a steel core, copper alloy winding, and an anti-rust coating, which resists oxidation for longer, and allows you to use a set of strings for longer before having to replace them.
Conclusion
Alice is one of the many brands under Guangzhou Romance Musical Instruments Co., Ltd., with over 20 years of experience in providing high-quality musical instrument strings and accessories to musicians worldwide. Years of research, development and technological innovation have gone into manufacturing products that are ensured to be up to standard. Along with strings for various instruments, find capos, plectrums, guitar machine heads, and other accessories.
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