If you want a good tone for your acoustic bass guitar you need to use the best acoustic bass strings.
Of course, a high-quality and expensive acoustic bass with excellent wood and craftsmanship is important but new and good acoustic bass strings are mandatory.
And if you are searching for good strings for your acoustic bass guitar stop now. I have made a list for you.
What Are The Best Acoustic Bass Strings?
Here is my list of the best acoustic bass strings that sound great and last much longer than any other strings for bass guitar. You may have the best bass guitar but you need high-quality strings to get a good tone.
1. Ernie Ball Earthwood
Amazing sounding acoustic bass guitar strings.
Ernie Ball is my favorite string manufacturer and their Earthwood acoustic strings are one of the best strings for acoustic bass guitar. I love the rich sound of these bass strings and they last quite long. My favorite Earthwood string gauge is 45-95 which is also great for drop tunings.
Earnie Ball Phosphor Bronze strings are made from copper, tin, and phosphorus which gives them a yellowish color. And one of my favorite things about these strings is that it has a very clear sound and you will hear every note. Also, it produces a mellow and ringing tone which I like.
2. D’Addario EPBB170
Strings for acoustic bass with a balanced tone.
D’addario EPBB170 is another great string option for acoustic bass guitars with a warm and balanced tone. It’s a light string and is great for long-scale acoustic bass guitars and is very versatile too. You can use it for different playing styles or music genres.
The core of the strings is made from carbon steel and is wrapped with phosphor bronze wire. The playing feels very smooth and comfortable and has great clarity. It’s a very balanced-sounding acoustic bass string with additional warmth, sweetness, and clarity.
3. Martin MA4850
Great acoustic bass strings for drop and low tuning.
Martin MA4850 is one of the best acoustic bass strings if you use drop D tuning. The string gauge is 45-105 which makes it a great string for metal. I have played recently with these strings and the sound was amazing. Also, it felt very smooth.
MA4850 offers a steel core and tin-plated phosphor bronze wire for wrapping. Very durable strings for your acoustic bass guitar with additional corrosion resistance and versatile sound. Also, the Martin MA series include superb strings for acoustic guitars.
4. La Bella AB10
Acoustic guitar bass strings that use alloy.
La Bella AB10 is an interesting acoustic bass guitar string with unique features. First of all, you should know that this is a light string with a gauge of 40-95. So, it might not be the perfect string choice for drop tuning. Other than that, it’s a great set of strings for acoustic basses.
La Bella uses alloy which gives it a unique and specific sound and sustainability. Also, the string tension is very comfortable and offers very smooth playability. These bass strings offer a bright tone and great sustain, and playing feels comfortable and smooth.
5. Ibanez IABS4XC
A good set of strings for your acoustic bass.
My friend suggested Ibanez IABS4XC and I was amazed at how good these acoustic bass strings are. This is a 4-string bass light string with a gauge of 40-95. I don’t use light strings on my basses but playing was very comfortable for me. Also, the tone was very good.
The tone is very pleasant and mild with great resonance. Also, it’s a durable set of strings thanks to Ibanez’s carbon coating. Great for long-scale bass guitars and I like that these strings have a black color. Very unique and cool looking.
6. Fender 8060
Best overall strings for acoustic bass guitars.
Fender 8060 phosphor bronze strings for acoustic bass guitar are a great choice for most bass players. It’s a very versatile string with great sound, and durability, and offers good sustain. Also, it’s a great option for acoustic-electric bass guitars.
The tone of Fender 8060 is warm, rich, and has complex harmonics. Also, it’s very clear and has very pleasant highs. Great strings for recording which last longer and have beautiful highs and controlled lows.
7. DR Strings RPB45
Handmade acoustic bass strings with awesome tone.
DR Strings are popular with blues and classic rock players and they offer a vast collection of strings for guitars and basses. And RPB45 from the Rare series is an amazing set of strings for acoustic bass guitars. I loved the feel and sound of these strings. They also have great strings for electric guitars.
DR Strings use a specific technique for their strings which makes bass strings durable and helps to produce rich and warm bass tones. RPB45 offers versatility, clarity, and balanced sound with crisp highs and very good low frequencies. Perhaps the best acoustic bass strings for blues and rock.
8. Rotosound RS88M
The best nylon strings for acoustic bass.
Rotosound RS88M is a great and interesting string set for bass guitars. It’s for medium-scale bass guitars and has a thick string gauge of 65-115 which is awesome for low-tuned bass. But this is a nylon bass string so it might not be perfect for everybody.
I have never played on nylon bass strings and it was an excellent experience. The sound was very mellow and warm and felt very comfortable to play. I generally don’t like nylon strings but if you want a unique sound, then you should try it. For example, Paul McCartney used Rotosound strings for the Abbey Road album.
9. Thomastik Infeld AB344
Pure nylon strings for acoustic bass with awesome sound.
Thomastik Infeld AB344 is an amazing set of nylon strings for acoustic bass with an unusual 41-86 string gauge. It’s a round wound string with no coating and phosphor bronze winding. These strings are great for acoustic-electric bass guitars.
I have played only once with these strings and it sounded great however, the feeling was somewhat awkward because of the string gauge. If you are not familiar with these gauges you will need some time to get used to them. Produces great punch, depth, and warmth and the overall tone is very smooth.
Conclusion
Strings are very important for bass guitars and without a good set of bass strings, you won’t be able to have a good tone. Also, using the best acoustic bass strings is very important for recording. So, you can feel free to choose any acoustic bass strings from this list and you will always have a great tone.