Which Bass String Type Is Right For YOU?
Bass Decoded
22,922 views
Most bassists never change their string type. They buy whatever came on the bass and replace it with the same thing forever. This video is about what they are missing.
Every bass string type explained in one place. Roundwound, Flatwound, Halfwound, Groundwound, Pressurewound, Tapewound, Taperwound, Coated strings. What each one sounds like. How each one feels. Who plays them. And most importantly — which one belongs on YOUR bass right now.
We cover construction, materials, gauges and scale length. Every claim is sourced. Every artist mentioned is confirmed. No guesswork.
By the end of this video you will know exactly why James Jamerson sounded the way he did. Why Paul McCartney switched strings during Abbey Road. And why Victor Wooten plays two completely different string types depending on the session.
No brand loyalty. No sponsorships. Just the most complete bass string guide on YouTube.
🎸 String types covered in this video:
Roundwound — Flatwound — Halfwound / Groundwound — Pressurewound — Tapewound — Coated — Taperwound — Hex Core vs Round Core — Nickel Plated Steel vs Pure Nickel vs Stainless Steel vs Cobalt — Gauges — Scale Length
🎸 Artists mentioned:
James Jamerson — Paul McCartney — Duck Dunn — Jaco Pastorius — Geddy Lee — John Paul Jones — Billy Sheehan — Victor Wooten — Abraham Laboriel
🎸 Brands covered:
La Bella — D’Addario — Ernie Ball — Rotosound — GHS — Elixir — Thomastik-Infeld — DR Strings — Fender — Pyramid
20 Comments
I also use ground wounds on a fretless and it has a quality distinctly different from rounds, flats, or the white tapes. Or pressure wounds. It's hard to describe, but grounds (GHS bright flats) are it's own unique tone.
One more observation, all the tape wound strings I've seen, whether old style black nylon like Rotosound Tru Bass and LaBellas or the white nylons I described earlier are round wounds underneath the nylon.
Bonus hint; stainless gets an oxide layer built up on the surface, which takes a bit of time to stabilize. That's what makes stainless stainless! But it also means that when new you'll have an excess of the coarse oxide on the surface, so on dry skin it gets tacky or 'grabby' until you wear off the loose stuff and high points. You may even see a bit of the oxide on your fingers at first. Playing takes it off, frequently wiping with a cotton towel or even VERY LIGHTLY using a 3M green scruffy on it can break it in quicker. I find that it goes away after a week or so.
Which Bass String Type Is Right For YOU?
Bass Decoded
22,922 views
Most bassists never change their string type. They buy whatever came on the bass and replace it with the same thing forever. This video is about what they are missing.
Every bass string type explained in one place. Roundwound, Flatwound, Halfwound, Groundwound, Pressurewound, Tapewound, Taperwound, Coated strings. What each one sounds like. How each one feels. Who plays them. And most importantly — which one belongs on YOUR bass right now.
We cover construction, materials, gauges and scale length. Every claim is sourced. Every artist mentioned is confirmed. No guesswork.
By the end of this video you will know exactly why James Jamerson sounded the way he did. Why Paul McCartney switched strings during Abbey Road. And why Victor Wooten plays two completely different string types depending on the session.
No brand loyalty. No sponsorships. Just the most complete bass string guide on YouTube.
🎸 String types covered in this video:
Roundwound — Flatwound — Halfwound / Groundwound — Pressurewound — Tapewound — Coated — Taperwound — Hex Core vs Round Core — Nickel Plated Steel vs Pure Nickel vs Stainless Steel vs Cobalt — Gauges — Scale Length
🎸 Artists mentioned:
James Jamerson — Paul McCartney — Duck Dunn — Jaco Pastorius — Geddy Lee — John Paul Jones — Billy Sheehan — Victor Wooten — Abraham Laboriel
🎸 Brands covered:
La Bella — D’Addario — Ernie Ball — Rotosound — GHS — Elixir — Thomastik-Infeld — DR Strings — Fender — Pyramid