Picking the best bass guitar strings that will make your bass groove isn’t easy. There are so many different bass strings out there. How are you supposed to choose between them all?
First, you need to look at what they are made of. Most bass strings are round wound or have a round core and are either made out of nickel or stainless. Nickel wound and stainless steel bass strings tend to have a brighter tone with a little more pop in them as compared other materials. Second, you need to think about the string gauges and find one that is comfortable for you to play. It’s more important to find the right string for you and your playing style than one that other bassists say is good.
That being said, let’s compare the top-rated bass strings, so you can find the right strings for your bass guitar and playing style.
Compare the Top Bass Guitar Strings in 2020
Contents
- 1 Compare the Top Bass Guitar Strings in 2020
- 2 What We Recommend and Why
Here’s a list of the best bass guitar strings to get that low, groovin’ tone to make your sound stand out.
- D’Addario EXL160 Nickel Wound Bass Guitar Strings
- DR Strings Hi-Beam Stainless Steel Round Core
- Ernie Ball Super Slinky Nickel Round Wound Bass Strings
- GHS Strings Boomers Electric Bass Strings
- Rotosound RS66LD Long Scale Swing 66 Bass Strings
D’Addario EXL160 Nickel Wound Bass Guitar Strings
Specs, features, and benefits
D’Addario tradition and experience stands behind this top-selling set of bass guitar strings. The recognizable bright tone is appealing to players of all genres. Play them softly or rock on a little more aggressively -it does not matter-these strings can take it. They provide, as advertised “clear fundamentals and booming, tight lows”. The D’Addario digitally-controlled winding machines ensure consistency and precision in intonation.
This particular set is suitable for long scale bass guitars with a string scale length of up to 36 1/4 inches. They are heavy gauge – .050, .070, .085, and .105. The strings are round wound which gives the more traditional feel and there is that recognizable finger noise when you are playing. The nickel-plated steel is soft on your fingers and gives the bass the versatility for different playing styles.
Pros and Highlights
- Picked out like “The Player’s Choice” – many bass players before you and many after you will be satisfied
- Nickel wound strings are easier on the fingers
- Easy restringing – bass guitar strings are usually thick and strong, which makes it difficult to restring the bass, with these strings you will have no such problem
- Consistency – the tone is consistent throughout, even in longer, more aggressive sets
- Versatility – the D’Addario bass strings are used among bass players of various genres
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Packaging – although environmentally friendly, packing all the strings in one package can cause them to tangle
Bottom line
D’Addario EXL 160 Nickel Wound Bass Guitar Strings are perfect for all of you bass players out there. You will surely achieve that warm bass sound in the lows and a bright tone in the upper register. There are no better-performing strings for bass that you can get, and they are super affordable.
DR Strings Hi-Beam Stainless Steel Round Core Bass Strings
Specs, features, and benefits
DR Strings re-introduced a special hand-made round core string making to the general market. Even though it requires a lot of skill, time and precision, they feel it is worth every second because the difference between a handmade string and a machine made string can be heard immediately.
The wire, ball ends and also packaging is done by experts who use finest American materials.
The uniqueness of these stainless steel strings lies in their round wound and a round core. As mentioned above, they also have a ball end. Although being very flexible and full of tone, these bass strings are neither rough nor harshly bright.
They are not damaging your frets, are durable and have an unusually long life because of the way and materials they are made from. These materials also contribute to the strings’ consistency and balanced sound.
In the long run, HI-BEAMS can give you bright tone and punch in the mid-range while also being soft on the fingers. They are also musically and make a unique and pleasant sound.
They are selling in many styles – from extra light to heavy, as a set of 5 or 6 strings.
In general, these sound good on every bass you try them on.
Pros and Highlights
- Handmade – makes every set unique
- They produce a warm and bright sound
- Stainless steel round core
- Durable
- Easy on the frets
- Consistency
- String-to-string balance
- Easy on the fingers
Cons and Potential Flaws
- It takes more time to make them
- A bit over average price
Bottom line
If you have a bigger budget and you’re looking to get unique strings for your bass guitar that will last you for quite some time and are gentile on your fingers and frets, you should get what you want by buying these strings. They are comfortable and have a great balance of volume.
Ernie Ball Super Slinky Nickel Round Wound Bass Strings
Specs, features, and benefits
Ernie Ball Slinky electric guitar strings have been a number one choice of musicians across the world for more than 50 years.
Their recipe is this: they have special and unique gauges, plus a core made to wrap ratios that provide balanced and harmonic notes.
In addition to being made out of the finest and freshest raw materials, every one of these strings is produced in the dry Southern California climate which contributes to preservation of the initial state of the strings – right before being packed. Manufacturing process consists of latest winding technology and orderly undergoes strict and high class quality control standards.
The recipe consists of nickel plated steel that is wrapped around a tin plated core made of high carbon steel. To point out, exactly this high carbon steel is a heart of hexagonal shaped string. Well-planned combination of fresh and original materials guarantees a balanced and rich tone that fits many bass guitar types and therefore music styles, producing both bright and distinct tones while playing.
Because of manufacturer’s dedication, Ernie Ball Super Slinky Nickel Round Wound set is packaged in an extra dry environment. Special kind of packaging ensures that every set stays perfectly fresh.
Produced sound is very well balanced because of an alloy specially designed for making bass strings. Other used materials are fresh and fine American materials.
These strings are Super style, sold in a set of 4 or 5 strings.
Pros and Highlights
- Made of an alloy specially designed for bass strings
- Produces balanced tones
- Finest and freshest materials
- High carbon steel hexagonal core
- Affordable
- Fits various bass guitar types and playing styles
- Special packaging for freshness preservation
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Hard to use while bending
- Slightly rough on the fingers
Bottom line
If you’re looking for affordable strings that will provide you with well balanced sound, you’re at the right place. Not only do they produce a various wanted notes of the tones – from bright to the distinct tones on the low end, they will also last you for quite some time.
GHS Strings Boomers Electric Bass Strings
Specs, features, and benefits
GHS is known as a ‘string specialist’. For many years the GHS Bass Boomers have carried a title of a classic. Today they are if not the most popular bass strings brand across the globe and are used by many popular bassists.
Bass Boomers have a nickel plated wrap around the wire that provides rich tone and high volume of the sound when needed. This string’s strong point is the ability to produce such brilliant tone while also being unusually strong. The string’s core is also strengthened for better quality of the string – to prevent it from breaking while being played on.
Being manufactured in a climate controlled environment using only the purest materials and modern equipment, the air-tight pack keeps the strings fresh and saves them from corrosion, thus providing customer with a long lifespan of the strings.
Needless to say, by buying GHS Bass Boomer strings besides getting quality and consistency, the intonation will also last as long as needed and the sound will be rich and harmonious.
The gauge is medium light: 045-065-080-100.
Pros and Highlights
- Long lifespan
- Affordable
- Consistent and superbly harmonious sound
- Corrosion-resistant
- High-quality sound
- Nickel plated wrap
Cons and Potential Flaws
- A bit hard on the fingers
Bottom line
If you are in need of powerful tone with fingers or pick, and a long playing life of strings, this is the right set for you. They provide a perfect combination of strength in strings and warmth in a sound. Their air-tight Fresh Pack is your guarantee of a long string lifespan.
Rotosound RS66LD Long Scale Swing 66 Bass Strings
Specs, features, and benefits
For half a century now Rotosound’s strings have improved the sound of rock and have been used on some of the most amazing albums recorded by some of the best artists in the music industry.
The steel used to produce these strings is unique, combined with a secretive manufacturing process. For this reason, Rotosound’s strings are favorites among bass guitar players.
Because of the round geometry of the wire and stainless steel it is made from, the sound produced is very high. They fit various music types and produce a bright sound. Because of materials and manufacturing process they were undergone, these strings are durable and are safe from breaking apart any time soon. Even though they are made out of strong materials, they are really soft on the fingers and are very pleasant.
The gauge is standard and sets are made of 4, 5 or 6 strings. Rotosound’s long-scale is 32-34 inches (810 – 860 mm).
Pros and Highlights
- Stainless steel
- Bright notes
- Fit various music types
- Round wire
- Durable
- Soft on the fingers
- High output bass string
- Affordable
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Not so soft on the frets
Bottom line
If you’re looking for a balanced full tone with strings soft on your fingers these are great. They represent a perfect combination of tradition and quality of both sound and the string. They are famous for a reason – the steel used to produce these strings is unique, combined with a secretive manufacturing process.
What We Recommend and Why
After a lot of research, we are sure to say that the best recommendation that we have for you when it comes to bass guitar string is the DR Strings Hi-Beam – Stainless Steel Round Core.
We know that they are a bit above an average price, but they are handmade and are bound to last you a long time. Besides being soft on your fingers they are also easy on the frets. The sound they make will amaze you with its consistency and brightness. The uniqueness of these stainless steel strings lies in their round wound and a round core.
The manufacturer is very dedicated while making the strings, thus providing the best care and precision. The best American materials used for manufacturing contribute to string-to-string balance, with absence of rough notes. DR Strings Hi-Beams are highly flexible and musically, but not rough or harshly bright, which makes them a perfect candidate for various music types.