What's the actual difference between the cheapest Bass strings and the dearest?

[Keith Walters]

I was just looking on eBay and I see you can buy a set of EADG Bass strings from anywhere between A$3.95 and A$70.
I was thinking a couple of cheapo sets might be adequate for doing the initial setting up of the bass, but what's a reasonable price for a workable set?
The $3.95 sets offer "rotund pronunciation" and "authenticity of overtone excellence". But is that enough?

[andrewdosborne]

I reckon you get what you pay for.... I use kit strings for initial set up but then replace with Ernie Ball flat-wounds for playing, cheers

[Dedman]

The $3.95 sets offer "rotund pronunciation" and "authenticity of overtone excellence".
Money just can't buy that, hence the price.

[Simon Barden]

Some of the cost differences are down to labour rates. I think bass strings are still largely made by hand, and some of the premium sets are almost all hand-made. So Chinese made strings will always have a lower base manufacturing cost than US made products. then marketing and distribution costs push up the price significantly, especially if it's done on a percentage basis. Most of the very cheap strings have no real marketing costs and just show up on factory eBay sites, waiting for you to find them.

Other than that it's down to the quality of materials used. A lot of Chinese steel is recycled material (especially for the cheapest products) and its quality varies a lot. So it's less likely ho have an equal mass per unit length along the string and is more likely to fatigue faster.

[Hobastard]

Quality Control comes into it as well, if tension of the winding isn't spot on you get a dead string, something I have only personally encountered once, sadly it was the E string on my Pitbull 5 String.....

[wazkelly]

There is a reason why D'addarios cost about $36 for a set of 4 strings.

About 30 years ago that is what I used to pay for Rotosound Round Wounds and through regular gigging would go through a set a fortnight.

For cheapies you can get away with 'Artist' working player strings for a bit less but when playing better quality strings you can pick the sound difference. Suppose it all comes down to available budget.

[WeirdBits]

What you save with the cheapies can go towards your tetanus booster.

[burngeorgesbush]

With bass strings there's a few ways to save, a good old trick is boiling the strings which can refresh them and make them sound new again. Boiling them can bring them back a few times and cleans them as well. Another option is to buy a quality set of flats such as thomastik infeld jazz flats. They generally have a sound in between upright bass and the piano bass sound, turn up the treble and you can get a reasonably bright sound and they last much longer and can be boiled. I would generally not cheap out on strings but for sure definitely save money by refreshing them

[DrNomis_44]

Best to spend a bit of money and buy some decent ones rather than buy cheap ones cause sometimes it can be a false economy, I tend to buy Elixirs for my guitars and Ernie Ball Super Slinky Round Wound Bass Strings for my Squire P-Bass.

[elcodyloco]

After trying so many strings, I'm convinced that the more you pay, the higher the quality control. Each brand has its own feel, which is what's most important overall.

Sure, the difference between stainless steel, nickel, and flatwound, is mildly audible when performing, but nobody can tell if you use Thomastik or D'Addario strings in the middle of a show. It's all about what feel helps you perform your best.

That said, I prefer Fender bass strings for rounds, and Ernie Ball Group flatwounds. So my opinion may be invalid haha.