Power Wound Nickel Bass Strings

Power Wound Nickel is our flagship bass string and the deepest range we make. A nickel-plated steel wrap over a high-tension hex core gives a warm, punchy low end with clear highs and strong midrange presence — the sound most people mean when they say "bass strings." If you are replacing a factory set and don't want to think about it, this is the one.

Thirty-nine sets sounds like a lot until you realise it is four separate questions, and most players only have to answer three of them.

1. How many strings

We make four-string, five-string and six-string sets, plus octave eight-string sets for a doubled bass. The five-string sets add a low B, the six-strings add a high C on top of that.

2. What scale length

This is the one people get wrong, and a wrong-length string either won't reach or puts winding over the nut. Short scale is a 32.5" winding length, medium scale 34", standard long scale fits most production basses, and extra long is for 35" and longer instruments. Multi-scale (fanned fret) basses need their own sets because every string is a different length. G&L basses need a longer winding length than most, so we make dedicated G&L sets. If you are not sure, measure from the ball end to where the string crosses the nut.

3. Standard, taper wound or exposed core

Standard is full winding all the way to the ball end and suits most basses. Taper wound thins the string where it crosses the bridge saddle, which tightens the low B, improves intonation and adds sustain — worth it on a five or six string. Exposed core goes further: the core sits bare at the saddle for maximum vibration transfer, the strongest fundamental and the most articulation. Exposed core also solves a practical problem on basses whose bridge saddles are cut narrow.

4. What gauge

.045–.105 is the standard four-string set and where most players land. .040–.095 and .040–.100 are lighter and easier to fret. .050–.105 and .050–.110 add tension for a firmer feel or lower tunings, and .060–.120 is the heaviest four-string we make. On five strings, .045–.125 is the standard and .045–.130 or .050–.130 give a tighter low B. Six-string players choose between .030–.120 and .030–.125.

Four-string gauges

Five-string gauges

Six-string, eight-string and 12-string gauges

On the octave and 12-string sets the first line is the main course and the second is the octave course. The 12-string carries two of each octave string, so every course is a main string plus a doubled octave pair.

Where two rows share a gauge range, the middle strings differ — check the individual product page before ordering a replacement in a different version.

How Power Wound Nickel compares to our other bass sets

Power Wound Nickel is the warm, punchy middle of our bass range and the usual starting point. Power Steel Stainless is brighter and more aggressive. Fusion Wound Nickel is a different construction with a tighter, more focused low end. Silencer Nickel Semi-Flat cuts finger noise, and Power Flat flatwounds go furthest toward a smooth, thumpy vintage response. Foundations Nickel is the brighter, more flexible nickel set. For acoustic bass guitars, see our Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Bass sets.

Made in the USA.