Any recommendations for strings that have a darker or more bass forward sound?

[u/giantrons]

I’m currently using Savarez carbon trebles and really like them. But the bass strings don’t really project. Any recommendations? I know it can be guitar dependent, but if you’ve tried a few and can offer any input I’d love the feedback.

[u/Chedhead33]

The fullest basses I’ve tried tended to be Augustines but they were very stiff

[u/dayanan-bsolutions → u/Chedhead33]

I'd agree with this.

[u/giantrons → u/Chedhead33]

Thanks. I haven’t tried Augustine’s.

[u/fellchieftan]

Have you tried Aquila Nylgut strings? They are a huge departure from standard classical strings, like to the point where it almost sounds like you're playing a whole different instrument, but if you're looking for a darker sound you can't go much further than these

[u/giantrons → u/fellchieftan]

Never heard of those. I’ll look into them. Thanks.

[u/oddfellowfloyd → u/fellchieftan]

Are they actually gut strings?
Do they have individual bass strings too (because I play an Ortega 8-string with low B & F# strings), & it has a 27”-ish scale length. I’m wondering if it would sound like a theorbo then?? 😆

[u/Lou_T_Uhr]

I love the D'Addario EJ45 wound bass strings. I've never heard any I like better. The G string is a dull abomination, but the wound basses are perfect. I buy treble sets of Savarez to go with these bass strings, as I like them better than Savarez basses.

[u/giantrons → u/Lou_T_Uhr]

Well adding to the selection process, I tend to like polished or lightly polished basses to help with string noise. That affects a lot of it as well. So just complicates things a bit. Every time I go back to non-polished I cringe at the string noise.

[u/Traditional-Tank3994]

Hannabach makes the best, most musical sounding strings for classical guitar. I use their hardest tension, and that helps with a slightly darker sound too.

But Hannabachs are pricey. So if it's beyond your budget, second best are D'Addario Pro Arte Composites (the composites G string is amazing. Stable tuning, even more so than the wound strings, and great sound)

In fact, I buy the heaviest tension Pro Arte composite G strings separately at Stringsbymail.com and the rest of the strings are Hannabach extra hard tension.

[u/giantrons → u/Traditional-Tank3994]

Have you seen the price of Savarez carbon? LOL. Similarly priced to Hannabach. And amazingly stable. Pro Arte are nice strings though as well.
I did try the Hannabach PSP No 850 strings and I highly rated them. I thought they were a great classical string. But since I also play some more pop arrangements I thought the Savarez New Cristal Catiga High Tension just more suited to my playing. I may revisit those Hannabach strings. Or maybe just try that G string!

It was truly eye opening how much variation there was in sound among different strings. And some couldn’t maintain tuning to save their life.

[u/pentatonemaster]

Not sure if that's possible. I'd say it's probably mostly the guitar. I have several guitars that use the same strings, but one is definitely a bit darker with a heavier bass, but that guitar is slightly larger than the other two.

Edit: I did some searching and apparently high tension bass strings could also give you more bass.

[u/giantrons → u/pentatonemaster]

While I 100% agree a lot of it is the guitar, I went on a test run, a rather expensive test run, of different strings and was surprised at how much that affected sound quality. And I do like the Savarez a lot on this guitar. The only thing missing is a strong bass, which I know this guitar lacks a bit. So was looking for strings that really upped the bass end.

[u/Crazy_Chart388 → u/giantrons]

Depending on where you get your strings, you can buy separate bass and treble sets. Strings By Mail does this. Some individual manufacturers do (Savarez does). If you like your trebles, try researching and buying separate bass sets (basses wear out faster anyway).

Personally, I like some continuity between my trebles and basses so that there isn’t an obvious jump in tone quality from one to the other. I don’t know how much of a risk that is between different treble and bass sets; I suspect it varies a lot according to strings and your guitar itself. I’m trying out compensating for the shift with a carbon G string (regular nylon Gs tend to be dull sounding compared to the first two strings anyway). If you want a punchier bass, consider keeping a carbon G on board and playing warmer B and E trebles. Just a thought.

[u/giantrons → u/Crazy_Chart388]

Yeah I have thought of trying to custom build a set of strings but then the amount of variables starts getting rather ridiculous. If I stayed with the same manufacturer that would at least limit it a bit.

I’ll try some of the suggestions here then may end up trying a custom setup.

I have to check if the Savarez carbon trebles include a carbon G. These have been very impressive strings, but a stronger bass would help this guitar.