10 Best Bass Guitar Strings UK 2024 | Ernie Ball, D’Addario and More

While they might not be the most out-there inclusion, Ernie Ball's Regular Slinky are the benchmark by which all other bass strings are measured. We'd put our money on the fact that your favourite bass player has played them at some point – it's like a rite of passage. 

They're the classic 0.105 gauge, roundwound and nickel-plated, meaning they're practically the perfect jack of all trade strings. Plus, you get professional, industry-standard quality at a relatively pocket-friendly price. 

Here we have the five-stringed version of D'Addario's classic bass set. They're popular with players of all genres, hence why they're so far up the list. They're roundwound, nickel-plated steel and are particularly good for basses with a long scale length. These are the heaviest gauge, but others are available if you prefer. 

The set is made in the USA by digitally-controlled machines, ensuring consistency with intonation and clear fundamentals, meaning that you can expect that bright tone with a powerful output any time you lace up your instrument with them. 

If you're here looking for a set of strings that you want to downtune for heavier styles of music, then look no further than the DR DDTs. These are purpose-built for the job. You see, drop tuning regular strings can give your instrument potential intonation issues. 

The idea with these is that this doesn't happen as they're well-versed in a range of different tunings. Moreover, even if you don't play heavy drop tunings but you do change between alt tunings frequently, these will be able to handle the constant adjustment better than most other sets. 

These are some of the most expensive strings among our recommendations. However, the fact they cost so much yet are still recommended by so many people legitimises their quality tenfold. Interestingly, the strings use a nylon core with is that roundwound with bronze.

With low tension and a high gauge, the makeup of the strings means they're not best for strumming and plucking away. Instead, they're unique in that they're better suited to gentle fingerpicking in such genres as Latin. 

Although we mentioned that there are certain materials used for strings, that doesn't mean that companies aren't trying to push the boundaries. One such company is Ernie Ball, who have opted to wind these strings with cobalt. They claim this new material has a better magnetic relationship between pickups and strings, ensuring a clearer output.

Also, they're supposedly much more comfortable to play, being silky and soft to touch and making bending the strings a piece of cake. If you're someone who is always looking to experiment with different tones and sounds, then these could be right up your street.

D'Addario offers a variety of highly-respected strings for both bass and guitar. These are their NYXL4095s, but it's worth looking into all their range as they're just as excellent. These particular strings have a high gauge, which will give you more of a twang and resonance.

Not only that, but the thinness will make them easier for beginners to play as it will require less pressure to manipulate the strings. One thing to note is that they can be more prone to breaking due to their slimness, which isn't usually a common occurrence with bass strings. 

La Bella's strings were a favourite of groove masters such as Booker T and the MG's Donald Dunn and James Jamerson. However, that was their electric string line. Nowadays, they've begun to rebuild their reputation with excellent acoustic strings, and these 760Ns are their most popular as they have maximum acoustic projection. 

They also have a unique build as they're tapewound. This has a shorter decay and a bit more thud, giving them a brilliant tension, fantastic playability and excellent tone. The only downside is that you're going to pay a pretty penny for them. 

This set of strings from DR have what most people would consider the average string gauge. However, due to being built from stainless steel, the strings have a prominent treble resonance, unlike many others, making them a match for those who like to slap and pop with their riffs. 

Furthermore, the company state that the higher tension of these strings also makes them have more accurate harmonics. While these are brilliant for the aforementioned styles, they are less adaptable when it comes to playing other genres, so you'll need to be committed to slapping the bass. 

Rotosound's RS77LDs have been used by many legendary bass players, from Roger Waters to Glen Matlock. They have an interesting build as they use the traditional flatwound system, originally for jazz bass, but are then made of stainless steel which gives them brightness and clarity. 

This combination seems to make them the ideal set for 70s-sounding rock, but there's still enough tonal variety to adequately explore other genres. Some players do find them rough to the touch, however, and they are on the pricier side which could be a problem if you like to maintain fresh strings.

The truth is, if you play bass, the cost of changing your strings is far more expensive than those who play the fiddly six-string – even though you don't have to change them as frequently. However, if money is tight then finding a pack for around £10 is an absolute bargain. 

This set is nickel-plated steel, so they are impressively durable yet still bright with a crisp sound, making them ideal for many genres. Plus, it's a pack of six, as opposed to four. Of course, this will likely be overkill for many, but for the price, you don't need to use the two extra high strings.