12-String Bass String Sets

There are currently seven brands of string sets specifically made for the 12-string bass.

D'Addario

The D'Addario brand of roundwound 12-string bass strings were introduced in 2006 and are 34" long scale:
    Fundamentals: G .045, D .065, A .080, E .100
    Octaves:  G .018, D .025, A .035, E .045

D'Addario strings are packaged all rolled together and have the colored ball ends to differentiate the various string gauges. Made in the USA. Read a Review of these strings.

Hamer

Hamer brand roundwound strings are manufactured by D'Addario. These strings can be ordered from any Hamer or Kaman retail dealer. Unlike D'Addario brand strings, they have all brass ball ends.

Models B12A, B12L, CH-12 string gauges, 34" scale:
    Fundamentals: G .045, D .065, A .080, E .100
    Octaves:  G .020, D .025, A .035, E .045

Model B12S, other 30½" short scales and B12M medium scales use these same string gauges. Long scale string sets will work fine.

Made in the USA. Read our Review of these strings.

 Hamer Strings

Curt Mangan

Curt Mangan brand roundwound strings are manufactured in the USA and their 12-string bass set first appeared in late 2008. They are 30½" short scale:
    Fundamentals: G .045, D .065, A .080, E .100
    Octaves:  G .020, D .025, A .035, E .045

Read our Review of these strings.

Paramount

Paramount brand roundwound strings are manufactured in Korea and their 12-string bass set first appeared on eBay in May of 2008. They are 34" scale long:
    Fundamentals: G .045, D .065, A .080, E .105
    Octaves:  G .018, D .024, A .034, E .044

Paramount octave strings have the smaller guitar-sized ball ends which may be too small to work properly with tailpieces on some brands of basses. Check here for more information.

S.I.T. Strings

S.I.T. makes Power Wound Nickel string sets for 12-string basses in the 34" scale. Made in the USA.

There are two different sets:
    Fundamentals: G .040, D .060, A .075, E .095
    Octaves:   G .020, D .025, A .035, E .045  or
                     G .018, D .025, A .035, E .045

Read our Review of these strings.

Waterstone

Waterstone brand strings are made in Korea, 34" scale:
    Fundamentals: G .045, D .065, A .080, E .105
    Octaves:  G .018, D .024, A .034, E .044

Waterstone octave strings have the smaller guitar-sized ball ends which may be too small to work properly with tailpieces on some brands of basses. Check here for more information.

Read our Review of these strings.

Gone - And Forgotten

Everly

Everly brand 12-string bass strings appeared very briefly on eBay and were sold on The Music Farm website. In addition to the 12-string sets, this retailer also sold string sets for 8-string basses. Presumably they bought strings in bulk and repackaged them under their own brand name.

When we contacted Everly Strings for information we were told that Everly Strings does not allow their strings to be repackaged or sold under any different brand names. Shortly thereafter these strings disappeared from The Music Farm site.