Hartke HSB545 Bass Strings (Light 5-String)

These light gauge strings are incredibly responsive and durable, meaning you'll always get a bright and present sound even under the wear of continual use.

Overall User Ratings (based on 8 ratings)
  • Overall:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Sound:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Features:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Ease of Use:
    3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Quality:
    3.5 out of 5 stars
  • Value:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Manufacturer Support:
    4 out of 5 stars
  • The Wow Factor:
    3.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(8) (see rating details)
Submitted January 21, 2008 by a customer from gmail.com

"Cant beat the performance at the price"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
It took a lot of expensive experimenting with other brands to find this one, especially since i have so many basses to string up. I can easily use up a 3 pack set in a month, so I need strings that are economical yet balanced in high sound quality.
Sound
I play hard rock and funk bass onstage 3 to 4 times a week, not including practices. I change strings about every 2 to 3 weeks. I play hard with both fingerstyle and a pick and i expect strings to maintain bright punchy tone and timbre for at least a couple weeks before going mellow and whumpy. I have several basses with different pickup configurations, however, my main bass is a peavey dynabass with active eq. i run thru a boss me-6b. Ive also experimented with boiling these strings, and that gives them another couple days of good tone.
Features
These strings are nickel wound and polished well, theres not much finger drag, and they dont chew your fingertips up. they also dont have much finger-squeek.
Ease of Use
These strings last me about 3 weeks tops (your mileage may vary) before the sound looses its brightness. they're easy to install as most strings are, and i slip a little graphite under the nut just to keep tuning from drifting.
Quality
Ive been using these strings for at least 2 years, ive ordered at least a couple dozen sets. theyve been consistent in quality and price compared to other lower cost brands. I play hard (enough to get strings to bounce out of the nut) but have yet to break one.
Value
Cant beat the price. the hartke strings are the same price as house-brand strings from another online marketer, but these sound brighter and last much longer.
Manufacturer Support
Ive never dealt directly with Hartke, however I once mistakenly ordered extra-light-gage strings instead of light-gage and called zzounds and they changed my order with no problems. ZZounds has excellent customer service, answered on the first ring in english.
The Wow Factor
These strings are where sound starts. you cant cover up cruddy strings with expensive gear.

Musical Background:

semi-pro, most-of-the-time musician

Musical Style:

hard rock, funk, slap bass
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Submitted June 19, 2009 by a customer from verizon.net

"Best value and sound"

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
Sound
I just bought my first 5 string after not having one for 15 years and needed a new set of strings. I shopped everywhere trying to find a bargain and found it here. These strings, for me, are right up there in sound and playability with any more expensive sets you can find. I've played just about every brand of string over my 25 years of playing trying to find the right combo of value and quality.
Features
The scale length is perfect for my 35 inch scale. I like the colored ball at the bridge end of the string. I don't have too much trouble telling them apart, but, for newbies it's a nice feature.
Ease of Use
I didn't have to modify my EQ at all to suit these strings.
Quality
These strings are the best deal I've found. The quality is far beyond what my expectations were. These to my ears sound alot like the Ken Smith stainless steel strings I used to play. At least with these I won't be needing a fret job every 6 months. I play hard and these have kept up great.

Musical Background:

active musian

Musical Style:

you name it I've had to play it
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Submitted August 2, 2013 by Jason N in Alexander, AR

"Junk"

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
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Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
The other reviews on here are either sales people or people who are tone deaf. These strings are garbage. I put them on my 5 string and the dead strings I took off sounded better. Dead out of the package and rough as hell. They feel like they are grinding your skin off and you can see the unevenness in the strings wounding. Have fret buzz like crazy from the unevenness and the uneven tension even has the neck bowed forward now. Insane how crappy they are made. Spend a few dollars more and buy a real set of strings.

Musical Background:

Playing bass for 20 years.

Musical Style:

Rock
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Submitted August 1, 2013 by Jason N in Alexander, AR

"Junk"

Overall: 0.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
The other reviews on here are either sales people or people who are tone deaf. These strings are garbage. I put them on my 5 string and the dead strings I took off sounded better. Dead out of the package and rough as hell. They feel like they are grinding your skin off and you can see the unevenness in the strings wounding. Have fret buzz like crazy from the unevenness and the uneven tension even has the neck bowed forward now. Insane how crappy they are made. Spend a few dollars more and buy a real set of strings.

Musical Background:

Playing bass for 20 years.

Musical Style:

Rock
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Submitted March 20, 2005

"Hartke HSB 545 Light Bass Strings - Good value!"

Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
I would recommend anyone to try these strings. For me they are working out very well and are a great deal to boot! I will buy them again.
Sound
This is my first set of Hartke HSB 545 light strings. I find they sound great on my Godin BG5. The B sounds very crisp and fat, all the strings sound even. I had issues with my famous brand strings that where on it previous. There where inconsistencies - I found the A & D strings where not as pernounced (flat) as the other strings not long after they where installed. These Hartke strings definetly sound strong and consistent with good attack, tone and clarity.
Features
N/C
Quality
So far the quality has been very good. Time will tell how they hold their tone and strength - I have not broken one yet (I broke 2 from my previous brand within 2 weeks). I do change my strings but I like to get the most out of each set.
Value
Excellent value - I paid a total of $29.84 (with shipping) for 3 sets. This combined with good sounding strings is a fine deal!
Manufacturer Support
N/C
The Wow Factor
N/C

Musical Background:

Active Musician

Musical Style:

Modern Rock
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