D'Addario NS516 4/4 Cello Strings

Low F String for Electric Cello — Engineered with Ned Steinberger

The D'Addario NS516 is a single low F replacement string designed specifically for NS Design electric cellos and other standard-sized electric and acoustic cellos. Built around a stranded steel core with a flatwound outer winding, this string delivers the clear, warm, and focused tone that electric cellists need to cut through amplified signal chains without sounding harsh or metallic. Whether replacing a worn string on an existing 5-string setup or extending a 4-string cello into lower territory, the NS516 completes the NS510 set or stands alone as a dedicated low F option. Designed in partnership with luthier Ned Steinberger, the NS516 brings the response and articulation of D'Addario's stranded core technology to the electric cello world.

Technical Specifications

• Number of Strings: 1
• Core: Stranded Steel
• Ending: Ball End
• Size: 4/4
• Tension: Medium
• Winding: Flatwound
• Compatible With: Cello (electric and acoustic)
• Country of Manufacture: USA (New York production facility)

Who This String Is For

The NS516 is the right choice for electric cellists who need a low F replacement or extension string that maintains the tonal character of the NS510 set. Players running NS Design instruments such as the NS Design Cello or similar 5-string and 6-string electric cellos will find the medium tension and stranded steel core deliver the bow response and dynamic range their playing demands. Acoustic cellists seeking a low F for a 5-string conversion also benefit from this string's flexibility — the flatwound winding and stranded core produce a warm, full sound that integrates well with traditional acoustic setups. D'Addario rates this string as ideal for intermediate players and professionals, and artist Calum Ingram highlights its "incredible response when landing my bow into whatever dynamics I am looking for."