String Gauge

[Andrew.Glose]

Janek,

I'm getting to the point that I think It'll be beneficial for me to get lighter gauge strings. I'm starting to develop an acute awareness of anything that is hindering where I'm trying to take my music and playing. So naturally, I'm hell-bent on fixing that problem.

-I'm currently gauged at 105 85 etc.

-You use a relatively lighter string gauge (on the fodera): 100 80 60 40 30(ish).

Do you find that this helps your playing and allows for an easier effort in execution? Does it make chording, overall, easier? More comfortable over long periods of playing time? Etc. etc.

Your response is well appreciated,

Andrew

[janekbass]

well I've used the same gauge strings for some time so I'm not quite sure I remember the switch to a lighter gauge too well.

The ones I use now feel very comfortable, and I haven't found anything I couldn't play with them.

I think that practice is the thing that makes all those points you asked about easier over time. If you're looking for a new string gauge to cure some aspects of your playing, I would look a little deeper into what it is you're practicing as that might be a stronger cure for anything you might not be able to play right now.

You will notice a difference in the lightness of them for sure, but with that comes a whole new set of issues about how you set up the amp, how you attack the string, and how you continue to get your own sound out of the instrument. A lot of the concept of playing with a lighter gauge string is in the set up of the bass, so you'll have to experiment with the action a lot when you change the gauge.

Good luck with it all, let me know how you like the different strings.

Easy,

Janek

[Andrew.Glose]

Janek,

Strings came in the mail yesterday, and I put them on today.

And It's been one of the best things I could have done for my playing, at this point. It's extremely comfortable and flexible. It simply accommodates my style better. I'm a proponent for economy of motion. This definitely helps. And because I pluck the strings more 'across' the bass (free stroke like), than 'into' the bass, I don't have a problem with any buzz.

Verdict: Two thumbs up.

[needmoney]

I've been pondering this lately. But I'm tempted to go even lighter. I use D'addario's as my string of choice. Have been tossing up between the light and extra light sets...

light: 45-65-80-100-130
extra light: 40-60-75-95-125

The thing I've always wondered is do lighter guage strings actually feel looser when tuned to the same pitch on the same scale (34" in my case)?

[Andrew.Glose]

The new strings I just put on have a noticably looser feel. The strings are smaller, therefore they're naturally going to have a little more give.

Nothing you can't get used to after spending some time with your bass.

You might need to alter the location of your right hand. Because my action's low and I have lighter strings, my bass is more prone to buzz. I've moved my right hand a little closer to the bridge to accommodate (about an inch further back). It works well. The resistance is about the same, and the tone is more focused.

Try it out, man. You might find that you like it better.

There's a reason why you see guys like Janek, Hadrien, Tony Grey, and Matt Garrison with their right hand that close to the bridge.

[needmoney]

I like to play right in between the pickups, and am looking at getting a ramp made. So the light strings could be the icing on the cake! We'll see.

[Andrew.Glose]

I use a ramp as well. I think you'll like it.