Do you guys prefer thicker or thinner strings?

[Ganky]

I've got a Musicman Sub and am thinking of buying my first set of Ernie Ball Slinkies, just wondering what gauges you prefer and the advantages of thinker or thinner strings.

So are you more of a 40 - 95 guy
Or are 100 - 155 guy (I'm sure there's a ridiculous set out there!)?

[double-muff]

thicker are better for downtuning and give a heavier sound.
Thinner are better for fast playing and bends.

I prefer thicker.

[JimmyM]

I prefer thinner but let me make a suggestion...buy strings based on what YOU like, not what others like.

[beelzelboss]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

I prefer thinner but let me make a suggestion...buy strings based on what YOU like, not what others like.

+1

Advice does not get much better than that... but to continue on your asking, it depends... when i play Drop C (cgcf) i prefer to have a set of thicker strings on there because of tension, but if i'm playing up standard tuning, i usually like standards, just because if i am ever in a pinch and need to go to drop C i can do it w/o it totally turning into spaghetti strings

[Tim Sevenfold]

I personally have a standard set 40-60-80-100 gauge Alchemy strings on my bass and they're pretty satisfying, but generally I prefer to go med gauge or lighter. No specific reason though, aside from the fact that I hate high tension strings.

[John Wentzien]

+1

[Phalex]

I like a little heavier D and G string. I'm playing .050 .070 .085 .105

[P-BASSLOVER]

I used to swear by 45-65-80-100's.
Now I prefer 50-70-85-105's. I find they sound deeper, you don't need to hit
them as hard, you can get a lower action with them, and they last longer.

[Largedon]

For my Warwick its DR Low-rider 45-105 and the Spector gets DR Hi-beams 45-105. I think thats like a medium or medium-light gage.

[jsingles]

i have been thinking of switching to a very light gauge string, because the tension of my mediums is starting to piss me off. my smaller hands are tripping on them.

[BritFunk]

My Dear Friends,

I played the Rotosound Swing Bass .045 - .105 set for years, but have since gravitated towards lighter strings for funk. Personal preference is the .030 - .090 FM66 Funkmaster set from Rotosound. I can and will use .040 - .095/.100 in a pinch, but I really prefer the lighter strings for the style that I play - the higher strings especially just respond differently with lighter sets.


Warmest regards,


Kurt

[MN_Bass]

I like my strings like my women..THICK.....mmmmmm

[jgroh]

I just put on heavier strings than I am used to and at first I hated them. They were too high tension for me because I was used to thinner gauge strings. But now I am getting used to it and I find they give me a slightly deeper tone.

[BritFunk]

My Dear Friend,

Originally Posted by jgroh

I just put on heavier strings than I am used to and at first I hated them. They were too high tension for me because I was used to thinner gauge strings. But now I am getting used to it and I find they give me a slightly deeper tone.

That's precisely why I used the heavier strings for years - the tone is deeper and heavier. For the funk I concentrate on now I prefer a lighter, zippier tone. Were I going to play anything even remotely heavy I would use a bass with a much heavier set on it. Radical gauge changes do take a bit of getting used to, I admit.


Warmest regards,


Kurt

[TimWilson]

I've always used lights, but I just bought several sets of regulars, and as soon as the current strings die, I'm making the jump. Yeah, Lights are better for bending, but really, what percentage of your bass time is spent bending? I may even jump to heavies later.

[lomo]

Been playing for about 6 years. At first I preferred thicker strings because they are usually higher tension at pitch, making it easier to play faster. Now I prefer lighter gauge for the improved control and decreased finger fatigue. My touch has gotten lighter.

[peterwsmith]

Originally Posted by P-BASSLOVER

I used to swear by 45-65-80-100's.
Now I prefer 50-70-85-105's. I find they sound deeper, you don't need to hit
them as hard, you can get a lower action with them, and they last longer.

+1 big time. I love the heavier D and G.

[kraigo]

The flats I love are a hybrid of the two Lakland Joe Osborn sets - the heavier G & D, the lighter A & E (and B on my five string basses). The lighter weight set of Osborn's is a bit too "twinky" for me on the G string. The heavier weight set doesn't have the quickness or definition I like. The combo is great.

My third bass (and first "true love" bass) was a mahogany bodied G&L L-1000. I ran that thing in "OMG mode", which is a variation of series wiring. Over time I've been moving more and more to a much more low mid-oriented sound. Ultra deep sounds great but causes nothing but trouble live, IME. The lighter strings may be part of that transition.

When I'm buying a five string round wound set I look for a .125 B string, usually a .100 E string. Still not super light weight (I do like some beef in the tone), but lighter than I would have gone for in the past.

KO

[ProfGumby]

I am probably most comfortable with 45 - 105 strings, but I really love the chromes I just strung on my VM Jazz.

They are light gauge and I think are 45 - 100. Great strings!!

I love the feel of flats on my fingers and the sound of flats, except I wanted clang and an almost roundwound sound on 2 of my basses. The Half rounds deliver and the chromes are almost as bright!

I think I am going to swap the half rounds for Chromes in a spell. I will still have DR's or Detroit Flats on my P bass and on one Jazz for the traditional Flatwound sound, but the chromes seem to be the ticket for me where a little zing is wanted.

And I prefer the thinner strings across the board.

[Darkstrike]

Fretted, big ropes plz, fretless, light TI's, thank you very much.