floppy strings

ergodynebass · #1 09-05-2006, 03:12 PM

I just got an Ibanez Soundgear SR505 in the mail and being my first 5 string I was suprised how floppy the B string is, definately not what I remember from playing it in the store. I talked to the guy I bought it from he said he put D'Addario XL EXL220-5's on them. I dunno I think it feels kind of weird being so loose like that, was wondering if this might improve by getting a different set of strings?

justinb515 · #2 09-05-2006, 03:23 PM

the higher the gauge, the tighter they will be. B-strings are naturally going to be a little floppier because they are producing such a low note.

ergodynebass · #3 09-05-2006, 03:25 PM

Oh okay, so I might want to go with a 130 then?

All_¥our_Bass · #4 09-05-2006, 03:40 PM

you might wanna even go for a 135 or 140.
And this is not a joke, I'm serious.

ergodynebass · #5 09-05-2006, 03:54 PM

Alright cool, will I have to adjust anything extra on the bass like pertaining to the bridge?

hyp.spec · #6 09-07-2006, 09:07 PM

probably a good chance you'll have to adjust your action AND intonation.

a tighter B string will obviously have more tension so you may need to tighten the truss rod.

Try out some DR Lo-Riders with a .130 B string.
I've got an sr505 myself and they work great - no flop to them at all!

EDIT: Also a string with 135 or 140 might result in you needing a new nut, so I'd suggest the 130's as a first try!

ergodynebass · #7 09-07-2006, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hyp.spec

probably a good chance you'll have to adjust your action AND intonation.

a tighter B string will obviously have more tension so you may need to tighten the truss rod.

Try out some DR Lo-Riders with a .130 B string.
I've got an sr505 myself and they work great - no flop to them at all!

EDIT: Also a string with 135 or 140 might result in you needing a new nut, so I'd suggest the 130's as a first try!

Yeah I was contemplating putting on the d'addarios medium gauge with the 135 B string I beleive but I'd rather not spend money on strings right now when this set is brand new. Anyways, I messed the whole setup on my ergodyne adjusting the truss rod and the action so I'd rather not fool with that. I can live with the floppy B string, the only thing that bothers me now is that the G string is so small its cutting into my fingers, but I'll get used to it.

Nick Ioannucci · #8 09-07-2006, 09:31 PM

yeah man, pickup a set of strings and get yourself a setup, it should fix all your problems.

Fuzzbass · #9 09-08-2006, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Ioannucci

yeah man, pickup a set of strings and get yourself a setup, it should fix all your problems.

+1

The first thing players usually do when auditioning a fiver is to bang on the B string, and that wears it out. And IME, thicker strings tend to die faster than thinner ones... maybe it's because I play 'em more, but it might also be because the windings are thicker.

Anyway: never judge a bass by its B string unless you know the string is fresh and properly intonated!

ergodynebass · #10 09-08-2006, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzbass

+1

The first thing players usually do when auditioning a fiver is to bang on the B string, and that wears it out. And IME, thicker strings tend to die faster than thinner ones... maybe it's because I play 'em more, but it might also be because the windings are thicker.

Anyway: never judge a bass by its B string unless you know the string is fresh and properly intonated!

Well this was a bass bought on ebay so I really never got the chance to play the particular one, only the model I played in GC, I beleive the strings were a lot thicker there. But anyways I'm gonna grab the DR Lo Riders or D'addario ones with the .135 B string on Monday and see how they feel to me. It is just really hard for me to adjust to 5 string with these strings for some reason.