Funkmasters or heavier?

[fetfet]

I lile the tone people can get out of Rotosound Swing Bass. I need a light gauge for bends and vibrato, and Funkmasters are superlight, but i was wondering if they were too light, and if they cut up your fingers. If not Funkmaster, than maybe 40-95 or 40-100. Please help.

[6stringbassist]

They don't cut your fingers, but they are very light.

You do need to adjust your playing style quite a bit, I used them briefly last week.

I wanted a lighter set than I usually use ie 125,105,85,65,45,30, but I found them too light, I would have had to have adusted my playing way too much.

I play quite expressively using vibrato etc, and play quite fast finger style.

In the end I've just dropped one gauge, down to 120,100,80,60,40,30, that gives me the flexibility that I need, but strings are still playable.

I use nickel lo-riders by DR.

[GeneralElectric]

A friend of mine uses Funk Master exclusively on his Jazz bass. Great tone and I didn't cut my fingers playing it.

[fetfet]

By "adjust your playing style", do you mean how hard you hit the strings, or something else?

[6stringbassist]

Originally Posted by fetfet

By "adjust your playing style", do you mean how hard you hit the strings, or something else?

How hard I hit the strings exactly, and I have a very, very light playing style.
I use free strokes, so the string is pulled away from the bass (like Tony Grey), rather than rest strokes where the string is pulled across the bass.

I should imagine it would be worse if using rest strokes or a pick.

I use a lot of fast finger style playing, and the strings were flopping about all over the place.

You have to have your action set quite high, but because of the light gauge this doesn't really hinder your playing.

The 120, 100, 80, 60, 40, 30 gauges, coupled with a hex core give me all the flexibility I need, but have a little more tension.

[fetfet]

Alright, thanks, i play really hard, so i'll go for the 40-100.