How do i know what gauge my strings are?

kombi · #1 06-06-2011, 03:07 AM

Hi there,

I'm playing a Rickenfaker-Bass with factory-strings attached and I'd be interested in knowing how to figure out what kind of gauge they have.

Pics:

I think I know the difference between Roundwound, Flatwound, etc. ... and my guess would be that these strings are Roundwound(?), but how do i figure out the gauge?

I'm gonna make some more pics if needed

I've used the search but couldn't get any usefull resulsts :/

Thanks for any help guys!

Jlexa · #2 06-06-2011, 04:18 AM

try googling "Digital Calipers"

allexcosta · #3 06-06-2011, 05:10 AM

Stop by any guitar shop and ask them to measure the strings for you...

kombi · #4 06-06-2011, 06:18 AM

Hmm ok, i just thought there're maybe some people who can just look at strings and can make a good guess on what gauges they got. But ok, i will either try to measure them by myself then or stop by at a guitar center

jmceachern36 · #5 06-06-2011, 06:29 AM

Look on the Ric site. They sell the strings and have the gauges listed. They are 105-75 55 45. When I bought my Ric last year the strings didn't have red silk on them though.

kombi · #6 06-06-2011, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmceachern36

Look on the Ric site. They sell the strings and have the gauges listed. They are 105-75 55 45. When I bought my Ric last year the strings didn't have red silk on them though.

I'd do this, but i sadly just own a Rickenfaker and i don't know if they also copied the nut/gauge on the strings

tylerwylie · #7 06-06-2011, 09:13 AM

What the f is that goo on that pickup lol.

kombi · #8 06-06-2011, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tylerwylie

What the f is that goo on that pickup lol.

honestly, i don't know. I was wondering what this is too. On the bass i owned before (i got the exact same bass once before) it wasn't there. So my guess is, that it's there to protect the open wires that leads to the pickup...

mmbongo · #9 06-06-2011, 01:35 PM

Amazon.com: 6 Inch LCD Digital Caliper with Extra Battery and Case: Home Improvement

Worth $11 for sure.

electracoyote · #10 06-06-2011, 01:39 PM

Yep, I have a digital caliper, and one of its main functions for me is...measuring string gauges! I have alot of guitars and basses, and I hate guessing. I also have 20 guitar students, so alot of broken strings and string changes come my way.