I did use the search: Worth it to change gauge?

[HereIGoAgain]

Currently, my Jazz bass has D'Addario nickel round wounds in "light" gauge. (0.045-.100) The feel is good, but I wonder if a change is worth it.

My gauge of strings on my electric has crept up (I'm now using Ernie Ball Power Slinkies (0.011-0.048) on my Les Paul. On acoustics, I try to stick with what the manufacturer puts on it.

Bass... Does string gauge make as much difference in the sound as it does with guitar? My bass has EMG-JX pickups. I'm looking for a fatter sound. (Yes, I know that it'll still be a jazz bass no matter what. )

I know a lot of basses come with 0.050-0.105s, and my local dealer has some Ernie Ball Power slinkies with the E string at 0.110.

I'm also thinking about a bone nut and a high-mass bridge.

So, what would you do if you were contemplating changing something for a better sound?

[matante]

Yes. Gauge does make a difference but not as much as you might think unless you make a drastic change.

What do you mean by FATTER sound?

Thinner strings will give you slightly less highs and slightly less sustain, but you might not even notice.

[HereIGoAgain]

The example of what I'm really looking for in bass tone would be John McVie in this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxIACAU9uJU

I don't know who the bass player is here, but this is also what I'd call great tone. Joe Bonamassa "Takin' The Hit."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1kjD0Q210c

I know that a Jazz bass will always be a jazz bass with a jazz bass tone, and I'm good with this. I just want as good of a sound as I can get.

[OzzyGreg]

.
I think McVie is using flatwounds. He seems to be palm-muting at the beginning of the song. Sort of gets a bit buried from there, I can't hear him clearly.
(My hearing has been damaged by years in heavy industry mind you.)

The other guy sounds like he's using flats to me too, along with maybe a flange effect.

So, in summary, maybe consider a set of heavier gauge, non-bright flats (eg. forget Chromes!) and turn your tone down a little. I'd be finger-plucking between the pickups on your Jazz with both volume controls wide open.

There are guys on here who are infinately better at analysing bass sounds than me. Hopefully a few will chime in without flaming me!

[JoeWPgh]

The first thing to try is lowering your pickups - because it's free! You'll lose a little volume and brightness, but you have an amp to compensate for the volume. If your nut is cut for the gauge you have on, I would try a flat wound in that same gauge. If your nut can take a heavier gauge, try that. I would sort out the strings before moving onto a new bridge. I wouldn't bother changing the nut at all.