Lighter Gauge = Wimpier?

bassplayer7768521 · #1 10-28-2009, 09:07 PM

Hey everyone,

I was thinking about trying some lighter gauge strings on the next pair I buy, but I have a few questions...

-Will it drastically change my tone?

-Are you considered a "wimp" if you use lighter gauges?

-Should my comfort on the strings overrule the above questions?

madbassplaya · #2 10-28-2009, 09:14 PM

Yes

Yes

and Yes

narcopolo · #3 10-28-2009, 09:14 PM

light strings don't mean anything. it might alter your tone somewhat, but you might like it. i use very light strings on my jazz bass (albeit flatwound), but i like the tone. and i'm pretty sure i'm not a "wimp" because my other bass is an upright, which is plenty of string tension.
bottom line - try out a set. worst case-scenario, you don't like them and they stay in your gigbag as backups.

James Hart · #4 10-28-2009, 09:19 PM

I use a .118 B string... nothing wimpy about it.

madbassplaya · #5 10-28-2009, 09:23 PM

lighter strings don't make you wimpier. i was messing with you earlier. it will alter your tone some though. if your more comfortable playing a lighter string do so! no one is going to rush on stage to check your string gauges.

bassplayer7768521 · #6 10-28-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

lighter strings don't make you wimpier. i was messing with you earlier. it will alter your tone some though. if your more comfortable playing a lighter string do so! no one is going to rush on stage to check your string gauges.

I can only picture that, lol

madbassplaya · #7 10-28-2009, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeMasonRock

I can only picture that, lol

that would be funny! "wait a second...this guy uses lighter gauge strings!" and then they start throwing tomatoes.

mmbongo · #8 10-28-2009, 09:43 PM

I went to lighter strings on my G&L L2500 (from .45's to .40's) and it's the best thing that ever happened to that bass. I was actually thinking of selling it, but now it's the best sounding bass I own! I also replaced the nut at the same time, getting rid of that piece of junk that came on the bass (It's a Tribute, not a USA). But the lighter tension really made this bass shine, and much easier to play.

billoetjen · #9 10-28-2009, 09:47 PM

Answers to OP's questions:

Yes;

Yes;

and NO!

bassplayer7768521 · #10 10-28-2009, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billoetjen

Answers to OP's questions:

Yes;

Yes;

and NO!

:O

electracoyote · #11 10-28-2009, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madbassplaya

lighter strings don't make you wimpier. i was messing with you earlier. it will alter your tone some though. if your more comfortable playing a lighter string do so! no one is going to rush on stage to check your string gauges.

I love it.

I agree it is a miniscule compromise, one that can easily be made up for elsewhere (high mass bridge, EQ, etc.)

I have a Warmoth Jazz bass that actually took a Badass II very well, set up like a dream, so I went with a set of Ernie Ball Super Slinks (45-100). You would swear by the thick piano string tone that I had a heavier gauge on there.

tdogg · #12 10-28-2009, 10:10 PM

what kind of bass do you have? what scale length? what kind of music do you play?

fretlessguy · #13 10-28-2009, 10:10 PM

I needed to change to light gauges due to health reasons. I have not regretted it. At first I didn't like it and missed the sound of my mediums, but once I saw (and heard) that lights were very expressive (at least in my old hands), and gave my fretless basses a little more mwah, I liked them.
Even if I could, I would not change back now.

johhn smith · #14 10-28-2009, 10:10 PM

you should always let comfort and preference dictate your choices. that way they are your choices. i play the bass i like through the amp that i like using the cables that i like and using the strings that i like. if someone has a problem with this then it is their problem, not mine. therefore wimpy = i don't think so. that being said, over the years i have gradually gone lighter with my string choices. i play a lot of chords and i find that the lighter strings are easier to manipulate in this fashion. the sound is a little different, but not unacceptable, just different. currently i run either med light ( .45/.65/.80/100 ) or ex light ( .40/.60/.75/.95 ) and on my five i have a .120 b string. it is important to remove every impediment from your gear as you see fit. if you don't like high action - set it lower if you can. if you can, try all kinds of different things to find what works for you. if you try and like lighter strings then go with it - you playing will only benefit with being more comfortable.

JazznFunk · #15 10-28-2009, 10:19 PM

I use light or medium gauge strings on my basses, depending on the *bass*. I have found that certain gauges make a bass 'come alive', versus some gauges 'choking' the bass or not letting the full potential of the bass shine through. I personally prefer the feel and tone of medium gauge strings, but it all depends on how the strings work with the bass and the overall geometry. I love the feel/sound of medium gauge strings with low action... easy to play, meaty tone, at least with my setup/technique. I have one bass that has light gauge strings but they FEEL like mediums due to subtle differences in tension/setup. Only time and experimentation yield these types of observations. But no... light gauge strings do not mean 'wimpy'. Lighter gauges offer certain advantages. Choose what works for you... no one's staring at your strings while you're playing, after all. ;-)

JimmyM · #16 10-28-2009, 10:39 PM

I was using 45-100 for a spell but a few years ago I went back to wussy lights...40-95, 120 if I use a 5. At first they sounded a bit wimpy to me, but it turned out I just needed to bump the action up a little, and now I think they sound as fat as any. I think that while there are some tonal differences with heavier strings, it's not nearly as much as we'd like them to be, and I'd rather be comfortable.

southernrocker · #17 10-28-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billoetjen

Answers to OP's questions:

Yes;

Yes;

and NO!

rosstanium · #18 10-28-2009, 10:46 PM

The only noticeable difference I've heard between lights vs. mediums is on the E string. Seems to be less beefy. You might dig it though...

Surly · #19 10-29-2009, 02:13 AM

Heavier strings are only a bit louder, making the tone seem "fatter" as some would say.

vin*tone · #20 10-29-2009, 02:33 AM

There's a huge difference. I use med light 100-45s but love the feel of lighter guage and thought I'd try 95-40s on the Ric (flatwound Chromes). The 95-40's had nowhere near the clarity and punch of the 100-45s.

IMO playing comfort is over-rated. Tone is King. What other people think is nuthin.