Looking for a loose tension, light gauge roundwound string

[AudioOfTime]

The title says it all, any pointers would be appreciated.

[randysmojo]

You might try either DR Hi Beams, or Fat Beams. I really like the Fat Beams.

[JAUQO III-X]

How light are you talking?


I use a sig set made for me by SIT. And they are very flexible and they sound heaver than they are.

B .110 E .080 A .060 D .040 G .030 C .025

[mmbongo]

You want a DR Roundcore string.

Sunbeams
HiBeams
Fatbeams
Neons/ExtraLife

Sunbeams are nickel and warmer sounding. FatBeams and HiBeams are Stainless, so brighter sounding and rougher feeling. I'd go with FatBeams over HiBeams because they are wound at half speed, but either one is fine really.

Neons/ExtraLifes are coated.

Get them here, you can even build you own custom gauge set.
Buy DR Handmade Strings from Bass Strings Online.

[96tbird]

The Sunbeams are very nice.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

You want a DR Roundcore string.

Sunbeams
HiBeams
Fatbeams
Neons/ExtraLife

Sunbeams are nickel and warmer sounding. FatBeams and HiBeams are Stainless, so brighter sounding and rougher feeling. I'd go with FatBeams over HiBeams because they are wound at half speed, but either one is fine really.

Neons/ExtraLifes are coated.

Get them here, you can even build you own custom gauge set.
Buy DR Handmade Strings from Bass Strings Online.

Those are good options yes... But there are many more!

How many strings are you looking for? 4 / 5 / 6? More?

You can get pre-packaged sets for E A D G tuning as low as .030 .050 .065 .085

Do you have a specific string material in mind? Is there a particular tone you are looking for?

You can put together "Custom String Sets" on my website as mentioned in the above post, but there also may be a pre-packaged set out there already for you...

When it comes down to it, you can get light string gauges from any manufacturer that makes them... though we can point you in more specific direction if you give us an idea of the tone you are looking for.

[Mister_argentum]

Originally Posted by randysmojo

You might try either DR Hi Beams, or Fat Beams. I really like the Fat Beams.

+1 to DR Hi beams.

[Mike M.]

Originally Posted by 96tbird

The Sunbeams are very nice.

I like those as well. I've been practicing the slap style lately and the slightly looser tension has made the effort much easier. Don't know if they're as loose as you'd like, but I like them.

[AudioOfTime]

Originally Posted by mmbongo

You want a DR Roundcore string.

Sunbeams
HiBeams
Fatbeams
Neons/ExtraLife

Sunbeams are nickel and warmer sounding. FatBeams and HiBeams are Stainless, so brighter sounding and rougher feeling. I'd go with FatBeams over HiBeams because they are wound at half speed, but either one is fine really.

Neons/ExtraLifes are coated.

Get them here, you can even build you own custom gauge set.
Buy DR Handmade Strings from Bass Strings Online.

what does it mean when there wound at half speed

[carlis]

Dr Sunbeams are the loosest strings I've ever played -- they are nickel strings, and the stainless steel version is Dr HiBeams. I will also back Bass Strings Online here because you always get excellent stuff with great price there.

Following is an excerpt from the DR official site, which explains the half-speed wounding process:
Fat Beams are also known as the “Marcus” string, named after famed bass pioneer Marcus Miller. They are constructed with the same materials as the Hi-Beams, but at Miller’s request, they are wound at half speed. DR has long claimed that this process gives the string more bottom.

[CamiloDíaz]

For light gauge, loose feel and great articulation, hard to beat DR Hi Beams, and they last a lot too

[4-string]

Another vote for Hi Beams. I have used them on several basses, in various gauges from 040-100 to 030-090. Incredible strings, typical DR.

Status Graphite also makes roundcore steel rounds, but I have never tried them myself.

[jasper383]

I have tried almost all of them, and none come close to the TI Jazz Rounds in light feel and low tension. Unbelievably slinky. There are other sets with lighter gauges, but none feel as light as these.

The JR344 set.

Thomastik-Infeld JR344 Jazz Nickel Round Wound Bass Guitar Strings

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by jasper383

I have tried almost all of them, and none come close to the TI Jazz Rounds in light feel and low tension. Unbelievably slinky. There are other sets with lighter gauges, but none feel as light as these.

The JR344 set.

Thomastik-Infeld JR344 Jazz Nickel Round Wound Bass Guitar Strings

Man, you're paying way too much! TB member pricing is even cheaper.

T-I JAZZ Round Wound - 4 String Set

[dhsierra1]

+1 on the TI Jazz Roundwounds.

[fretlessguy]

For 4 string:
S I T Strings Electric Bass Power Wound Nickel Long, .045 - .100, NR45100L

For 5 string:
S I T Strings Electric Bass Power Wound Nickel Long 5 String, .045 - .125 (Fits G & L), NR545125XL

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by fretlessguy

For 4 string:
S I T Strings Electric Bass Power Wound Nickel Long, .045 - .100, NR45100L

For 5 string:
S I T Strings Electric Bass Power Wound Nickel Long 5 String, .045 - .125 (Fits G & L), NR545125XL

SIT's are pretty darn high tension when compared to Sunbeams or TI's.

[ixlramp]

Yep. 45-100 or 45-125 is standard tension, not low tension.

[TMart99]

Originally Posted by ixlramp

Yep. 45-100 or 45-125 is standard tension, not low tension.

Those numbers are specifiactions on the string gauges, not tensions.

[JAUQO III-X]

Every series of DR's that I have played were very high tension to me. And I have no issues at all with the guys and girls at DR.

It's just a preference. High tension strings are just not for me.