lowest gauge

[GODSBASSMAN]

regular 6 string tuning lowest gauge string for each position; How low can one go? And what are the cautions? Any suggestions?

[knuckle_head]

You are limited by your hardware. You can go as big as .254 through me - which is an octave below B to some - and bigger/lower through others.

How low do you want to go?

Considerations are bridge type, and how you are with cutting a new nut.

[Jim Nazium]

Do you mean lightest gauge? TI Jazz Rounds are 29-43-51-68-89-118, which are about the lightest I've seen in a commercially available set. I suppose you could rig something up even lighter by using an E string tuned all the way down to B, etc. but at some point the tension would be so low that the strings sould slap against the pickups and frets. As a practical matter, I think if those TIs are still too heavy for you, you might want to think about a short-scale instrument.

[GODSBASSMAN]

Nazium, you have the right idea. It is NOT that strings are too heavy for me in this question but an inquiry to just how LIGHT a gauge one could string a 6 string 35" scale bass in normal BEADGC tuning with out any negativities; still sound and play well. I do tend to like lighter gauge strings for my older and lighter fingerstyle playing. I have a 5 string bass I have D'Addario half rounds on it 45/65/80/100/130 and can well feel the difference in pulling on these and apposed to the following.
. On the 6 er have ordered a Prosteel set 28/35/55/75/95/110. Am currently using a EXL nickle set at 28/40/55/70/90/120. So, was just wondering how far others may have delved into this same question and with what results.
Thanks

[knuckle_head]

B strings are notoriously lighter than E strings - it would be my suggestion to consider how light the lightest E string is that is playable to you and come by a B string of near or equal tension.

If .100 is to your liking a .135 has slightly less tension. A .095 matches up to a .125 with lower tension on the B than the E. a .090 will have near-matching tension at .120.

My sets have odd gauges comparatively, but you can round to the nearest .005;

.136 .102 .076 .057 .041 .029

.130 .098 .073 .055 .039 .028

.124 .094 .070 .053 .037 .026

.118 .090 .067 .049 .035 .022p