Medium Gauge Strings

eyecandy · #1 10-29-2009, 05:26 PM

Hey guys I'm considering of getting medium gauge strings on my mim Fender Jazz

Currently I'm using 7250's ML of the Fenders however they're a bit stiff from what I'm feeling.. stiff to the point that its unbendable..

My tech suggests I should try 40-95 gauges.. but I'm still thinking of going mediums like 45-105

D'Addario, Ernie Ball and GHS are the only ones around here so like my choices came down to

D'Addario EXL165 45-105
Ernie Ball Hybrid Slinky
GHS Bass Boomers Medium

are they safe on the bass neck using standard tuning? I'm afraid that I might damage or warp the neck..

Meatrus · #2 10-29-2009, 05:31 PM

Yes, standard gauge will be fine for your neck, if it cant take the tension of standard (medium) it will need fixing anyway. So go for it!

eyecandy · #3 10-29-2009, 10:29 PM

fixing?

i guess i should try.. I'm afraid I'll damage it so I'm shifting to lighter ones..

Jim Carr · #4 10-29-2009, 10:50 PM

The strings you are using are .045 .065 .080 .100. I'd consider these fairly light, though these two flatwound sets, D'Addario Chromes (ECB80) and Ernie Ball (2806 Group IV) Bass Strings are lighter alternatives (40-60-70-95).

http://store.daddario.com/category/1...ng_Scale_40-95
http://www.music123.com/Ernie-Ball-2...22268.Music123

eyecandy · #5 10-30-2009, 04:24 AM

currently I'm replacing my Jazz with Ernie Ball Extra Slinkies 40-95, sooner or later with GHS Boomers light which are great for funk...

but on the other bass I'm thinking of putting in medium sets for a punchier thump..

Meatrus · #6 10-30-2009, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyecandy

fixing?

i guess i should try.. I'm afraid I'll damage it so I'm shifting to lighter ones..

All standard gauge should do is make the neck need a small truss rod adjustment. when I said fixing I was thinking you may already have an issue with the truss rod being out of travel, but it doesnt sound like thats the case.

If you want to go for it, dont let the neck hold you back, necks are designed to take standard gauge, as that is stock on most basses.

eyecandy · #7 10-30-2009, 07:58 AM

I'd try that on roundwounds I guess... 2 of my favorites flea and paul turner use medium rounds..

but how about flats? like GHS Precision Flats mediums? how are the tensions compared to rounds?

Meatrus · #8 10-30-2009, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyecandy

I'd try that on roundwounds I guess... 2 of my favorites flea and paul turner use medium rounds..

but how about flats? like GHS Precision Flats mediums? how are the tensions compared to rounds?

Flats normally have much higher tension due to their construction. I cant speak for the GHS flats but all the flats I have tried have been much stiffer.

If you go for flats I would go a gauge or two lower than standard, I have Fenders lightest flats (40-95 I think) on my P and they feel about the same tension wise as standard gauge rounds to me.

eyecandy · #9 10-30-2009, 02:39 PM

there was some saying at the forums that GHS flats have medium tension.. a bit higher than thomastik... and GHS have 3 sets the regular gauge 50, the medium 45-105 and 45-95.. and a bit stiffer than rounds i guess..

eyecandy · #10 10-31-2009, 05:02 AM

Fender Flats tend to have high tension right? it has well one of high tensions flats around besides labellas

Meatrus · #11 10-31-2009, 06:31 AM

Yes the Fender flats have high tension in standard gauge, that is why I went for the light gauge. You get the sound of them without having horrible tension.

Flats of gauge 105-45 will have more tension than rounds of 105-45. I hear Chromes arent supposed to be that bad tension wise, but I have never tried em.

eyecandy · #12 10-31-2009, 02:40 PM

I'll try to avoid those chromes though as they are bad for the frets.. and have medium tension as they have almost the same tension to ghs.. I've been looking for optional flats however.. I think chromes and Ernie Flats do have the same tension, Rotosound, Labella and Fender M are the highest ones around.. I guess its ok for me to play with high tension in fact I want to nail that old school blues tone with medium flats on the P-bass the thing is if my Squier, SX and Fender MIM necks would be able to handle them and especially after being adviced by my tech that I should get 40's..

I'd like the lighter gauge for a Funk Bass.. and some medium rounds for a punk rock setting and some flats for some laid back jazz and blues setting...

Meatrus · #13 10-31-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyecandy

I'll try to avoid those chromes though as they are bad for the frets.. and have medium tension as they have almost the same tension to ghs.. I've been looking for optional flats however.. I think chromes and Ernie Flats do have the same tension, Rotosound, Labella and Fender M are the highest ones around.. I guess its ok for me to play with high tension in fact I want to nail that old school blues tone with medium flats on the P-bass the thing is if my Squier, SX and Fender MIM necks would be able to handle them and especially after being adviced by my tech that I should get 40's..

I'd like the lighter gauge for a Funk Bass.. and some medium rounds for a punk rock setting and some flats for some laid back jazz and blues setting...

I think its time you started trying strings for your self, the idea of chromes being bad on your frets is a bit silly. Chromes are flatwounds, so how ever bad they are on frets, they are never going to be half as bad as rounds...which you are using now.

You do not need high tension to nail "that old School sound" either. If you want to get Fender flats or Rotosound (both high tension as you have rightly said) theres no reason not to get the lighter gauge, and have the sound without the tension. Its unlikely you will find many low tension flats anyway, TI's are but they are quite expensive.

I dont want to doubt your tech, but unless all of your basses have dodgy necks, flats in standard gauge should mean a tightening of the truss rod, and not much more. So unless all of your basses are close to having their truss rod maxed out (highly unlikely) they will be fine.

You are likely to find a lot of contradictions here and elsewhere, all that really matter is your happy with the strings you have got. And there is no way of finding those strings without trying some out.

eyecandy · #14 11-01-2009, 05:25 AM

I currently had Ernie Balls 40's in my MIM Jazz well seems fine, great slap tone n that growl that I was looking for.. the down thing is that bad when playing fast.. and speaking of the Previous Fender 7250,, I hear a "tonk" sound.. is it because that it's over tightened?

Meatrus · #15 11-01-2009, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyecandy

I currently had Ernie Balls 40's in my MIM Jazz well seems fine, great slap tone n that growl that I was looking for.. the down thing is that bad when playing fast.. and speaking of the Previous Fender 7250,, I hear a "tonk" sound.. is it because that it's over tightened?

I cant think what a tonk sound could be! Does it sound like the strings hitting the frets as you fret a note? If so you may need to higher the action a little.

It sound most like a setup issue rather than anything wrong with the strings, or possibly a technique thing.

eyecandy · #16 11-01-2009, 10:10 AM

That's it.. sounds like hitting the frets.. I do already have semi high action back and raised the E and A string because of the fret buzz at A string 15th fret.. My thoughts were the string was tight enough for the nut..

And as for the new set up on the .40's I'd have medium high tension again for the strings to be a little tighter and surprisingly no bothering dead notes, the E seems to be growlier too...

does moving/raising the bridge saddles affect the truss rod as well? When took it to the tech he said the neck moved a little.. all i did was loosening the strings to clean the fretboard and adjust the saddle height a bit to keep the 15th fret buzz..

and it is normal to have a slight forward bow at the neck right? the relief thing?

Meatrus · #17 11-01-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eyecandy

That's it.. sounds like hitting the frets.. I do already have semi high action back and raised the E and A string because of the fret buzz at A string 15th fret.. My thoughts were the string was tight enough for the nut..

And as for the new set up on the .40's I'd have medium high tension again for the strings to be a little tighter and surprisingly no bothering dead notes, the E seems to be growlier too...

does moving/raising the bridge saddles affect the truss rod as well? When took it to the tech he said the neck moved a little.. all i did was loosening the strings to clean the fretboard and adjust the saddle height a bit to keep the 15th fret buzz..

and it is normal to have a slight forward bow at the neck right? the relief thing?

Sounds badly set up to me. Raising the action shouldnt affect the truss rod much, if at all. And a forward bow (towards the frets?) is a bad thing, you should have a slight inwards (point of the bow in towards the player) bow. Creating a very slight bow (inwards) should should solve your problem if I'm understanding you correctly. I would leave the nut well alone.

archer121 · #18 11-01-2009, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meatrus

Sounds badly set up to me. Raising the action shouldnt affect the truss rod much, if at all. And a forward bow (towards the frets?) is a bad thing, you should have a slight inwards (point of the bow in towards the player) bow. Creating a very slight bow (inwards) should should solve your problem if I'm understanding you correctly. I would leave the nut well alone.

+1

It sounds to me like you need to do a set-up on the bass but you would have to do that when you changed your strings anyway. Also, switching to medium gauge strings won't hurt the bass at all but it will change your tone (maybe even for the better.) You can do a set-up yourself as it's not really that complicated. Just takes a little patience the first couple of times then it's old hat. I think there's even a tutorial on this site that explains how to do it. I think everyone should do their own set-up anyway. It really lets you personalize your tone and gets you more involved with your instrument. Try it

eyecandy · #19 11-01-2009, 09:25 PM

i usually fiddle around my old acoustic guitar for set up... I guess the situation goes like the truss rod is maxed out but the acoustic still does have a little bit of relief rather than forming a backbow... and there was an old bass that had a warped neck as well.. it does have a pretty high action and as for the truss rod maxed out..

as for the bass..
i checked a while ago.. it does have a bit of relief as well.. I'll post a some pics a bit later..

Meatrus · #20 11-02-2009, 01:09 PM

Good idea, pics may help, there should be a slight bow in the neck going U rather than n shaped, if that makes any sense! If there is too much of either, it will cause buzz at one end or the other of the neck.