Noob discovers strings - needs advice.

terribilino · #1 02-07-2009, 01:02 PM

I bought a used Leduc Pad 4 about 2 months ago, and last week I finally took it into a shop to have them take care of a buzzing A string and give the bass a once-over. I had them put new strings on, as the old ones were pretty dead, and was very embarassed when I wasn't really able to tell them what kind of strings I wanted. (I'm an absolute noob, getting back into bass after a 23 year hiatus. Back in 1986, when I had my old Yamaha, I though you only put new strings on when the old ones broke... and of course they never broke.) So I just told them to use the same gauge as was already on the bass - the former owner was a pro, so he should know, right? - and I was at least able to find out that the former owner was using the equivalent of a custom light gauge d'Addario (.040, .060, .080. .100), which is what they ended up putting on. In any case, this got me curious about what kinds of strings are out there, and what kinds of gauges go with what kinds of styles. The former owner of the bass plays jazz, mainly, so I was wondering: is a light gauge string generally considered a jazz string? And what kind of player would use a heavy gauge string? The kind of stuff I will be playing will be more motown/classic rock/funk - definitely not jazz (that would require too much talent and spare time, and I have a full-time job and a family).

So did I get the wrong strings? I'll definitely experiment in the months to come, but there some kind of rule of thumb about strings and the style of music one plays?

Thanks!

dinghy · #2 02-07-2009, 01:55 PM

Motown definitely loves fat strings, classic rock could go medium or heavy, funk is generally medium to light for slapping - I'd recommend medium strings (45-105) for you to check out.

terribilino · #3 02-07-2009, 02:39 PM

I was thinking of moving up bit by bit, and the mediums seem to be the next step up. I'll give them a try. Thanks.

Versatek6 · #4 02-07-2009, 10:01 PM

Or play what you've got for a while.

If you don't, you'll never know what they sound like.

Trust yourself, and trust your ears.