P-bass: String gauge (Light vs. Heavy) - your personal description of tones?

[Gear_Junky]

Ok, the obvious things aside - that the lighter strings will be twangier, thicker strings will be fatter (and harder to play), etc. Which do you use and why? And how do you describe the difference in sound (in your own words)?

Are different basses BETTER with light vs. heavy strings. I.e. a certain bass might turn muddy with thicker strings (maybe)?

When I say "light" and "heavy" I don't mean specifically what it says on the box, because usually none of them are "heavy", they're either "light" or "medium" (so are toothbrushes, ha-ha). I just mean opposite sides of the spectrum.

[Doctor Dirt]

I play Fender P-Bass & J-Bass and use LaBella "deep talkin" Flats. If you want to project a feel and want to be heard and felt theres no other string than a big/ fat /thick one!!!!!
As to hard to play, thats just an acquired touch that needs some time to get used to. If the guitarists you work with has a weak thin sound chances are theres some slinky crap on the board so that bending is easy to do hahaha!! Never anything lighter than 10s on a 6 string and once you get used to heavy fatty's on a Fender theres NO going backwards. Anything else will sound weak and "sick". Dr. Dirt Knowz. HA!

[Gear_Junky]

So does this mean that all known bassists played heavy strings?

or does this mean that not all of them were able to project a feel or were even be able to be heard? Just wondering

I mean I can relate - I play .11's on my guitars and although it's quite a workout compared to .10's, I do love the sound/feel.

I also converted an SX SJM to baritone and since it's a strat-scale, I thought I'd compensate with thicker strings (medium baris). Well, it's not as twangy in the basses as it was with lighter strings (same tuning).

I haven't really experimented with bass in this regard.

[BullHorn]

I've been using heavy gauge strings since day 1 and never knew different because everyone said 'heavy gauge high tension is good'.

Then I grew a pair, got me some lighter gauge strings and never went back because the low tension just feels so good!

[Mikio]

I'm not sure between medium and heavy, but definitely not light gauge for me.

[Gear_Junky]

well, like i said, "heavy" gauge probably doesn't exist, there's "light" and "medium", but that can come in different actual gauges from different brands, so let's just say "lighter" vs. "heavier".

BullHorn, that is my current suspicion. I suspect that a bass can be easier to play and ease of play is a part of setup - it directly affects playability and thus tone.

[Duckwater]

105-85-65-50 is perfect for me.

[GobBass]

I had been playing 40s and 45s. Then I got an amazing deal on three packs of 55-75-90-110 Slinkys. It has changed my playing and made me stronger in my attack. The only downside is it makes tuning up a lot harder

[tabdog]

The P bass has a neck for flats.

I use high tension ROTO RS 77LD 45-105 on two
of my P basses.

These have such high tension that the relief and
bridge usually need to be adjusted when first
installed.

The flats allow supper low action.

Supper low action equals easy to play,,,

Sound equals a sweet bass that I can't put down.

I can't go back now. I still use rounds on my thinner
necks, but I am thinking about lighter flats for them,

Tabdog

[bluesdogblues]

Originally Posted by Doctor Dirt

I play Fender P-Bass & J-Bass and use LaBella "deep talkin" Flats. If you want to project a feel and want to be heard and felt theres no other string than a big/ fat /thick one!!!!!
As to hard to play, thats just an acquired touch that needs some time to get used to. If the guitarists you work with has a weak thin sound chances are theres some slinky crap on the board so that bending is easy to do hahaha!! Never anything lighter than 10s on a 6 string and once you get used to heavy fatty's on a Fender theres NO going backwards. Anything else will sound weak and "sick". Dr. Dirt Knowz. HA!

I use that LaBella strings on my Precision too. Harder to play yes, but I've no problem in bending sounds n feel perfect for me (and my hands are small).
My guitarist uses 0.13 (!) no bending problem for him either. Sounds good. Makes me feel that 'something is gone' when I play with guitarist with lighter gauge.

YMMV

[bluesdogblues]

Originally Posted by GobBass

I had been playing 40s and 45s. Then I got an amazing deal on three packs of 55-75-90-110 Slinkys. It has changed my playing and made me stronger in my attack. The only downside is it makes tuning up a lot harder

Interesting strings Gob. I'd like to try em some day.

[Sleeq]

I don't like heavy E strings on flats, but I also want a fatter G.

So, the old version of the Fender flats (.50-.100) are the best solution. Since they've been discontinued I have one strung up (probably for another 10 years) and a spare set in my closet!

[Spaldo]

I'm an upright player

They don't make 'em heavy enough for my liking.

[BigBassBob]

I use 45-130 DR Sunbeams on my American Deluxe P-bass V, 43-106 TI Jazz flats on my fretless P-bass, 45-100 D'addario Chromes on my Mark Hoppus bass and 40-100 DR Hi-beams on my Rickenbacker 4003.

I find my Rickenbacker sounds and plays best with strings no heavier than 40-100... anything heavier and (to my ears) it starts to sound a little too dark. The other basses have sounded and played fine with various gauges and types but I have found different instruments usually reach their true potential once I've found the ideal set of strings to compliment their character and tone.

[Gear_Junky]

Thanks, everyone, this is going exactly as I intended.

[fretless Bob]

I've recently put Thomistik's on my 66' P. they are super light but make the bass sound HUGE..... I don't quite think i've ever experienced anything quite like it.

[bkbirge]

Another vote for TI jazz flats here. I didn't like the feel of the LaBella's and the tone wasn't anything earth shattering to me. The TI's have ended my decades long perfect string search for my 78 Fender P (modified to PJ) fretless. Here's a taste of the strings via my PJ and a telefunken DI, please ignore the playing, it's a random jam at a band practice...
ZepJamwithCarl.mp3

[IronLung1986]

Originally Posted by Spaldo

I'm an upright player

They don't make 'em heavy enough for my liking.

have you heard of Circle K strings? i'd be willing to bet they make a set heavy enough for ya.

[Gear_Junky]

This is all very interesting. Perhaps this thread should've had 2 parts - flats vs. rounds, since they're such a different animal. I guess I meant more roundwounds (but the flats data is helpful too, as I plan to eventually have a P-bass with each, I also use flats on my fiddle bass and fretless P).

[knuckle_head]

Originally Posted by Spaldo

I'm an upright player

They don't make 'em heavy enough for my liking.

Beg to differ . . . .