There's really no substitute for string guage

[heath_r_91]

for all of you who think you use the biggest strings ever on their E string I use a 110 tuned standard.

I'm switchin to lighter though, quit the metal band, joined a pop punk band so I need a zingier, clickier tone.

[Mushroo]

Originally Posted by alexgeddy

In regards to that motown sound....I just received an email from carol kaye about 2 days ago and she gave an in depth detail of the " motown sound "which came from an interview she gave).... 45% of the Motown songs in the 60's were recorded in LA.... she used a fender pbass and never changed the strings....Put felt on top of the strings or foam underneath and played with a high action and a pick to get that thud i have a copy of the interview if any wants it!!!!

Thanks,
Bill

Carol Kaye's claims are... controversial... to say the least, but I don't want to take this thread off-topic. The 55% (or so) of Motown songs that she didn't play on are mostly James Jamerson (with some Bob Babbitt and other guys too) who played fingerstyle (not fingers-style). Also on a P bass with old flatwounds, though, so she is correct about that.

[Gary Lynch]

Originally Posted by SwamiRob

Somewhere around the region of 110-90-70-50 feel best for me, although as said it's not the whole issue. I always find that string age has alot to do with it too, I always find newer strings easier to play in general. My neck seems very sturdy on both my basses so it's not an issue with tension.

I don't like the whole low action/thin string thing either, I like to have to put some effort in with bass, plus I like the whole double bass feel too. Also having it a bit harder to play stops me going off on one too much, and also eliminates alot of fret rattle when I'm picking hard due to the higher action. Higher action seems to give a slightly deeper tone, although that might just be the pickups been further away and picking up less higher end.

It wouldn't pose a problem if I could have new ones every week, the ones on my Fender Bullet are like 3-4 months old, maybe more, and playing the thing is awful at the moment.

I agree with this. I also play DB and like to pull on my stings and keep my fingers built up. Higher action has it's rewards too. I like to put in some effort and feel I'm pulling the deep tone out of my rig. But I'm an old guy from the old school where not a lot of high note noodling goes on.

[Diogenes]

As I just posted in another thread, I prefer extra light gauges... .030-.090 or even .025-.085 tuned to standard EADG. The band I presently play in covers various styles (all originals though) so we'll do a song that is old school R&B and then switch up to something that's pretty much pop-punk. I was never able to get the tones I needed to suit our wide range of song styles with just one bass (normally a P) when using heavier gauge strings (.045-.105) but can with the lighter gauges. They just feel so far more responsive. If I want a heavy aggressive growl, I dig in hard with my fingers above the pickup... if I need a smooth silky bassy tone, I play piz above the 20th fret or so... if I need a funky-jazzy barking tone, I pluck hard right near the bridge saddles. These little changes in right hand position really make a huge difference in tone with the lighter strings that I couldn't get with the 'heavier' gauges.

Going to very light gauges definitely is not for everyone and it involves unlearning some old habits as well as learning new ones in order to play cleanly but I feel the work involved is well worth the effort in my situation. Not saying that one is better than the other or one way demands a 'better' player but it's just something that works for me and hope that others may benefit from my 2 cents worth.

[kcamsdog1387]

Originally Posted by heath_r_91

for all of you who think you use the biggest strings ever on their E string I use a 110 tuned standard.

+1

I have my P strung with Power Slinky's 55- 110. I loved the zingy-ness of them out of the box, but when they went dead in 3 weeks of gigging they actually suited my reggae/rock band quite perfectly. Haven't changed them in about 6 months. It also helped alot in my new Metal band where I play my other P stung C# standard (65-130). I barely noticed that its the top 5 of a 5 string set.