What is everyone opinion on thin strings?

[Disc]

After listening to Butthole Surfers non-stop for 2 months straight, I decided bending notes is one of the most fun things you can do . But its killing my fingers! So I was thinking about buying a light gauge set of DR sunbeams. The thing is, I never hear about light set on TB, only normal or heavy gauge. Do light sets have a weak tone or something?

[JimmyM]

Yes and no. Heavier strings sound heavier acoustically, but I think by the time you put them into an amp, the differences are pretty well meaningless. Not like you can listen to recordings and tell who's playing lights and who's playing heavies, you know?

[alexofc69]

I use DR hibeam lights 120-40.bend very nice.

[Tommy el Gato]

At one point I was using 30-90's, which was fun at first to be playing with such a light hand. After a while (And some time with my bass tuned up quite a bit) I started to realize that all the extra flop in the strings was hurting the playability, so naturally I moved back up. Light guages are usually pretty cool, as I was playing 95-43 for a while that felt awesome, but staying away from excessively small strings maybe very beneficial.

Happy bending!

[spc]

I used to prefer a heavier gauge, big strings=big tone and all that, but now I'm down to what I think is considered medium...45 65 80 105 Rotosound stainless steel...
This gauge really works great on my Marcus Miller and on my fretless stuff.

[PilbaraBass]

I like a fair amount of tension on my strings...but not too much...It's about balancing the feel...

there is a bit of difference in sound, too...but that becomes more apparent on the thinner strings (G-string, for instance)....I think for this reason, I would not like a 0.040 G...

I use 100, 80, 65, and 45 on my EADG basses...any smaller, and the strings are too floppy for me...

I've recently strung a 4-banger BEAD with 130,100,80, & 65 and the B string is not too big for my liking (again, I need the tension)

[fretless Bob]

i use DR hibeams 40-120, i really like the lighter feel of the strings, the main thing i like is the light B, i cant stand 135s, there just too much for my liking, also with the light strings being a bit lower tension it makes things like bending a lot easier, i will say that it does take i little bit of effort to get as big a sound as you might get out of heavier strings but once you get used to them its fine.


Dave

[JohnSS]

I myself like using Dean Markley or D'addario .040-.095 sets, especially for my Ibanez prototype, which has a stripped nut truss rod, so the lighter tension helps prevent any neck warp issues. They sound fine, and indistinguishable in the studio from heavier roundwounds.

[bikeplate]

HI

Last couple of years I've gone to a light set, 40 thru 100. I prefer light sets and low action. Try it, see if it suits u

Rob

[KidFunky]

Originally Posted by bikeplate

HI

Last couple of years I've gone to a light set, 40 thru 100. I prefer light sets and low action. Try it, see if it suits u

Rob

I started doing the exact same thing recently and the benefits have been massive while the tone is absolutely fine. Especially since I now plug in directly to my soundcard/mackies and finding that the recorded sound is great.

[markdavid]

Go for a lighter set , youll be able to bend strings more easily , play bass lines more easily , youll love them. Just make sure you dont go too light as the strigns will get floppy