What are gauges?

[supersnake52]

Well ive been palying for nearly 2 years and all i know is that it has something to do with the thickness of the string.

I play in drop C, what stings would be good for me???

xxx

[tmart937]

buy a set of 5 string and get rid of the high string.

[JanusZarate]

Yep, that's all it is - how thick the string is. Higher-gauge strings are thicker, stiffer and provide more tension than lower-gauge strings. Lower-gauge strings are thinner, lighter, and more responsive to the nuances of your playing.

Keep in mind, these are generalizations. There are some pretty flimsy heavy-gauge strings out there, as well as surprisingly stiff light-gauge strings. It all depends on the brand and the type.

If you downtune to drop-C, I'd definitely recommend higher-gauge strings for better tension and less fret noise - look for sets with a .110 E string (.105 tends to be the standard). Or, you could try using a 5-string set, but only use the bottom four strings (B,E,A,D), as previously suggested.

As to what strings specifically... that's all up to your personal taste in sound.

[Makten]

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

It all depends on the brand and the type.

Actually it only depends on the mass per length of the string. Thick strings aren't necessarily heavy, and in that case they will act "flimsy".
Different winding techniques gives different mass per length.

Edit: Therefore; different strings that look the same can be very different.

[SuperSnake2012]

For drop C, you'd probably want an .120 string for your E, maybe .125 if you like it heavier.

[supersnake52]

so if i were to buy a 5 string set, how would i be able to tune it up, because surely the strings are to thick to be tuned up high, like the D to the F?

I do like this idea, i love the thickness and boom of the fith string.

And would i need the nut filed to make room for the thick string?

http://www.thomann.de/gb/ghs_3045_h_...rtner_id=25293

What about those?

[Thor]

And just to clarify for you, strings are measured in thickness
of 1 thousandths of an inch. So .045 is 45 thousandths of an
inch. The thickness is called gauge, or string gauge.

[JanusZarate]

Originally Posted by Makten

Actually it only depends on the mass per length of the string. Thick strings aren't necessarily heavy, and in that case they will act "flimsy".

I meant "heavy" as in "high gauge" (measured thickness), not actual mass. A bit of confusion in my word choice, but we're actually on the same train of thought.

[knuckle_head]

If you were tuning normally what would be the gauges you prefer?

I can make specific suggestions gauges if you can let me know your leanings/preferences...

[ehque]

Originally Posted by tmart937

buy a set of 5 string and get rid of the high string.

I'm not sure what drop C means. CGCF?

i would get a heavy 5 string set and toss the E string. Use the B string instead.

If you tune in CADG, i would use a medium set.

[HMZ]

Why not just get a five string

[supersnake52]

Originally Posted by knuckle_head

If you were tuning normally what would be the gauges you prefer?

I can make specific suggestions gauges if you can let me know your leanings/preferences...

Finger plucking style, sometimes pick with my fingernails. A little bit of slap and pop but not much.

If i were in e then higher than 105, im using earnie ball slinky regulars and there is a bit too much tension when tuned normally.

thanks