What are the heaviest gauge strings you know of that someone tunes to EADG?

Thunder Pulse · #1 05-07-2008, 07:52 AM

The Steve Harris Rotosound set is 50-75-95-110, and I see a massive 65-80-105-130 set on their website (RS 66LH, never heard of anyone using them though), so I was wondering if anyone has put together their own custom heavy gauge set and tuned to EADG, and if they have, why?

Personally I like higher tension strings, but when people say they like or don't like high/low tension strings I don't know if they mean for their fretting hand, playing hand, or both. I was thinking a really high tension set combined with low action migh be kind of interesting. If you like your action on the higher side then a high tension set would be a b*tch to fret, but with really low action it shouldn't pose a problem at all really.

Anyone?

Jake the Bass · #2 05-07-2008, 08:00 AM

Warwick have a .175 gauge string for low F# and I think its the only "mass produced" heavy gauge string unless you go custom.

jaywa · #3 05-07-2008, 08:17 AM

I have used heavier than "normal" gauge strings on my 4-string 78 P-Bass for quite some time. I run low action and my bass is very playable (to me, anyway)... Also the extra mass comes in handy cause I play about half the time in drop-D and that E string is still is good and tight tuned down 1 step (I have even gotten away with dropping it all the way down to C on a couple of occasions). I get a lot of compliments on my "authoritative" tone and I think at least some of it comes from the mass of the bigger strings. Heavy strings at low action is really NOT a good setup at all for pop-n-slap, though.

I use Ernie Balls, I think they're called Power Slinkys and they run in the same general range as the Steve Harris Rotosound set.

I would be very careful with that extra heavy Rotosound set... I would think that tuning up a 130 string to E, 105 to A etc. would stress the h**l out out of most wood necks. Also you are really going to have a physical challenge on your hands and if you ever have to borrow a bass with standard medium or medium lite strings you'll probably be bending them all out of tune cause the tension is so much lighter (I have this issue myself sometimes).

Hope this helps.

Lesfunk · #4 05-07-2008, 12:45 PM

When I was gigging 6 nights a week, My hands became strong enough to make 45-105 strings feel too light. For a while I went to 50-110 and raised my action for more resistance. The tone that resulted from that was Big.
I eventually went back to low action and 45-105 DRs. I'm wimpy now and like Floppy strings

Thunder Pulse · #5 05-07-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake the Bass

Warwick have a .175 gauge string for low F# and I think its the only "mass produced" heavy gauge string unless you go custom.

I'd like to see someone dumb enough to try to tune that up 10 semitones in pitch.

Anyone else?

RapierSix · #6 05-07-2008, 06:20 PM

Another thing, I think the main reason for high gauge tension is that the lower your action the more you get the tendency to make racket from slapping the strings on the 21st fret when you play fingerstyle... But that also creates a tone, like Steve Harris's gallop, you can slightly hear a lil clanking in it from him slamming strings into the fretboard.

I'm going to have to try a pair because I can't stand it when I'm playing and into it then I slam a string and it throws me off.

Parabolic Box · #7 05-07-2008, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

The Steve Harris Rotosound set is 50-75-95-110, and I see a massive 65-80-105-130 set on their website (RS 66LH, never heard of anyone using them though), so I was wondering if anyone has put together their own custom heavy gauge set and tuned to EADG, and if they have, why?

Personally I like higher tension strings, but when people say they like or don't like high/low tension strings I don't know if they mean for their fretting hand, playing hand, or both. I was thinking a really high tension set combined with low action migh be kind of interesting. If you like your action on the higher side then a high tension set would be a b*tch to fret, but with really low action it shouldn't pose a problem at all really.

Anyone?

The .065-.130 is for BEAD tuning. If you tuned it up EADG, other than risking things snapping and getting ripped off the bass, it'd be virtually unplayable.

Ron Now · #8 05-07-2008, 06:30 PM

my Low F is .195 I get it from conklin. It supposed to be for a C, but the .165 was still too loose, the .195 is where it is at. After that I just use a regular Daddario 130-45 set (minus the 45)

Thunder Pulse · #9 05-07-2008, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parabolic Box

The .065-.130 is for BEAD tuning.

Must be a typo on their site then, because it shows that set listed for EADG.

http://www.rotosound.com/bassscr.html

Parabolic Box · #10 05-07-2008, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

Must be a typo on their site then, because it shows that set listed for EADG.

http://www.rotosound.com/bassscr.html

Yes, it's incorrectly listed. But if you believe otherwise, I more than welcome you to buy a set and tune it up to pitch. You may need a new bass after.

Thunder Pulse · #11 05-07-2008, 07:06 PM

I wasn't planning on getting that set, but just for the sake of argument it's clear that tuning them up to pitch at EADG would put a lot of tension on the neck without a truss rod adjustment, but what about with it adjusted properly? Or couldn't it be adjusted enough to counteract the added tension a set like that would put on the neck?

On a 4-string bass with a 'normal' set of strings you're talking somewhere around 160 lbs of tension: 4 strings x 40 lbs of tension each (just rounding off to make the math easier).

I don't play 5-strings but I have one here at home and when I put a set of strings on it I noticed the large backbow when the strings were completely loosened as compared to a 4-string. I assumed that the trussrod was tensioned more to counteract having one more string pulling with 35-40 lbs of tension.

Then I think about 7, 8, 9, and 10+ string basses and how much tension all those strings must put on the neck, but yet with the truss rod(s) adjusted properly everything is fine.

I guess what I'm wondering is, if the strings are putting X amount of tension on the neck, what difference does it make if it's being produced by 4 strings or 10+ strings as long as the truss rod is adjusted properly?

lemur821 · #12 05-07-2008, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

Then I think about 7, 8, 9, and 10+ string basses and how much tension all those strings must put on the neck, but yet with the truss rod(s) adjusted properly everything is fine.

I guess what I'm wondering is, if the strings are putting X amount of tension on the neck, what difference does it make if it's being produced by 4 strings or 10+ strings as long as the truss rod is adjusted properly?

Just like the neck, the truss rod can only take so much stress. ERBs have extra stiffening and probably two truss rods.

There may also be a point beyond which strings don't speak right. I know drum heads are like this.

Parabolic Box · #13 05-07-2008, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

I wasn't planning on getting that set, but just for the sake of argument it's clear that tuning them up to pitch at EADG would put a lot of tension on the neck without a truss rod adjustment, but what about with it adjusted properly? Or couldn't it be adjusted enough to counteract the added tension a set like that would put on the neck?

On a 4-string bass with a 'normal' set of strings you're talking somewhere around 160 lbs of tension: 4 strings x 40 lbs of tension each (just rounding off to make the math easier).

I don't play 5-strings but I have one here at home and when I put a set of strings on it I noticed the large backbow when the strings were completely loosened as compared to a 4-string. I assumed that the trussrod was tensioned more to counteract having one more string pulling with 35-40 lbs of tension.

Then I think about 7, 8, 9, and 10+ string basses and how much tension all those strings must put on the neck, but yet with the truss rod(s) adjusted properly everything is fine.

I guess what I'm wondering is, if the strings are putting X amount of tension on the neck, what difference does it make if it's being produced by 4 strings or 10+ strings as long as the truss rod is adjusted properly?

They're basses made to take that amount of tension. (Usually more than one truss rod, reinforcement, and the like.) If you tuned a BEAD set up to EADG, you'll get about 280 lbs of tension. Or the same as a seven string bass.

The biggest problem is not the neck. It's the bridge, nut, and tuning pegs. For the sake of argument, you could put 160 lbs of tension on one string, and the neck may not notice the difference between that and four strings putting about 40 lbs each, but the other parts probably will. Force is the same, but pressure is different.

Thunder Pulse · #14 05-07-2008, 08:12 PM

Good points, I wasn't thinking about the other parts. So would the 50-75-95-110 Harris set be about the most anyone would want to consider for maximum gauges for an EADG set?

RED5 · #15 05-08-2008, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parabolic Box

The .065-.130 is for BEAD tuning. If you tuned it up EADG, other than risking things snapping and getting ripped off the bass, it'd be virtually unplayable.

I use the low four of a D'addario .130 five string set on my T-bird, EADG tuning, only ever broke a G string.

jaywa · #16 05-08-2008, 07:59 AM

T-Bird with a 130 E string? I bet that thing ROARS.

RED5 · #17 05-08-2008, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaywa

T-Bird with a 130 E string? I bet that thing ROARS.

Well? It's not subtle, and there are cracks in the concrete around the cabs.

RapierSix · #18 05-08-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RED5

Well? It's not subtle, and there are cracks in the concrete around the cabs.

were they there before?

Moe Monsarrat · #19 05-10-2008, 11:50 AM

I used a five string set starting with the 130 tuned to E & just went down from there. It was on my Modulus-graphite necked Jazz. Sounded great, but not that much better than regular gauges. I can totally see how the tension might get to a wood neck bass.

mahiola · #20 05-21-2008, 03:52 PM

65-80-105-130 set on their website (RS 66LH, never heard of anyone using them though

I have them on my Carvin 4 string and love them, had to file the nut slots to fit, lower the saddles and set the correct tension on the neck. (will check intonation later)Tuned to EADG, Plays great!! Love the TONE, sounds "BALLSY". I have progressed from the 95-40 set up to these. I won't go back down in gauge. Easy to play, (I'm a wimp) light touch or I can play like an angry gorilla and still love it. I can't get over the tone, I love playing/practicing even more now. Set them up right or have a Pro set your guitar up for that Gauge. I thought light gauges were easier to play, I was wrong. Hope that helps!!