Stuart Zender bass strings

[Ryan Mohr]

I read somewhere that Stu uses Elite strings with 35-55-75-95 gauges. Is this true because I have never heard of anyone using strings with those gauges.

[markjazzbassist]

use the search function. Stu has been covered millions of times including his gear, his licks, what albums he played on, etc.


search, it's your friend.

[melt]

Originally Posted by AqueousView11

I read somewhere that Stu uses Elite strings with 35-55-75-95 gauges. Is this true because I have never heard of anyone using strings with those gauges.

Errrr.......I used to use EXACTLY those gauges (Rotosound- Stu Z used Elites last I heard too); used 'em for about 4 years solid (I now mostly use 40/60/75/95). I've read an interview with him from Jamiroquai days and that's what he said he used, so I have no reason to suspect he didn't. Whether he still does is another matter...

[MikeBass]

Originally Posted by AqueousView11

I read somewhere that Stu uses Elite strings with 35-55-75-95 gauges. Is this true because I have never heard of anyone using strings with those gauges.

MArk King use lighter than that if I recall.

Like a 90 for an E string.

[melt]

Originally Posted by MikeBass

MArk King use lighter than that if I recall.

Like a 90 for an E string.

Mark uses 30-90......Les Claypool has used 2x40s and 2x60s; Joey DeMaio uses (or at least used) 40,50,60,70.....etc etc.

[Ryan Mohr]

Wow I had no idea. What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of using strings that light?

[melt]

Originally Posted by AqueousView11

Wow I had no idea. What are the advantages and/or disadvantages of using strings that light?

Ah, right. I thought you were questioning the specific gauges Stu used; I didn't realise you were unused to people using light gauge strings at all, sorry. Unfortunately although I used to use the same gauge strings as Stuart (a coincidence, not by design - I used them first!), I could never groove like him!

FWIW, many players use lightish strings. Most players I know use 40-100 or 40-95, but I've met several who use 30-90 a la Mark King. The advantages of light strings are that they're generally easier to play because of the lower tension, although some actually don't like the lower tension. Soundwise they are different too, and generally sound less beefy, although Stuart sounds beefy enough to me.

It's something of a generalization, but thinner strings are often associated with slap players (to contradict that, I believe Marcus uses 45-105, although I could be wrong). Stanley Clarke uses very light strings as well. It's very much a personal thing whether you would like them or not. You'd have to try them and see if they work for your style/sound. As shown in the Claypool/DeMaio examples, there are all sorts of string combinations out there, and preferences are almost as varied as players.