5 String P - Halfwounds? Pressurewounds? LIght? Medium?

I use GHS pressure wound, 5-string set, 128, 106, 84, 62, 44, which I believe translates to their medium gauge. It's the heaviest I can find anyway. I usually order them by the case (6 sets) online, no particular site, just google it. I've always had to order the 4 string set and order the low B separately. I play finger style and don't care for either too bright or too dull a sound and I find these are rich and well defined. Also, my heavy fingers like the resistance. I used to have them cryo frozen but the place that did it went out of business and I haven't found another. Made them last much longer and really improved the tone. You have to let them sit at tension for a day before they really start to sound and feel right.

 

Both are readily available in five string sets.

However if you want to use light gauges or just want more selection you can get four string sets plus a low b string.

Pressure wounds may be too short thru body.

 

Have a thoughtful discussion with Jason about your playing and your concerns and let him recommend a set.

I can tell you from experience that the 106 Pressurewound E string is too short for a shallow ferrule string through on a P-style bass. A deep ferrule string through may work, depending on how deep the ferrule is and how close it gets the ball of the string to the top.

I can also tell you that, in the same manner, a Fender 9050CL flat E string is just barely long enough for a shallow ferrule string-through on a P-style bass, but it does work for me. YMMV.

5-string basses tend to lend themselves more to top load, especially the way, for example, the .138 GHS SuperSteel regular long (not long+) string works: it is perfect for top load conventional placement and geometry bridge for a 34 inch scale, with the silk being very short at the ball end and not coming over the saddle which is, of course, usually back pretty far for intonation, and the correct taper to silk leader behind the nut so the main part of the string does not wrap the tuning post and bind up, risking breakage.

 

The only time I ever purchase strings at GC is:
1) the D'Addario 11-49 EXL115W set on some of my electric guitars, because they give a discount for 3-set-packs (and that may change now that Jason is also doing guitar strings); and
2) if something pops, and that is the closest store still open on the way to a gig, and even then, I'll shop at the locally owned stores first.

 

Jason will add value, for certain. Not only does he have a very wide selection, but he knows his products very, very well.

 

Jason recommended me a set of GHS Pressurewounds for my P5, and they are great strings IMHO. I rotate them with flats on my P5's.

 

My bass is not string thru but the strings seem pretty long.