Anyone use lighter strings?

[coy garcia]

When I want light loosey goosey feel I go for Dr black beauties 40-100. If I want tight control I go chrome flats.

 

[Lowbrow]

Played in a high-speed power pop band for several years — lots of 8th note downstrokes — and broke strings like crazy until I switched to Roto 95 which flexed rather than resisted.

 

[Killing Floor]

Another one for the TI either Jazz Round or Jazz Flats. A little smaller gauge but lower tension. And they sound as good as anything.

 

[Danny O Danny]

I use GHS Pressurewound lights (40-54-76-96).

 

[Spupilup]

I have TI Flats (.100/.070/.056/.043) on an L1000, Rounds (.089/.068/.051/.043) on an L2000 and 32” Rounds (.093/.069/.056/.042) on a Sterling SS Stingray. I’m definitely a fan of TI’s and lighter gauges of strings.

 

[Yahboy]

40-100 Dunlop SBN.

 

[DrThumpenstein]

I like the light gauges too. They’re on all my basses now. I prefer low action and I don’t have trouble with excessive string buzz. You really don’t give up anything on the tone and personally, I like the way lighter strings play.

I was already in the light gauge camp when I read the old story that Billy Gibbons tells about an encounter with BB King when BG was a youngster. After playing Billy’s guitar, BB asked, “Why are you working so hard? BG asked what he meant, and BB said, “Man, you gotta get you some light gauge strings!”

While I’m not bending strings like BB King, I do find it easier to play faster stuff on lighter gauge strings.

 

[KJMO]

It's funny you bring this up, and I know it's not quite what the op was talking about, but I've found that a 100 e string sounds good for longer than a 105. And it feels better. I can't do the 40 because it's too twangy, but I've gotta have the 100 now. Maybe 95 would be even better? Would 95-45 be odd?

 

[fretlessman71]

I use 35s or 40s on every bass I have that's tuned to standard. But I compensate by having more relief in the neck and scooting that intonation back a ways. This means I can dig in comfortably and avoid the fret buzz if I want.

 

[FretlessOwl]

Ive been playing ultra light gauges for years and am likely never looking back. My 6 strings are strung 20-30-45-55-80-100 tuned to B standard.

Pardon my ignorance, but is that E A D G C F? Interesting.

 

[Epitaph04]

Pardon my ignorance, but is that E A D G C F? Interesting.

BEADGC. My C is a 20 and B is a 100. Essentially I toss the B string out of the usual 6 string set and add the lightest wound string I can find for my C string.

 

[boldaslove1977]

Been thinking about this.... just had a doctor’s appointment this week where I found out there’s an 80% chance I’ll need carpal tunnel surgery on both hands. Right hand is worse than the left.

Anyone switch to a lighter gauge for that reason? And did it help?

 

[pcake]

i solved my wrist and hand issues 20 years ago by switching to extra lights. d'addario nickel rounds super lights (40 - 95s) are my go-to strings. i do want to try TI jazz rounds in the future. TI made my favorite super flexiblew acoustic guitar strings, and they really impressed me.

 

[Riff Ranger]

I’ve primarily played detuned basses with standard gauges for so long that I now prefer either lighter gauge strings or short scale instruments when I do play in standard tuning. To paraphrase @Ricky Rioli and others, lower tension lends itself to certain sounds and techniques, and in my case it has become a core element of my sound. I find I prefer 30–35# of tension on each string if tuned in fourths i.e. some variation of standard tuning. I typically play in drop tunings, where the lowest-pitched string drops an additional whole step and dips down around 25# of tension.

For EADG, that’s around either .095/.070/.055/.040 at 34” or .105/.085/.065/.045 at 28.6”; but that comes from years of playing standard-ish .105/.085/.065/.045 at 34” down around CGCF. (I add a .130 or .135 low G0 on my five-strings.) (And while .135/.105/.080/.060/.045 balances better purely in terms of tension, I tend to go with .130/.105/.085/.065/.045 due to other considerations.)

 

[tindrum]

40-100 Dunlop SBN.

I use that exact set on my fretless. Sounds and feels incredible.

 

[Riff Ranger]

I find Stringjoy’s string tension calculator particularly useful for working this stuff out. I do recommend reading the fine print as well; a .105 from Stringjoy won’t necessarily feel or sound like a .105 from Curt Mangan or Ernie Ball or whatever, and balanced tension doesn’t necessarily equal balanced output, sound, or even feel.

 

[LetItGrowTone]

Just info: Dogal Hellborg rounds are even *more* flexible than TIJRs of the same gauge.
(I didn't say lower tension (don't remember exactly); I said more flexible.)

 

[Artman]

I’ve switched my basses to light strings. My P-bass and my fretless Pedulla now sport LaBella Low Tension Flats 042-100, and my Stingray is strung with D’Addario EXL 220-BT Balanced Tension roundwounds 040-095.

I’ve developed a much lighter touch, my speed with both hands has increased drastically as a result of that lighter touch, my playing has much wider dynamics, I can play longer without hand fatigue, and my mild CTS and Arthritis don’t bother me when I play anymore.

 

[Spupilup]

Just info: Dogal Hellborg rounds are even *more* flexible than TIJRs of the same gauge.
(I didn't say lower tension (don't remember exactly); I said more flexible.)

I'd be interested in trying them. I just checked Strings by Mail and they have the set in stock. What kind of longevity are we talking about for these round wounds?

 

[LetItGrowTone]

I'd be interested in trying them. I just checked Strings by Mail and they have the set in stock. What kind of longevity are we talking about for these round wounds?

I haven't had them long enough to say.
Because they're expensive I'm more careful to keep my hands clean.