B string gauge: I'm confused

[chucko58]

BTW, my need for the brightest possible strings faded when I got a properly voiced 3-way speaker cabinet.

 

[SoVeryTired]

Circle Ks are not going to be as bright as a good stainless string. I say that as a former DR Hi-Beam and Dean Markley SR2000 user. So there's your references.

I had used Carvin's stainless strings with a .128 B on the Level 6 and found the B kind of flabby. I got some GHS .135 Bs from another TB user (I think they were super steels) and put them on the LB75 and it opened my ears to what a proper B should sound like.

Bottom line for me: I will never go back to a .130" or smaller B string on 34" scale. And I still lust after a Knuckle Quake with its 39" scale.

Go on, what does a proper B sound like then?

Obviously with a 35" I wouldn't need to go quite as thick as on a 34".

 

[chucko58]

Go on, what does a proper B sound like then?

Thick and meaty, with a tangy finish. Really... everyone hears things differently, so my verbal description is probably not going to tell you what it sounds like to you. (edit) The improvement for me was more about sustain and authority (equal volume) than anything else.

Obviously with a 35" I wouldn't need to go quite as thick as on a 34".

It works out to be about 1 gauge different. E.g. on 35", the Circle K .136 has about the same tension as a .142 does on 34".

 

[SoVeryTired]

Thick and meaty, with a tangy finish.

So a sort of BBQ pork flavour? I was thinking more in a citrus salmon direction.

But seriously, the thick isn't what I'm aiming at so much - and that's what I think of when I imagine the sound of a big B string, rather than the sort of zing I'm after.

 

[J Posega]

How about the owner of Dingwall?

+1 for CircleK

+ 2 for Circle K.

Sheldon, thanks to your suggestion on the Dingwall forum, my ABZ5 has the CK .130 set you recommended a few weeks ago. Great sound, great feel. I might go lighter next time, just to see.

To the OP:
I haven't used CK's on my parallel fret basses, but the set on my Dingwall isn't as bright and clanky as many of the steels I've tried on other basses (4 and 5 string, 34" scale Squier, Fender, Ibanez, Peavey; DR, ProSteels, Ernie Ball). But the CK's also aren't as smooth feeling as any of the nickel strings I've used.

They're kind of nickel+. All the midrange and fat low end of a nickel set, plus a lot of the sparkly treble and bite of a steel set, without the hollow sound. I find them to be louder than the original Dingwall strings and the Payson nickels I had on the bass. If you really enjoy the SS sound, I might pass on CK's for now.

As for B-string gauge, you've already witnessed through this thread how every player's preference is different.

 

[JimmyM]

I have found on my bass that thicker B strings sound deader and like the string doesn't match the rest of the set, especially when playing past 5th position, whereas the thinner ones have more ring and sound way more like the same set. YMMV but that's how it shakes out for me.

Of course, all bets are off if you have a Dingwall, which I don't, but the extra scale length does make quite the positive difference in the tone of the B string, as Sheldon himself pointed out to me years ago. And if I still liked 5's I'd definitely put his basses on the short list!

 

[Modern Growl]

To get a "balanced" B string - you need to do a custom set. Buying a Standard 45-125 will not be balanced at all as the .105 E vs. .125 B are nowhere close in tension.

Do a custom set of say 45-100 with a .125 or .130 B. - That would be more balanced tension wise.

A note on super thick B strings (and all gauges for that matter) - lower gauges will "speak" better - but have less tension. Super thick gauges have a sloppy tone to my ears. Thinner gauges allow more nuances and finger communication.

 

[Brad Johnson]

I use standard light and medium DR Fat Beam and Sunbeam 5 and 6 string sets with excellent results.

 

[SoVeryTired]

The vibe I'm getting so far is that balanced tension doesn't equal balanced tone, just balanced feel. Tone's my priority.

 

[chucko58]

Is there a simple answer to this?

Now that you've had a bunch of differing opinions, just buy a handful of string sets and play. Like it or not, that's the only way you'll really figure out what works best for you.

 

[SoVeryTired]

Now that you've had a bunch of differing opinions, just buy a handful of string sets and play. Like it or not, that's the only way you'll really figure out what works best for you.

Yep, that's pretty much what most requests for advice on TB boil down to! It's good to try and educate myself but there's only one way to know for sure and that's by experience. The bass is having some work done next week so I'll see what stainless steel 5-string sets are in the store and take it from there.

Thanks everyone for your advice and experiences.

 

[MoeTown1986]

i use DR Dragonskins on a 34". used to use .130 B and switched to a .125 B and love it. sounds a little fatter and has more sustain.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

The vibe I'm getting so far is that balanced tension doesn't equal balanced tone, just balanced feel. Tone's my priority.

Right, and that's because most manufacturers have perfected their winding techique to balance tone on a traditional set of gauges, regardless of size or feel.

 

[SoVeryTired]

Right, and that's because most manufacturers have perfected their winding techique to balance tone on a traditional set of gauges, regardless of size or feel.

The inference being that CircleK have managed to balance both tension and tone in the same set by designing their strings that way, whereas a balanced tension set from a traditional manufacturer will be uneven in tone?

I can understand that.

 

[ixlramp]

CKs are ultra flexible and have 3 layers of wrap wire on their Bs where some other brands have 4. This helps keep them clear and bright even with large gauges. Keep trying different brands of B string, perhaps order a variety of single Bs. I recommend taperwound steels with 3 wrap layers to maximise brightness and flexibility. One way to get what you want is to use a thin B for brightness but then also reduce the gauges of EADG to create a balanced set: 130/125 95 70 50 35 and learn to play with a light touch, your hands and wrists will love you.

I had good results from a D'Addario .135 tapered, their full range of singles should be returning soon and they are lengthening their 'long scale' to improve chances of working with a 35" scale.

 

[tylerwylie]

I have found on my bass that thicker B strings sound deader and like the string doesn't match the rest of the set, especially when playing past 5th position, whereas the thinner ones have more ring and sound way more like the same set. YMMV but that's how it shakes out for me.
!

I tend to agree and disagree. The Circle K .142 has sounded both brilliant and dead on different basses for me. It probably has to do with the bass as well I think. I'm using a .136 balanced set on my Clement 6 string fretless and I find it's quite a bit brighter than the .125 and .130 strings I've had on previously (Hi Beams, Fat Beams, Dunlop Steel/Nickel sets).

I used a .142 set on my Stingray 4H for BEAD tuning though, and the .142 did not sound lively at all compared to the EAD strings.

I also did not like using a .142 set on my fretted Clement bass w/ EMG's. I bet it'd be a bit different with some other pickups.

 

[Duckwater]

Invalid Link Removed

 

[SoVeryTired]

ixlramp - thanks, message sent!

Duckwater - not until I've tried all the others. It's a long way to send dead strings back.

 

[Randyt]

I love my Circle K (0.118") set on my Elrick and no floppy B...extremely low action...also, on my other is FBass strings...0.128" B and is exposed core...love both sets of strings for what they offer...