Bumping up a Gauge

[TheArchitect]

I think I want to bump up from 45-105 to 50-110 or 115. I am hoping that will take a little flop out of the strings and add some thump and punch tonally.

GHS H3045

or

Rotosound RS66LE Swing Bass 66 Stainless Steel Bass Guitar Strings (50 70 85 110)

Standard tuning

What has your experience been with heavier strings?

 

[DrThumpenstein]

I noted no tonal change when I switched from regular to light gauge Chromes years ago, and I find light gauge strings easier to play/fret, so I’ve never gone back. I don’t mind lower-tension strings. I’ve been able to set up my basses with fairly low action, and I’m down tuned a half step for our band.

Within brands, thicker gauge should be stiffer, but I would not expect a noticeable change in tone. The good thing about it, strings are relatively cheap, so it’s easy to experiment!

 

[buldog5151bass]

It's more about feel than tone.

 

[TheArchitect]

It's more about feel than tone.

That's good because that is the reason I am considering it. I want to tighten up the tension on the strings

 

[michael_t]

I am hoping that will take a little flop out of the strings and add some thump and punch tonally.

I want to tighten up the tension on the strings

Just curious... What specific brand and type of strings have you been using?

 

[Reedt2000]

No reason you can't do this. Be aware you will very likely need to tighten the truss rod to account for more tension. Action and intonation will likely need tweaks as well (so you'll have to redo your setup, not a big deal at all). You may also find the nut, and sometimes the saddles depending on the type of bridge, may need their slots widened to take a thicker string.

 

[TheArchitect]

Just curious... What specific brand and type of strings have you been using?

I use Rotosound Stainless 45-105 for rounds.

 

[michael_t]

I use Rotosound Stainless 45-105 for rounds.

Then the Roto SB66 Stainless Steel 50-110 may be the logical choice for you. The Boomers, being nickel-plated steel, have a very different tonal character from the Roto Stainless Steels.

 

[TheArchitect]

Then the Roto SB66 Stainless Steel 50-110 may be the logical choice for you. The Boomers, being nickel-plated steel, have a very different tonal character from the Roto Stainless Steels.

Good call. Thanks!

 

[RGerhart]

The good thing about it, strings are relatively cheap, so it’s easy to experiment![/QUOTE]

...said no one. Ever. LOL

I definitely don't consider bass strings cheap, especially when compared to our 6-string guitar-playing brethren.

 

[Jon Moody]

I definitely don't consider bass strings cheap, especially when compared to our 6-string guitar-playing brethren.

Don't ever look up the cost of classical double bass strings then...

In all seriousness though, while guitar string sets are really cheap compared to bass sets, they go through easily 5-10x more than we do. They may be cheaper upfront, but not long term.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

Try switching one string at a time. Begin on the ends at either E or G. Maybe that is all you need to add a little more tension. I have bumped up at home only to find it murder for more than 30 minutes on a new gauge.

 

[Dincrest]

And remember, when it comes to string brands not all strings of the same gauge feel the same.

For example, a GHS Boomers 45-105 set will feel stiffer than a D'Addario XL 45-105 set because the Boomers use a thicker core wire.

 

[Joybass]

I have used an Ernie Ball power slinky 55-110 set for D standard tuning. That works great. When tuned to E standard they feel like thick stiff strings, very uncomfortable. IMO.

 

[RGerhart]

The thickest I'll usually go with is a .105 E string for standard tuning. I've used a .110 for when I've wanted to stay in drop D, but tuning it back up to E makes it feel very stiff and difficult to play.

However, I did discover that I prefer a thicker G string, preferably .050. I used to run mostly 45-65-85-100 sets, but I'm really liking 50-70-90-105.

 

[taketwo]

I went all the way to avoid flop by using balanced tension sets going as high a tension as I felt safe. I have the .148 stainless balanced set from Kalium on my 35" 5er, which is (roughly, I forget the real numbers, which are non standard) 148-110-80-60-45 at 49 lbs tension per string, and d'Addario Chromes on my 34" 4er, going 110-80-60-45 at 46 lbs per string. They fit the nuts and bridges, surprisingly, though I had to shim up the saddle for that tapered .148 to get the action high enough. They are heavy, and sometimes hard to fret, especially the Chromes, but the tone is good, and they feel consistent and firm when plucking.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I think I want to bump up from 45-105 to 50-110 or 115. I am hoping that will take a little flop out of the strings and add some thump and punch tonally.

GHS H3045

or

Rotosound RS66LE Swing Bass 66 Stainless Steel Bass Guitar Strings (50 70 85 110)

Standard tuning

What has your experience been with heavier strings?

Be prepared to adjust your truss rod, and you may need to adjust your action depending on how well the heavier gauge strings set in the nut.

 

[HaphAsSard]

The thickest I'll usually go with is a .105 E string for standard tuning. I've used a .110 for when I've wanted to stay in drop D, but tuning it back up to E makes it feel very stiff and difficult to play.

However, I did discover that I prefer a thicker G string, preferably .050. I used to run mostly 45-65-85-100 sets, but I'm really liking 50-70-90-105.

Funnily enough, a 050 G has got more, and a 070 D significantly more, tension than a 110 E.

 

[Element Zero]

I went all the way to avoid flop by using balanced tension sets going as high a tension as I felt safe. I have the .148 stainless balanced set from Kalium on my 35" 5er, which is (roughly, I forget the real numbers, which are non standard) 148-110-80-60-45 at 49 lbs tension per string, and d'Addario Chromes on my 34" 4er, going 110-80-60-45 at 46 lbs per string. They fit the nuts and bridges, surprisingly, though I had to shim up the saddle for that tapered .148 to get the action high enough. They are heavy, and sometimes hard to fret, especially the Chromes, but the tone is good, and they feel consistent and firm when plucking.

.148 B string?

 

[taketwo]

.148 B string?

Yes. So the tension is the same as all the other strings.