Did I make a bad choice?

[Kipp Harrington]

Ordered some GHS Precision Flats in the regular gauge (55-105). I have been reading that some people are saying the tension is just too high. I am putting them on my Squier PJ. What are your thoughts. Playing classic rock and blues stuff, mainly. I don't know why I went with the 55 G set!

 

[SLaPiNFuNK]

It works fine. Just is higher tension than some others would prefer.

You can always tuned to Eb standard if it is too much tension. Or just return them and get the 45-105 set.

 

[michael_t]

Here are the actual tension figures:

G 055 - 68.8
D 070 - 62.2
A 090 - 56.9
E 105 - 41.2

(Total 229.1 lbs.)

What I don't like about this particular set is how uneven they are across four strings, not to mention the G and D are pretty tense at over 60 lbs.

 

[Linnin]

Although I've not played that particular set, the Fender 9050M set has the very same gauges. I really like the .055 G over the .045 for the solid bass meat it brings to your tone table. The .090 A is simply amazing for the amount of forward thrust it provides. Not for the tension sensitive or string bending shredders. Most definitely string through the bridge/top load only.

 

[40Hz]

They will be just fine. I wouldn't worry about it.

If you are concerned do a return and order the #M3050 (45-105) or light #3025 (45-95) set.

 

[michael_t]

If you are concerned do a return and order the #M3050 (45-105) or light #3025 (45-95) set.

Don't forget about the CM3050 (45-60-80-105), which is the best tension-balanced set.

 

[40Hz]

Don't forget about the CM3050 (45-60-80-105), which is the best tension-balanced set.

If having balanced tension is a concern.

For some players it's important. To others it's much ado about nothing. But the only way to know is to try one of the more balanced sets and see if you prefer the feel. So it's a good idea to eventually try both.

 

[petch]

Excellent strings! I use the gauge that's a step lighter, but what if you rock these? Give it a go and approach with gusto!

 

[Linnin]

Excellent strings! I use the gauge that's a step lighter, but what if you rock these? Give it a go and approach with gusto!

^^^That's The Spirit!^^^

 

[michael_t]

If having balanced tension is a concern.

For some players it's important. To others it's much ado about nothing. But the only way to know is to try one of the more balanced sets and see if you prefer the feel. So it's a good idea to eventually try both.

True enough...
There was a time I was a die-hard balanced-tension guy. Not so much any more. In fact, I'm using the light set (45-60-75-95) on my P. I've also parted with my once-beloved Fender 9050CL (45-60-80-105) recently.

 

[Vinnie Boombatz]

Ordered some GHS Precision Flats in the regular gauge (55-105). I have been reading that some people are saying the tension is just too high. I am putting them on my Squier PJ. What are your thoughts. Playing classic rock and blues stuff, mainly. I don't know why I went with the 55 G set!

What are YOUR thoughts? Install them and try them out for yourself then let us know what YOU think!

 

[Killed_by_Death]

A lot of folks don't seem to notice, but I can't stand having a higher tension G. It makes it brighter & louder than the others.

 

[red_rhino]

I used to prefer a medium to medium-high tension string. Now I want something lower tension, more comfortable, but not so mushy that I can't dig in when I want to. I used to (wrongly) equate light gauge strings to thin tone. But it really depends on the instrument. I would love to find a universal string type/gauge that worked on all of my basses, but it just doesn't work that way. Bass strings are like razors; just like you will spend more on blades than on the razor, you will probably spend more on strings over the life of the bass than you did on the bass itself. (Of course, i try to prevent this by buying very expensive basses. )

Just today ordered a set of the GHS Pressurewounds light gauge (.040-.096) for my P Bass. Tension-wise, it's a very balanced set string-to-string, but overall I was looking for something on the more flexible side anyway, so I hope these do it. I have a set of Sadowsky Blue Label flats (light) on there now, and while I like the way they feel, it's not quite the sound I'm after.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I'm probably overthinking this. Thanks for the responses. If I don't like them, it's not the end of the world.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

A lot of folks don't seem to notice, but I can't stand having a higher tension G. It makes it brighter & louder than the others.

Good thing I rarely use it.

 

[Spidey2112]

Good thing I rarely use it.

Screw the G string! Commando it is.

 

[tjh]

"Did I make a bad choice?"

… it is called 'educational experience' … at least that is what I kept telling myself during my flatwound testing days .. I must have went through 30+ sets of flats on a half dozen basses before I was happy … I made a few bad choices, but how else do ya learn ?

 

[Stewie]

They'll be great, I always thought the 45 was a little wimpy. I have to hit it harder to get the same volume as it's brothers

 

[Vinnie Boombatz]

It's not the end of the world if you don't like them, think they're too heavy, etc. I've been through a ton of strings, and I personally like the light gauge Precision Flats a lot. Also like the Fender 9050L's and am "forcing" myself to stick with a set of TI Jazz Flats on my Classic 50's Precision. They just seem to be made for that bass as far as how they feel and the setup. They didn't feel that great on my American Standard Precision. It's a trial and error process. You just have to experiment.

 

[Vinnie Boombatz]

"Did I make a bad choice?"

… it is called 'educational experience' … at least that is what I kept telling myself during my flatwound testing days .. I must have went through 30+ sets of flats on a half dozen basses before I was happy … I made a few bad choices, but how else do ya learn ?

Please tell us what flats you like and on what basses.