You lost me on that. Typical gauges from D'Addario range from about 35-60 lbs of tension per string.
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Do you lose tone with a lighter gauge?
- Thread starter Bass-desires
- Start date
The answer is yes. For every .01" you decrease the diameter of your strings, you lose 10% of your tone.
- Feb 27, 2005
- 3,218
- 125
- Disclosures
- Full disclosure, I'm a certified Fender technician working in a music store that carries Fender, Yamaha, and Ibanez products among others.
No. You get a different tone, not less tone. Switching to a lighter guage for me eliminated wrist pain, let me set my action lower, and allows me to play with a more dynamic touch.
I didn't lose output on any of my basses when I switched to lighter guages. They all still deliver buckets of bass frequencies.
I didn't lose output on any of my basses when I switched to lighter guages. They all still deliver buckets of bass frequencies.
JAUQO III-X
Inactive
On my standard basses (none sub contra) my gauges are.
B .110
E .080
A .060
D .040
G .030
C .025
On my 8 string(single course) I add.
F .017
Bb .015
The standard strings on my 15 string are.
E .080
A .060
D .040
G .030
C .025
B .110
E .080
A .060
D .040
G .030
C .025
On my 8 string(single course) I add.
F .017
Bb .015
The standard strings on my 15 string are.
E .080
A .060
D .040
G .030
C .025
Wow buddy, that is one light "B". How does it play for you? What is your reason for using such light gauge? Did you switch from a heavier gauge at some point?
JAUQO III-X
Inactive
No one knows that the B string is as light as it is until they see it. It has a nice even thick sound that really does work for me.
I have always preferred light gauges, mainly because it put's less stress on my hands, fingers and wrist. And I like the extra low tension feel that they provide. And I love super low action.
I've pretty much always used a lighter gauge once I realized that it provided the things I needed that allows me to play the way that is best for me.
On a couple of my 4 string basses I have a custom Hipshot double D-tuner that allows me to drop my E and A string down to C# and F# with the flip of one lever. And the audience are usually stumped that I'm getting nice sounding lows from an .080 E and a .060 A string dropped so low.
I can get good tone with 95 gauge E string as long as bass is qaulity with very articulate pups. Though I prefer 100 or 105 for E string. I dislike the sound of heavier gauge sytrings.
knuckle_head
Commercial User
- Jul 30, 2002
- 2,621
- 58
- Disclosures
- Owner; Knuckle Guitar Works & Circle K Strings
I prefer medium light (.45-.100) and lights (.40-.100 ) these days due to health reasons. I have had no loss in quality in my tone at all. If anything, it has improved.
Different strings will change your sound. Whether that's a good thing depends on a lot of variables (including the sound you want).
If you have multiple basses, why not experiment by changing one of them and doing some time on it. That gives you time to really get the bass set up properly for the different strings and see how it behaves for you.
If you have multiple basses, why not experiment by changing one of them and doing some time on it. That gives you time to really get the bass set up properly for the different strings and see how it behaves for you.
Yep. As I've been saying over and over, 'music is not a contact sport'. It's not supposed to be physically difficult. If you have to continually fight your instrument in order to achieve your sound, something is very wrong. It's only a matter of time before your body begins to suffer...
MM
The counter point....
My double bass teacher says "The bass is a beast. It's not like violins where you can be all dainty, you need to conquer it with strength." In his late 70s, he still has hands so strong he could get part time work as a woodworking vice. And this is a man who has shared the stage with the likes of Sir Neville Mariner, Sir Adrian Boult and Benjamin Britten. His opinion is worth something. The more I learn, the more I agree with him.
Definitely true on double bass. Also, imo, true on electric.
I'm 50 and been playing bass since I was 15. The only music related injuries I ever had were spilling boiling water on my foot while boiling strings to freshen them, and being punched by a guy outside a gig because his girlfriend thought I was cute (she was obviously blind!). Neither of those would have been avoided by lighter guage strings.
One of the sounds I use needs enough resistance that I can hit the bass HARD and let the note ring. That's a purely physical thing. In general I play heavily, and basses that most people would consider well set up I find too light.
Of course this is all personal preference. I like the sound I get but I will never be super-fast with my setup.
they definately sound different. i wouldent call it "loosing tone," but i would agree that heavier strings gennerally sound much better.
The answer is yes. For every .01" you decrease the diameter of your strings, you lose 10% of your tone.
I guess Michael Manring ain't got no tone then since the Hyper bass is strung mighty light.
Many that use whammys and detuners are light gauge.
I see no issues with using light gauge, many really good players way beyond my sorry butt use them, how can you argue with that?
Are they toneless?
JAUQO III-X
Inactive
My upright has very low action. I fight it just as little as I absolutely have to."Yep. As I've been saying over and over, 'music is not a contact sport'. It's not supposed to be physically difficult. If you have to continually fight your instrument in order to achieve your sound, something is very wrong. It's only a matter of time before your body begins to suffer..."
Tell that to a double bass player..
I generally prefer the tone of lighter strings - less lows, more midrange.
I sincerely don't know why am I stuck with standard gauges.
I sincerely don't know why am I stuck with standard gauges.
I was talking to another bassist about trying light gauge strings because I have a 10 year old's hands.He stated that I would lose a lot of tone. I have never heard this but though "Hell, I don't know everything. I should ask."
So what is the consensus? Will I lose tone by going light?
