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Does heavy guage strings = fatter tone?

#22
TortillaChip520 said:
It's pronounced "Gwa-jay".
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Is that French?

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#25
Many will say yes. Some will say no. In my experience the thicker string seem to have more pronounced low mids. Sometimes that good. Sometime not. You have to look at the whole picture of bass, technique, amp, EQ, style, pickups, etc.

If you are looking for a jumping off point I would recommend a 45-105 or 45-100 set of nickel round wounds such as GHS Boomer, D'Addario XLs, or Ernie Ball Slinkies. Figure out what you like and what do don't like and go from there.
 
#26
Well I am still learning about the whole gauge (did I spell that correct :eyebrow:).

I started out using Power Slinkies on an OLP that I had (I was under the impression that the heavier the better).

Then went to XL160, I liked them but wanted to try coated strings to see if they would last longer so...I tried Cleartones, they were OK, from what I can remember, but I didn't have them long due to selling the bass they were on.

Then I heard so much about Dunlops, I thought I would give them a try. They were good when new but didn't seem to last very long.

I didn't like DR Hi Beams, not sure why...just didn't.

Now I am back to D'Addarios...except I am now using the 170's as I like the 130 B string.

I know none of that helps...but it was my experience....
 
#30
i've done a handful of recordings trying to decide about this, and i've come to the conclusion that it really doesn't matter. couldn't really tell any difference between a light, medium and heavy set of d'addario xl's on tape. however, i could tell the difference between a set of xl's and a set of prosteels. so i'm convinced that what matters is how the string is made, and differences in thickness aren't enough to matter sonically.
 
#33
JimmyM said:
i've done a handful of recordings trying to decide about this, and i've come to the conclusion that it really doesn't matter. couldn't really tell any difference between a light, medium and heavy set of d'addario xl's on tape. however, i could tell the difference between a set of xl's and a set of prosteels. so i'm convinced that what matters is how the string is made, and differences in thickness aren't enough to matter sonically.
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Amen Jimmy. I was recently having issues with my MTD with getting a good slap tone and having trouble with slap style speed due to having to hook the string a little more agressively to get it to pop. I slapped on an old set of "LITE" DR Sunbeams that I had laying around....gauges 40.60.80.100.120. And instantly i got the tone I had been trying to dial in for weeks as well as easily attacking the super fast slap and pop riffs. I have also had other bassist compliment me on how great my Low B sounds with the same .120 B on my Roscoe playing finger style. Y'all can keep your heavy strings and all you specs, but your not convincing me that heavier gauges play or sound better.
 
#34
JimmyM said:
i've done a handful of recordings trying to decide about this, and i've come to the conclusion that it really doesn't matter. couldn't really tell any difference between a light, medium and heavy set of d'addario xl's on tape. however, i could tell the difference between a set of xl's and a set of prosteels. so i'm convinced that what matters is how the string is made, and differences in thickness aren't enough to matter sonically.
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+1

In my experience, the differences are so slight to the listener that it doesn't really matter much.

That said, I have found that lighter gauges mean more fundamental, and heavier gauges mean more harmonic content (growl) all other things being equal.
 
#36
Depends on the basses in question too. On my Lakland 44-01 basses I have come to prefer light gauge flatwounds without question. On my 44-02 and 55-01 basses, I prefer medium-gauge ROUNDS. I've gotten to a point where I prefer flats on pretty much anything, but really like the medium rounds on those basses. Depends on geometry, feel and setup and what you like, in addition to string construction.
 
#37
In alot of applications I imagine it matters much less, but I certainly think that when it comes to playing with a hard touch or hard picking that a heavy string can stop your playing sounding messy and keeps a tight low end behind things without loosing the aggressive edge. Playing hard pickstyle with thin stings seems to pretty much always result in a godawful rattley mess with no bass behind it because the notes are being so muted by fret contact.

Do agree with Jimmy that construction is vastly more important. After all that is what defines whether a string is going to be tense or sound aggressive or mellow, or have tight or loose low end for the most part, also tension seems to be alot more to do with the generalisations to do with thin/thick string types then actual gauge. I just find for all the stuff I'm playing at the moment whether it be post-hardcore or acoustic country that thicker strings seem to work out better because of a slightly tighter feel which means I can dig in more but still get a fat bottom end. If your playing with a light touch I can see it mattering less to sound though, but still to playability obviously.
 
#38
I don't know if it's more string gauge itself or the gauge of the string core. DR's round core strings with a 105 E feels more lighter to me than say a GHS Boomer E string because DR says they use a lighter core.

Some lighter strings sound more punchier. Say Rotosounds Swing bass 40-100 sounds more punchy (to me) then their 45-105.
 

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