Famous bassist strings and their gauges
READ!
Before anyone says "It's all in the fingers" or "You have to be____Himself" or "You have to have your own style". I'm just making this list to help anyone that needs reference, on what strings did their favourite bassist use , maybe they want to try it, and see if that works for them. Maybe If the strings works for their Idol/Hero, It might work for them as well. There are a lot of famous bassist, so I will try to update this list once In awhile, and I know some bassist use more than one type of strings, and I will try to update that aswell.
This list is fairly accurate, I take some of the Info from the web and TB as well, but I can't guarantee you that this is 100% accurate.
Feel free to add correction and Information of the bassist's Strings and Gauges.
Please use this format, If you can please give me the type of strings as well(Roundwound,Flatwound,etc)
Bassist name
Strings :
Gauges :
So I can copy and paste them directly.
Thank You.
READ!
Before anyone says "It's all in the fingers" or "You have to be____Himself" or "You have to have your own style". I'm just making this list to help anyone that needs reference, on what strings did their favourite bassist use , maybe they want to try it, and see if that works for them. Maybe If the strings works for their Idol/Hero, It might work for them as well. There are a lot of famous bassist, so I will try to update this list once In awhile, and I know some bassist use more than one type of strings, and I will try to update that aswell.
This list is fairly accurate, I take some of the Info from the web and TB as well, but I can't guarantee you that this is 100% accurate.
Feel free to add correction and Information of the bassist's Strings and Gauges.
Please use this format, If you can please give me the type of strings as well(Roundwound,Flatwound,etc)
Bassist name
Strings :
Gauges :
So I can copy and paste them directly.
Thank You.
A
Abraham Laboriel
Strings 1: GHS Brite Flats
Gauges 1 : ?
Strings 2 : GHS Super Steel
Gauges 2 : -
Aston Barret
Strings : Fender Flatwounds
Gauges : Medium 45-105
Anthony Jackson
Strings : Fodera Anthony Jackson signature set
Gauges : 28-45-65-85-105-125
Anthony Wellington
Strings : DR Strings
Gauges : -
Adam Clayton
Strings : DR Sunbeams
Gauges : Medium 45-65-85-105
B
Bootsy Collins
Strings : DR BOOTZILLAS
Gauges : Medium .045-.105
Billy Sheehan
Strings : Rotosound BS66
Gauges : 43-65-80-110
Bob Glaub
Strings : La Bella 0760M
Gauges : 52-73-95-110
Billy Gould
Strings : Dunlop Nickels (DBN45105)
Gauges : 45-105
C
Cliff Burton
Strings : Rotosound Swing Bass 66(Roundwound)
Gauges : Extra Light .030 - .090
Chris Squire
Strings : Rotosound Swing Bass 66
Gauges : .045, .065, .080, .105
Chuck Rainey
Strings 1 : Labella 0760M
Gauges 1 : .052-.110
Strings 2 : DR lighter gauges
Gauges 2 : .040-.100
Chris Brubeck
Strings: Rotosound TruBass88
Gauge: 65-115
Carol Kaye
Strings: Thomastik-Infeld JF344
Gauge: 43-56-70-100
D
Donald Dunn
Strings: Labella 0760M
Gauges : 52-73-95-110
Duff McKagan
Strings: Rotosound Swing66
Gauge: 45-105 or 50-110 (for downtuning)
David Ellefson
Strings 1 : SIT DE-45105L(4 String)
Gauges 1 : Medium .045-.105
Strings 2 : SIT DE-545128L (5 String)
Gauges 2 : Medium .045 - .0128
Doug Wimbish
Strings : Rotosound Swing Bass
Gauges : 40-60-75-95
E
Evan Marien
Strings 1: GHS Super Steels
Gauge: 35-58-70-90-121
Edo Castro
Strings 1: GHS Super Steels
Gauge: 20-27-45-60-80-100-129
F
Flea
Strings : GHS M3045F Flea Signature Bass Boomers(Roundwound)
Gauges : Medium .045 - .105
Frank Bello
Strings : D'Addario EXL170 Nickel Wound Bass
Gauges : .045-.100
G
Geddy Lee
Strings : Rotosound Swing Bass 66
Gauges : Medium .045-.105(Jazz Bass)
Gauges : Light .30 - .095(Wal)
Graham Maby
Strings: Rotosound Trubass88
Gauge: 65-115
Gary Willis
Strings : D'Addario XL Nickel Wound
Gauges : 45-65-85-105-135
Geezer Butler
Strings : DR K3 Coated bass strings
Gauges : -
Guy Pratt
Strings : Elites Stadium Series stainless roundwound
Gauge : 40 60 80 100
H
Herbie Flowers
Strings: Rotosound TruBass88
Gauge: 65-115
I
J
Jaco Pastorius
Strings : Rotosound Swing Bass 66(Roundwound)
Gauges : Medium 46-63-80-102
John Paul Jones
Strings 1 : Rotosound Swing Bass 66(Roundwound)
Gauges 1 : 46-63-80-102
Strings 2 : Electric Bass Nickel Plated Steel with NANOWEB Coating
Gauges 2 : Medium .045 - .105
John Enwistle
Strings 1 : Rotosound Swing Bass 66 (Roundwound)
Gauges 1 : Medium 46-63-80-102
Strings 2 : Maxima Gold (Roundwound)
Gauges 2 : 45-65-85-105
John Deacon
Strings : Rotosound 77 Jazz Bass Strings
Gauges : Light
James Jamerson
Strings : La Bella 760M James Jamerson
Gauges : .052-.073-.095-.110
John Myung
Strings : Ernie Ball Nickel Slinky
Gauge : 32 45 65 80 100 130
Justin Chancellor
Strings : Ernie Ball Slinkies (nickel)
Gauges : 45-65-85-110
K
L
Leland Sklar
Strings : GHS Super Steels
Gauges : 40-58-80-102 (4-string)
Larry Graham
Strings 1 : GHS L3045 Bass Boomers
Gauges 1 : 40-55-75-95
Strings 2 : Rotosound Tru Bass 88s
Gauges 2 : 40-5-75-95
Lemmy Kilmister
Strings : Jim Dunlop Lemmy Icon series
Gauges : 50-70-85-105
M
Marcus Miller
Strings 1 : DR Strings Marcus Miller MM-45 Fat Beams (Roundwound)
Strings 2 : Jim Dunlop Marcus Miller Super Bright Brass Strings
Gauges : Medium .045 - .105
Mark King
Strings: Rotosound Funkmaster
Gauge: 30-50-70-90
Strings 2: Status hex core steel double ball
Gauge: 30-50-70-90
N
Neil Jason
Strings : Personal custom gauge D'addario XL
Gauges : 45-65-80-105
Nathan East
Strings : Super Bright Steel Bass Strings
Gauges : Medium .045-.130
O
P
Paul Mccartney
Strings 1: Rotosound Jazz77 short/medium (Hofner during Beatles days)
Gauge: 40-90
Strings 2: Rotosound TruBass88 short/medium (Hofner during Abbey Road/Let It Be sessions)
Gauge: 65-115
Strings 3: Pyramid Gold Flatwound (Hofner, today)
Gauge: 40-55-70-100
Strings 4: Maxima Flatwound (Rickenbacker, Beatles and Wings days)
Gauge: probably 40-95
Strings 5: Thomastik JF344 Flatwound (Rickenbacker, today)
Gauge: 43-56-70-110
Pino Palladino
Strings 1: Labella 0760M
Gauges 1 : 52-73-95-110
Strings 2 : TI
Gauges 2 : -
P-NUT
Strings 1: Bass Boomers
Gauge: 40-60-80-100-130
Strings 2: Bass Boomers
Gauge: 40/18-60/20-80/30-100/40-130/60
Q
R
Roger Glover
Strings : Ernie Ball(Flatwounds)
Gauges : -
Roger Waters
Strings: Rotosound 66
Gauge: 45-105
Ron Blair
Strings : D'Addario Pro Steels
Gauges : Medium 45-65-85-105
Robert DeLeo
Strings : D'Addario ECB81 Chromes
Gauges :Light, 45-100, Long Scale
Ryan Neff
Strings 1: GHS Bass Boomers
Gauge: 50-75-95-115 tuned to Drop A#
S
Steve Harris
Strings : Rotosound SH77 Steve Harris Signature(Flatwound)
Gauges : Heavy .050 - .0110
Sting
Strings : DR Nickel Lo-Riders
Gauges : Light 40-60-80-100
Stanley Clarke
Strings: Rotosound 55s
Gauges: .035 - .090
Stu Hamm
Strings 1: Bass Boomers
Gauge: 45-65-85-105
T
Tim Lefebvre
Strings 1: D’Addario Chromes flatwound
Gauge 1:50 - 105
Strings 2
'Addario XL Half Rounds
Gauge 2:50 - 105
Strings 3R Strings Legend flatwound
Gauge 3:45 - 105
U
V
Victor Wooten
Strings 1 : D'Addario EXL170 Nickel Wound Bass (Roundwound)
Gauges 1 : Light .045 - .0100
Strings 2 : D'Addario ETB92 Bass (Tapewound)
Gauges 2 : .50 - .105
Strings 3 : D'Addario Piccolo Bass (Nickel Wound)
Gauges 3 : .20 - .052
W
Wojtek Pilichowski
Strings : Super Bright™ Nickel Wound Bass Strings
Gauges : -
X
Y
Abraham Laboriel
Strings 1: GHS Brite Flats
Gauges 1 : ?
Strings 2 : GHS Super Steel
Gauges 2 : -
Aston Barret
Strings : Fender Flatwounds
Gauges : Medium 45-105
Anthony Jackson
Strings : Fodera Anthony Jackson signature set
Gauges : 28-45-65-85-105-125
Anthony Wellington
Strings : DR Strings
Gauges : -
Adam Clayton
Strings : DR Sunbeams
Gauges : Medium 45-65-85-105
B
Bootsy Collins
Strings : DR BOOTZILLAS
Gauges : Medium .045-.105
Billy Sheehan
Strings : Rotosound BS66
Gauges : 43-65-80-110
Bob Glaub
Strings : La Bella 0760M
Gauges : 52-73-95-110
Billy Gould
Strings : Dunlop Nickels (DBN45105)
Gauges : 45-105
C
Cliff Burton
Strings : Rotosound Swing Bass 66(Roundwound)
Gauges : Extra Light .030 - .090
Chris Squire
Strings : Rotosound Swing Bass 66
Gauges : .045, .065, .080, .105
Chuck Rainey
Strings 1 : Labella 0760M
Gauges 1 : .052-.110
Strings 2 : DR lighter gauges
Gauges 2 : .040-.100
Chris Brubeck
Strings: Rotosound TruBass88
Gauge: 65-115
Carol Kaye
Strings: Thomastik-Infeld JF344
Gauge: 43-56-70-100
D
Donald Dunn
Strings: Labella 0760M
Gauges : 52-73-95-110
Duff McKagan
Strings: Rotosound Swing66
Gauge: 45-105 or 50-110 (for downtuning)
David Ellefson
Strings 1 : SIT DE-45105L(4 String)
Gauges 1 : Medium .045-.105
Strings 2 : SIT DE-545128L (5 String)
Gauges 2 : Medium .045 - .0128
Doug Wimbish
Strings : Rotosound Swing Bass
Gauges : 40-60-75-95
E
Evan Marien
Strings 1: GHS Super Steels
Gauge: 35-58-70-90-121
Edo Castro
Strings 1: GHS Super Steels
Gauge: 20-27-45-60-80-100-129
F
Flea
Strings : GHS M3045F Flea Signature Bass Boomers(Roundwound)
Gauges : Medium .045 - .105
Frank Bello
Strings : D'Addario EXL170 Nickel Wound Bass
Gauges : .045-.100
G
Geddy Lee
Strings : Rotosound Swing Bass 66
Gauges : Medium .045-.105(Jazz Bass)
Gauges : Light .30 - .095(Wal)
Graham Maby
Strings: Rotosound Trubass88
Gauge: 65-115
Gary Willis
Strings : D'Addario XL Nickel Wound
Gauges : 45-65-85-105-135
Geezer Butler
Strings : DR K3 Coated bass strings
Gauges : -
Guy Pratt
Strings : Elites Stadium Series stainless roundwound
Gauge : 40 60 80 100
H
Herbie Flowers
Strings: Rotosound TruBass88
Gauge: 65-115
I
J
Jaco Pastorius
Strings : Rotosound Swing Bass 66(Roundwound)
Gauges : Medium 46-63-80-102
John Paul Jones
Strings 1 : Rotosound Swing Bass 66(Roundwound)
Gauges 1 : 46-63-80-102
Strings 2 : Electric Bass Nickel Plated Steel with NANOWEB Coating
Gauges 2 : Medium .045 - .105
John Enwistle
Strings 1 : Rotosound Swing Bass 66 (Roundwound)
Gauges 1 : Medium 46-63-80-102
Strings 2 : Maxima Gold (Roundwound)
Gauges 2 : 45-65-85-105
John Deacon
Strings : Rotosound 77 Jazz Bass Strings
Gauges : Light
James Jamerson
Strings : La Bella 760M James Jamerson
Gauges : .052-.073-.095-.110
John Myung
Strings : Ernie Ball Nickel Slinky
Gauge : 32 45 65 80 100 130
Justin Chancellor
Strings : Ernie Ball Slinkies (nickel)
Gauges : 45-65-85-110
K
L
Leland Sklar
Strings : GHS Super Steels
Gauges : 40-58-80-102 (4-string)
Larry Graham
Strings 1 : GHS L3045 Bass Boomers
Gauges 1 : 40-55-75-95
Strings 2 : Rotosound Tru Bass 88s
Gauges 2 : 40-5-75-95
Lemmy Kilmister
Strings : Jim Dunlop Lemmy Icon series
Gauges : 50-70-85-105
M
Marcus Miller
Strings 1 : DR Strings Marcus Miller MM-45 Fat Beams (Roundwound)
Strings 2 : Jim Dunlop Marcus Miller Super Bright Brass Strings
Gauges : Medium .045 - .105
Mark King
Strings: Rotosound Funkmaster
Gauge: 30-50-70-90
Strings 2: Status hex core steel double ball
Gauge: 30-50-70-90
N
Neil Jason
Strings : Personal custom gauge D'addario XL
Gauges : 45-65-80-105
Nathan East
Strings : Super Bright Steel Bass Strings
Gauges : Medium .045-.130
O
P
Paul Mccartney
Strings 1: Rotosound Jazz77 short/medium (Hofner during Beatles days)
Gauge: 40-90
Strings 2: Rotosound TruBass88 short/medium (Hofner during Abbey Road/Let It Be sessions)
Gauge: 65-115
Strings 3: Pyramid Gold Flatwound (Hofner, today)
Gauge: 40-55-70-100
Strings 4: Maxima Flatwound (Rickenbacker, Beatles and Wings days)
Gauge: probably 40-95
Strings 5: Thomastik JF344 Flatwound (Rickenbacker, today)
Gauge: 43-56-70-110
Pino Palladino
Strings 1: Labella 0760M
Gauges 1 : 52-73-95-110
Strings 2 : TI
Gauges 2 : -
P-NUT
Strings 1: Bass Boomers
Gauge: 40-60-80-100-130
Strings 2: Bass Boomers
Gauge: 40/18-60/20-80/30-100/40-130/60
Q
R
Roger Glover
Strings : Ernie Ball(Flatwounds)
Gauges : -
Roger Waters
Strings: Rotosound 66
Gauge: 45-105
Ron Blair
Strings : D'Addario Pro Steels
Gauges : Medium 45-65-85-105
Robert DeLeo
Strings : D'Addario ECB81 Chromes
Gauges :Light, 45-100, Long Scale
Ryan Neff
Strings 1: GHS Bass Boomers
Gauge: 50-75-95-115 tuned to Drop A#
S
Steve Harris
Strings : Rotosound SH77 Steve Harris Signature(Flatwound)
Gauges : Heavy .050 - .0110
Sting
Strings : DR Nickel Lo-Riders
Gauges : Light 40-60-80-100
Stanley Clarke
Strings: Rotosound 55s
Gauges: .035 - .090
Stu Hamm
Strings 1: Bass Boomers
Gauge: 45-65-85-105
T
Tim Lefebvre
Strings 1: D’Addario Chromes flatwound
Gauge 1:50 - 105
Strings 2
'Addario XL Half RoundsGauge 2:50 - 105
Strings 3
R Strings Legend flatwoundGauge 3:45 - 105
U
V
Victor Wooten
Strings 1 : D'Addario EXL170 Nickel Wound Bass (Roundwound)
Gauges 1 : Light .045 - .0100
Strings 2 : D'Addario ETB92 Bass (Tapewound)
Gauges 2 : .50 - .105
Strings 3 : D'Addario Piccolo Bass (Nickel Wound)
Gauges 3 : .20 - .052
W
Wojtek Pilichowski
Strings : Super Bright™ Nickel Wound Bass Strings
Gauges : -
X
Y
Z
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