Guage strings you use?

[Killed_by_Death]

the term gauge is a misnomer when talking about wire
AWG (gauge) measures the diameter & the smaller the number, the larger the diameter

Bass & Guitar strings are measured in inches, which is kind of silly, but that's the way it is.

If you see a set of 45 - 105, they're really 0.045" - 0.105".

 

[Glunkus]

I use flatwound 50-105 ^_^

 

[Jeff Scott]

I always found the lighter gauges a bit brighter sounding...

It's the other way around. Thicker strings are brighter...

Smaller "gauge" (thanks KbD ) strings have a greater (higher) range of harmonics/overtones than thicker strings. As a string gets thicker, as in larger "gauge" (thanks KbD ) they act more and more light a stiff metal bar with less harmonics/overtones.

I'll let you guys fight out the details.

 

[Eric Swaim]

I always found the lighter gauges a bit brighter sounding and the feel was always easier on my fingers than the mid and heavier strings.

Kevin,
your right, lighter guage steel strings are brighter. Lighter guage nickel strings are bright at first but dull out quicker. I do have 45-65-85-105 DR Hi Beams on a bass I use with a group that tunes down a half step. To me its all about the tension of the string for me to be sold on a brand.

 

[matante]

Smaller "gauge" (thanks KbD ) strings have a greater (higher) range of harmonics/overtones than thicker strings. As a string gets thicker, as in larger "gauge" (thanks KbD ) they act more and more light a stiff metal bar with less harmonics/overtones.

I'll let you guys fight out the details.

Again, try the experiment I suggested and listen for yourself. It takes two minutes to take it out of theory and into practice.

 

[SasquatchDude]

55-70-90-105 (GHS flats)

The extra girth in the treble strings took a little getting used to, but it's really grown on me.

 

[Jeff Scott]

Again, try the experiment I suggested and listen for yourself. It takes two minutes to take it out of theory and into practice.

Given the A string is now way out of spec, tension-wise, I fail to see the validity of your experiment.

 

[Ric5]

125 95 75 60 40

 

[JB820]

D'Addario Pro Steel
32 45 65 80 100 130
(Sorry nothing crazy here)

 

[ixlramp]

'Gauge' for wire may technically be an abstract inverse designation but lets not confuse the usage with guitar strings.

You need some lighter options in this poll, sets down to .030-.085 or .030-.090 are mainstream and .035-.095 is as popular as .050-.110.

If i tuned standard i would be around .025-.085.

 

[jcerio]

I typically use .045 .065. .085 .105 . 130 for flexible strings like Dunlop Super Bright Nickels. For less flexible strings I use .040 .060 .080 .100 .120 (or .125).

 

[DaveAceofBass]

I recently switched from 45-65-85-105-130 to 40-60-80-100-125, and I really like it much better. I can allow more relief in the neck without hurting myself.

 

[6Bass101]

I put together a custom set of 35-50-70-95-130 (and 25 for the high C on my six stringers). I took a chance on this combination after tinkering with a balanced tension calculator and reading some info about reverse tension setups. Loved it right away.

 

[matante]

Given the A string is now way out of spec, tension-wise, I fail to see the validity of your experiment.

There's no official spec for tension. A lot of people use .085 or .090 for an E string. We had a member here who used an .080 for his E string even on short scale basses.

If you prefer, you can do the same experiment by downtuning your G string to D, especially if you use a .050 for your G, it's not far off from what many standard sets use for their D. You'll get the same result.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Smaller "gauge" (thanks KbD ) strings have a greater (higher) range of harmonics/overtones than thicker strings.

You either completely misinterpreted my statement, or you're being ironic.
smaller gauge = larger diameter

 

[Jeff Scott]

You either completely misinterpreted my statement, or you're being ironic.
smaller gauge = larger diameter

Well, I wouldn't have used if I was serious.

 

[MCS4]

It's been a while since I had a bass that was solely dedicated to standard tuning, but if I did it would probably be at a light gauge, maybe around 40-95's. Comes from my muscles/joints getting older and having spent years becoming accustomed to the lighter tension and feel of playing lowered tunings with standard-gauge strings.

 

[lokikallas]

I use the round core DR strings now, and they are fairly flexible, so I tend to favor heavier gauges. 45-105 is my go-to for E

If I were using chromes id buy 40-95

 

[Kevin1960]

Kevin,
your right, lighter guage steel strings are brighter. Lighter guage nickel strings are bright at first but dull out quicker. I do have 45-65-85-105 DR Hi Beams on a bass I use with a group that tunes down a half step. To me its all about the tension of the string for me to be sold on a brand.

Sorry, have not been here in a while and did not mean to start any kind of discussion about differences in string sizes. Eric's statement here reflects more about my statement and I did not intend to imply anything else. My comments were about how I felt about individual sets in the guages that are widely available on the market that we have to choose from in a common EADG tuning.

 

[jamersonburton]

45-105 or 45-100. Thinking of switching everything to 45-105 next time I do string changes. Most likely 45-65-80-105 (rs66).