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Light gauge users..what's your reason?

#61
I like lighter gauge strings because when I dig in at the bridge I can still get a lot of string movement which makes for a meatier punchy tone. I dislike lighter strings because playing at the neck sounds sloppy. I'm also not a slap player, so it matters less to me to go with the lightest gauge and more towards the 100's.
 
#62
Jeremy5000 said:
One thing I haven't heard mentioned here is the headroom you get with heavier guages.
50-110 do seem to have too much tension to me but anything less than 45-105, (and 130 low B), and you can only play them so hard. Try doing a really long buildup with a drummer in any style of music - do you find that you run out of gas before you're where you need to go?
Seems like when I dig in with lighter strings they start traveling away from the pickups and acually get lower in volume.
Click to expand...

Too many players are still under the illusion that to play with maximum dynamic range, one needs heavier-gauge strings. It ain't the case.

To compensate for any potential relative loss of dynamics, turn up at the amp - then refine your technique so you can control volume and dynamics by touch alone. If you do this properly, it may no longer be necessary to "dig in"... :eyebrow:

MM
 
#63
On my standard tuned basses(none Sub Contra) I use a very light gauge .110 .080. .060 .040 .030 .025 and the Low B is not floppy at all and it's very clear.

I like light gauge strings because for me they respond better and are clear and punchy if I need them to be and I don't have to worry about fighting with unwanted string tension possibly causing hand problems in the future.
 
#65
AqueousView11 said:
Sorry to get a little off topic, but does anyone the D Addario XL Nickel Roundwounds in gauges 40-.60-.75-.95 ? I have small hands and I think it might be easier to manage, and they will more playable.
Click to expand...

I've been using those exclusively on any 4-string bass I've owned for about 5 million years now. The sound and playability is just right to me. I should get an endorsement. ;)
 
#66
I use .040-.095 D'addario or Dean Markleys on my Ibanez Artist bass primarily because the truss rod was stripped when I got it. The lighter strings alleviated the warp for the most part.

I've since gotten used to them so they're now my string of choice. I hear no discernible loss of low frequencies, so I'm opting for ease of playing and less wear on the instrument, which is from the mid 70's.
 
#68
ok,, i normally have used mediums 45-65-85-105-125's for the last few years & they always felt comfortable to me.

then i read thru this thread last night.

went down to my local brick & mortar music shop in San Rafael & picked up some D'Addario Nickels 40-60-75-95-120, & installed about an hour ago & did a quickie setup, ( will hit it again tomorrow to fine tune everything )

WOW,,,, I FLY ON THIS 5er now.. feels very comfortable. certain passages that have given me resistance in the past, i'm just ripping thru, & my right hand speed has definitely just jumped a few notches.

i just wish i would have done this years ago,,, thanks guys for the posts.
 
#69
NorCal Dog said:
ok,, i normally have used mediums 45-65-85-105-125's for the last few years & they always felt comfortable to me.

then i read thru this thread last night.

went down to my local brick & mortar music shop in San Rafael & picked up some D'Addario Nickels 40-60-75-95-120, & installed about an hour ago & did a quickie setup, ( will hit it again tomorrow to fine tune everything )

WOW,,,, I FLY ON THIS 5er now.. feels very comfortable. certain passages that have given me resistance in the past, i'm just ripping thru, & my right hand speed has definitely just jumped a few notches.

i just wish i would have done this years ago,,, thanks guys for the posts.
Click to expand...

I've always thought .045/.065/.085/.105/.125 is a light set-its what I play with. Did you lose much bass going to that real light set. I'm curious because I was thinking of trying that too.
 
#74
rogerbmiller said:
It's all physics for me. Lighter guage strings acheive their respective tuning with less string tention. So:

1) They are much easier to play. Less strength is required. You can play lighter.
2) More expressiveness via vibrato, bending, etc.
3) Less tensioon on the neck makes the bass more responsive IMO as the wood is more stiff relative to the string tention
4) They are easier on frets and necks.
Click to expand...

Those are my thoughts exactly! I feel that with less string tension, the bass just responds better and more expressively. I also think that since there is less tension, and the strings are easier to play, you can be more relaxed while playing, and for me that is what is most important in geting a good sound.

I became a true believer in low-tension strings with Thomastik-Infeld. I use their jazz rounds exclusively now on my main electric basses and I have no desire to try anything else. .118 B (which I d-tune to low A sometimes) and .89 E

...and I couldn't be happier :D

Also, I use TI Acousticores on my Kinal Kompact Acoustic basses, and on the fretless 4-string I'm using an ADGC set tuned down to standard EADG. And that's on a 30" scale too! Feels great and the tone is just magic! That bass really sings :smug:
 
#75
Lokire said:
I became a true believer in low-tension strings with Thomastik-Infeld.
Click to expand...

AMEN:bassist:
On upright I use Thomastik Spirocore solo tuning strings. They are meant to be tuned a whole step higher (F#, B, E, A) but I tune them to standard and I love the lighter tension. It is so easy to play and still sounds great.

On my electrics, I use Thomastik Jazz Flats on my Fender Classic 50's Precision and Thomastik Jazz Rounds on my Fender '75RI Jazz.

I cannot imagine using another brand of string anymore. For how I like to play and what I want to hear, Thomastik-Infeld makes the best bass strings in the world.:D

Craig
 
#77
Figjam said:
For those of you that use light gauge strings (E string is .100 or .095 or smaller) why do you use them? Just seeing what all the possible advantages of them are. I like them on my Godin because it makes double thumbing less painful (:-p) and lower action is usually attainable and i like the feel of a less thick string.
Click to expand...

My reason: because I'm a guitarist! :ninja:

Really though, I actually prefer a .110" for the E, and a .040" for the G. In between, I like a 55 and a 75. The reason for these gauges is because they are progressively tensioned -- as the strings get thicker in diameter, the tension rises -- but the problem is no one makes sets like this as far as I'm aware, you gotta buy singles, and that limits the choice severely. String sets like the usual 45-105, they are very unbalanced, with the G being higher in tension than the E. It's stupid. There is no logic to it whatsoever!

Look:

Your average 45-105 set of nickel wound strings on a 34" scale:

G: .045" [NW] = 42.21 pounds
D: .065" [NW] = 49.99 pounds
A: .085" [NW] = 46.4 pounds
E: .105" [NW] = 36.66 pounds

Total Tension = 175.27 pounds

Does it make sense that the D string is more than 13 pounds higher in tension than the E? :scowl:


Custom set made from singles:

G: .040" [NW] = 33.8 pounds
D: .055" [NW] = 35.65 pounds
A: .075" [NW] = 36.8 pounds
E: .110" [NW] = 39.31 pounds

Total Tension = 145.56 pounds

That's how it should be, progressively increasing in tension as the string diameter increases.

Note: This info is worked out using a tension calculator for D'Addario guitar strings. I adapted it for bass, and no doubt the figures are not 100% accurate, but I'd imagine they are close enough to show the relative differences in tension.

Stainless steel strings are higher tension.
 
#78
Dee_01 said:
My reason: because I'm a guitarist! :ninja:

Really though, I actually prefer a .110" for the E, and a .040" for the G. In between, I like a 55 and a 75. The reason for these gauges is because they are progressively tensioned -- as the strings get thicker in diameter, the tension rises -- but the problem is no one makes sets like this as far as I'm aware, you gotta buy singles, and that limits the choice severely. String sets like the usual 45-105, they are very unbalanced, with the G being higher in tension than the E. It's stupid. There is no logic to it whatsoever!

Look:

Your average 45-105 set of nickel wound strings on a 34" scale:

G: .045" [NW] = 42.21 pounds
D: .065" [NW] = 49.99 pounds
A: .085" [NW] = 46.4 pounds
E: .105" [NW] = 36.66 pounds

Total Tension = 175.27 pounds

Does it make sense that the D string is more than 13 pounds higher in tension than the E? :scowl:


Custom set made from singles:

G: .040" [NW] = 33.8 pounds
D: .055" [NW] = 35.65 pounds
A: .075" [NW] = 36.8 pounds
E: .110" [NW] = 39.31 pounds

Total Tension = 145.56 pounds

That's how it should be, progressively increasing in tension as the string diameter increases.

Note: This info is worked out using a tension calculator for D'Addario guitar strings. I adapted it for bass, and no doubt the figures are not 100% accurate, but I'd imagine they are close enough to show the relative differences in tension.

Stainless steel strings are higher tension.
Click to expand...

I use the same logic, but to simplify finding strings and not having to buy a custom set, I use 40, 55, 75, 95. (95 is 34.4pounds, so in the same ballpark as the G). I also think having a progressively increasing tension could help warp the neck...
 
#80
I use .30-.90 GHS Bass Boomers, and they are the best strings I've used. The tension is not just light -- it's light taken to a new extreme, and the action is really low. The neck is really fast and it's so easy to play. It'll probably end up doing wonders for my technique, making it lighter and such.
 

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