light gauge vs heavy gauge

[jbotz9]

just wondering, is there any kind of advantage that heavy gauge strings have over light gauge strings (like tone or longevity)?

 

[Khronic]

just wondering, is there any kind of advantage that heavy gauge strings have over light gauge strings (like tone or longevity)?

In my experience a heavier string equals thicker tone. Lighter gauge can achieve slicker, faster action.

 

[JimmyM]

While it's easier for a heavier string to sound thicker, there's a lot you can compensate for with amps. So I'd say in this day and age, don't worry about the sound differences so much and just play what you like.

 

[markdavid]

Heavy strings give a thicker tone with more bass and more top end zing (more treble response) , they give more bite

 

[meev992]

it's about personal preference, and how your overall setup is...."setup" as in, your electronics/amp too.

 

[Roland777]

OTOH - heavier gauges will always result in a worse slaptone. The fretboard attack will overpower the note - the effect of this is more noticable the thicker the gauges you use. It's even more noticable when you pop.

 

[JOE EDO]

I've used heavy gauge DR LoRiders on my Spector NS2 for recording. Make a bit of a difference in tone when recording (SUBTLE AT THAT) I'm back to using standard gauge. I think gauge has much more to do with the feel and action you want on the bass and a bit less on tone. Remember too, that if you go heavy, you will have to make truss rod adjustments and may even have to file (widen) the nut.

 

[nasaldischarges]

i like my slaptone with RS77LE's. as long as i scoop out the mids, i get a nice, robust sound without that annoying twang

but then again, i only like the sound i get when i use both the p and j pickups in my bass equally

 

[Dbassmon]

Heavier gauge is obviously a stiffer feel. For me, that makes it much easier to play fast. A lighter gauge string will give more, moves more and therefore is more difficult to get a real quick response. I also think heavier gauge string has more beef in the fundamental.

 

[ao'connor17]

i just buy heavy (.50 guage) steels. they sound good for slap, and they don't break easily.

 

[JimmyM]

OTOH - heavier gauges will always result in a worse slaptone. The fretboard attack will overpower the note - the effect of this is more noticable the thicker the gauges you use. It's even more noticable when you pop.

You don't really believe that, do you?

 

[HMZ]

Heavier gauge is obviously a stiffer feel. For me, that makes it much easier to play fast. A lighter gauge string will give more, moves more and therefore is more difficult to get a real quick response. I also think heavier gauge string has more beef in the fundamental.

+1

 

[Roland777]

You don't really believe that, do you?

I'm talking from practical experience, what's your excuse?

 

[Orco87]

I had light guage on my t40 when I first got it... tone was lacking b/c previously on another t40 I had heavy guage... so I bought some heavy guage GHS boomers (the best strings IMO for a t40) and only put the E and A strings, I left D and G light guage.

It makes for very interesting sound... the notes that should be bassey/boomey are so and when I hit those higher strings they really sing.

Good stuff so far, I'm pleased. In answer to original question: yes, their is a tone difference, and a feel difference. As been previously stated, it's all about the sound and feel you want.

 

[DavePlaysBass]

I have gone thicker and things have gotten boomy. I have gone thinner and things have sounded thin. On the other hand thinner can "sing". And thicker can "punch". If I go thinner, more relief and higher action helps out a lot. Setup, EQ, and amp probably have more impact. But if you find the perfect balance gauge for a given bass, it will punch and sing. For punch and sing on my Sadowsky right now I really dig the TI Superalloys at 45-65-80-105-125.

The older I get, the more I realize that I really like blondes, brunettes, and red heads all equally well.

Dave

 

[monkeyfinger]

Thicker strings have lower tension. Think of it this way: how floppy would the G-string have to be in order for it to sound a low E? Or how tight would the E string be to sound like a G string? On the other hand fatter strings feel stiffer because there is more mass to move. This also causes them to have more attack and less sustain than comparable light gauge strings. More mass means more dampening. This tends to kill the highs first since it is easier to dampen high frequencies than low. (More energy in lows, and therefore more energy is required to counteract it.) Fat strings therefore have more thump, less sustain, and a darker sound.


My bad!! You are right. Thicker strings have higher tension. Reasoning was right. Conclusion was wrong.

 

[lonote]

Thicker strings have lower tension.

That's not true. If you don't believe me, try tuning your E string up to G in the same octave as the open G string. I'd suggest wearing safety glasses while conducting the experiment.

Personally, I prefer thicker, higher tension strings because the strings excursion is less than it is with smaller strings with less tension. That enables me to have a lower set up with less relief in the neck and that equates to easier playing for me.

 

[Bushmaster]

is there any kind of advantage that heavy gauge strings have over light gauge strings (like tone or longevity)?

I wouldn't think of it in terms of dis-/advantages. There has been said a lot about tonal properties in general before. I only could add that from a certain mass on strings start lacking the flexibility to produce perfectly naturally sounding overtones, aquire some of the quality of malletophones (not that some might think I was exaggerating, they still are very far from sounding like a glockenspiel).

Longlivety, no. What makes strings durable is a reasonable alloy and various constructional parameters like core shape, diameters etc.

What I for one have been using is a lot of stuff ranging from sets with E = .085 to E = .110, for all those different purposes it probably all had its merits.

 

[Phalex]

My right hand likes the high tension of heavy gauge strings. My left hand prefers the softness of lighter gauge strings. They get along together best with mediums.

 

[theophilus762]

mediums here.

i find it to be good balance of tension, feel, and tone.