Lighter Gauge = Wimpier?

[cnltb]

Hey everyone,

I was thinking about trying some lighter gauge strings on the next pair I buy, but I have a few questions...

-Will it drastically change my tone?

-Are you considered a "wimp" if you use lighter gauges?

-Should my comfort on the strings overrule the above questions?

-It will change your sound a bit but if it's more comfortable , why not try it.You may play better if it feels better.
-If you're worried about if people consider you a wimp, hang it all up and get yourself a life. ( some might consider you one for simply asking this pathetic question...sorry but sometimes I just can't do polite).
Bottom line; if you like the feel and tone of whatever strings you use, use those strings whatever the others think.
They can get their own strings if they don't like yours.

 

[groovenut57]

I use chromes flats 40-60-80-100 on my Fender Jazz.

Lighter gauge strings force me to play with a lighter touch, which results in a cleaner, smoother tone with better dynamics (at least to my own ears) without being too thumpy or clanky. I definitely prefer "smooth" to "thumpy". I also like flats because they tend to produce a meatier and stronger tone even with lighter gauges.

Oh by the way, "wimps" don't use flats.

 

[refuge4]

like it's been said, it's up to you. i used .45-.100's forever, like 5 years, until recently i accidentally bought a heavy set, .55-.110's, and now i want them even heavier. but that's just me. now i want to try a bunch of different gauges. i'd encourage you to explore! whatever you decide you should get it set up after restringing. that's the best $20 you can spend on any instrument.

 

[Clark Dark]

if you're going from a heavy to a light guage you should do a set up. As for being wimpy, Mark King, Stanley Clarke, just a couple of wimps

 

[cjac9]

I just changed from a .45-.105 set on my P-bass to .40-.100. I put them on yesterday and hate the tone. I don't think that the smaller strings vibrate the wood enough, so I'm losing the essence of that bass's tone. I'm just hearing the strings. On my Ric, the smaller strings are great. I think it just depends on the bass. It doesn't make you a wimp, the bass will tell you what it needs/wants.

 

[Mastermold]

like it's been said, it's up to you. i used .45-.100's forever, like 5 years, until recently i accidentally bought a heavy set, .55-.110's, and now i want them even heavier. but that's just me. now i want to try a bunch of different gauges. i'd encourage you to explore! whatever you decide you should get it set up after restringing. that's the best $20 you can spend on any instrument.

Yeah I've been all over the map on this. I play flats on most all my basses and have pretty well settled in on TI flats and LaBella 760FLs as my strings of choice. I have some heavier sets too but the loss of note articulation bugs me. I find I can get percussion from lighter strings by changing my technique but can't get more articulation from heavier strings.

 

[Meatrus]

I personally can hear no difference between 100-40 and 105-45. With flats I would always go for a lighter gauge as the stiffness/tension on a lot of flats in standard gauge can be too much for me. Lighter gauge also has the benefit of not putting so much strain on the neck.

So I would say go for it.

 

[WoodyG3]

"wait a second...this guy uses lighter gauge strings!" and then they start throwing tomatoes.

Oh, THAT's why they have been throwing stuff at me on stage!

I dunno', I just don't hear much difference between , say, a .100 or .105 E string. The only .110 I've used was a tapewound, so naturally there was a difference in tone there. I suspect, as with many things, it depends on the bass and your playing style.

Anyway, lighter gauges are not wimpy and you aren't a wimp for using them. There. I said it. I feel so much better now!

 

[cjac9]

I personally can hear no difference between 100-40 and 105-45. With flats I would always go for a lighter gauge as the stiffness/tension on a lot of flats in standard gauge can be too much for me. Lighter gauge also has the benefit of not putting so much strain on the neck.

Yeah, I really think it depends on the bass. The Ric sounds about the same but feels better. But the P it makes a difference. Go figure. I'm also a purist. Put your ear up to your bass and play it without an amp. That's the sound that matters to me. Then any amp, pedals, what-have-you has to work to get that amplified. If the strings don't make it sound better than get a new set.

 

[deckard]

I recently went from Roto RS66LDs (which I'd used since God was a boy) to RS66LCs, and I love the lighter gauge on my H.G. Thor-ed epoxied fretless Frankenbass.

More mwah/lower action, more note fundamental, longer sustain.

Gary Willis has said that going to a lighter gauge means the pickup "sees" less of the string, but I think he has forgotten that lighter gauge=more string movement for the pickup to "see", so IMHO it balances out.

Michael Manring uses light gauge strings and I wouldn't call *him* a wimp.



Try it - you might like it!

edit - I forgot to mention:

it became immediately apparent as soon as I installed the lighter RS66LCs that I had to clean up my technique re: both hands... that's ok, though, as it also put me on the path to turning up and picking lighter, which is something I wanted to work on anyway. YMMV

 

[bassbrad]

Try it and see if you like it. On most of my basses I am using a custom D'Addario set 35-55-80-100, giving me balanced feel and sound with easier articulation.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I use light gauge strings on my basses - have for years. I like how they feel.

I do wish I could get a light guage set with a bigger G string, however - - in a light set, a light G feels to small for popping (for me).

Oh - and my rig sounds *great*. I've tried heavier strings and all I can tell is that they feel bigger - no tone change that I could tell.

 

[eyecandy]

I like the lighter gauge.. it kinda gives me that softer feel and less tension.. feels good on the hand too and which is also good for the bass.. less tension can prevent it from being badly warped..

and no for the wimpy thing.. because if you can play well or give em a good show.. who cares what string you use?

Mark King and Geddy uses Rotosound 30-90.. does that make them whimps? hell no..~

Lighter gauge would make the bass lose a tad but hey EQ's and boosters are available

 

[Medford Bassman]

correct me if I'm wrong but when we talk about differences in gauges, we're talking in thousandth of an inch correct?

I've got flat lights on by SX P-Bass and round mediums on my MIA Jazz. Only tonal difference to me is the difference between flats and rounds.

Use whatever sounds best to you. Nobody will care when you're on stage. Just sound good!

 

[Meatrus]

Yeah, I really think it depends on the bass. The Ric sounds about the same but feels better. But the P it makes a difference. Go figure. I'm also a purist. Put your ear up to your bass and play it without an amp. That's the sound that matters to me. Then any amp, pedals, what-have-you has to work to get that amplified. If the strings don't make it sound better than get a new set.

Yeagh weird, but getting the sound YOU want is what matters, and it sounds like you have got that .

 

[cjac9]

Use whatever sounds best to you. Nobody will care when you're on stage. Just sound good!

True dat.

 

[Pilgrim]

There probably will be a tone difference, but you make like it. There is NOTHING wimpy about using whatever gauge of strings you prefer, and it's nobody's business but yours.

And yes, comfort is INCREDIBLY important. You should do everything you can to be comfortable while playing - and you should ESPECIALLY take care of your hands.

 

[pjmuck]

I've found, depending on the bass, that lighter strings will give you added clarity and definition. Some basses can sound muddy or blurry with heavier strings. I recently put a light .40-.95 set of Elixirs on my mudbucker Tele bass, and it did help improve note definition and clean it up a bit. Likewise, I also find my Rick has a better ringing piano-like tone with lighter rounds than heavier (And the strings seem to last longer too).

 

[stingray69]

I wouldn't get too hung up worrying what others think about your gear decisions. Someone beat me to the Geddy reference earlier. Anyway, IME some gigs you play will have boomy sounding rooms to contend with anyway. Sometimes the extra oomph thicker gauges may give you aren't always a blessing. I toggle between lights & mediums, depending on my mood, if I'm recording, etc. The "heaviest" gauge I ever play is medium gauge. I wonder who here thinks they can tell what gauge strings were on any bass live or recorded just by listening. I vote - play what sounds & works best for you.

 

[ProfGumby]

I was using 45-100 for a spell but a few years ago I went back to wussy lights...40-95, 120 if I use a 5. At first they sounded a bit wimpy to me, but it turned out I just needed to bump the action up a little, and now I think they sound as fat as any. I think that while there are some tonal differences with heavier strings, it's not nearly as much as we'd like them to be, and I'd rather be comfortable.

This works for me too! Especially with flats. I prefer 45-100 and can get into 40-95! Especially with flats. I have two basses with either 45-105 or 50-105, can't remember which. But they are really, noticeably different in terms of feel. And the Ash bodied Jazz just thunders with the DR's I have on there.