Medium versus Heavy Gauge?

[Phillip Keegan]

Hello this is my first thread.
I have a MIM P Bass tuned D G C F with 45-105 Roundwounds that feel fine playing our heavier type Original rock.
I'm wondering if I go to 50-110's what might be the difference in Sound and Feel? in other words it's new string time and i have a choice of Medium or Heavy string gauge...Decisions i can make "Yes i need new strings" choices i can't handle "What Gauge? i don't know"
Any thoughts?

 

[michael_t]

I have a MIM P Bass tuned D G C F with 45-105 Roundwounds that feel fine playing our heavier type Original rock.
I'm wondering if I go to 50-110's what might be the difference in Sound and Feel?

What specific brand/type of strings are you using now? Are you thinking of simply upping the gauges with the same strings?

 

[Vinny_G]

Fingerstyle or pickstyle? If you play with a pick, a 50-110 in DGCF works better IME.

 

[catcauphonic]

I love the feel of the 55-110 EB Cobalt rounds, but i mostly play with a pick and don't do very much string bending with my fretting hand at all.

 

[Phillip Keegan]

Ahh yes thank you...in this case i use a pick. I'm going to try the DR Black Beauties and on your comments 50-110.

 

[michael_t]

I'm going to try the DR Black Beauties and on your comments 50-110.

Black Beauties are round-core, meaning you do need larger gauges to keep them from getting too floppy when down-tuned.

Fyi...
Standard Black Beauties 50-110 are round-core, while the "Taper Heavey" version 50-110 are hex-core.

 

[Ekajimmy]

I love the feel of the 55-110 EB Cobalt rounds, but i mostly play with a pick and don't do very much string bending with my fretting hand at all.

+1
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[Tim Skaggs]

Hello this is my first thread.
I have a MIM P Bass tuned D G C F with 45-105 Roundwounds that feel fine playing our heavier type Original rock.
I'm wondering if I go to 50-110's what might be the difference in Sound and Feel? in other words it's new string time and i have a choice of Medium or Heavy string gauge...Decisions i can make "Yes i need new strings" choices i can't handle "What Gauge? i don't know"
Any thoughts?

If the strings you are playing feel fine, a set of strings with the same construction & core type in 50-110 gauge are going to feel stiffer, but I have to think the 45-105 set you are playing are pretty floppy tuned down where you are tuned. If you have adapted to the 45-105 set at D G C F tuning you will have some adapting to do to get used to the 50-110 set at the same tuning. That being said, you could probably play the 50-110 set quite a bit more aggressively without as much fret rattle if that is your goal.

As far as difference in sound, I’d say there won’t be much, unless you play the heavier strings harder, which is still unlikely to change your tone much.

 

[ChrisBowsman]

I use 45-105 on everything, except I recently put the D'Addario 50-120 set on my P bass. It sounds fatter and does drop D (or B) better, but doesn't feel much more difficult to play. Give it a shot, you may love it.