mixing string guages

[daddyvettes]

im singing and playing bass in a cover band. Zep, u2, etc. i find it easier to play with pick and sing. having said that i feel that the d and g sting are too thin and i lose the balls when i go to them. could i use heavier guage strings for just those two strings? thanks anyone for responding.

 

[Ewo]

Well, going to heavier D and G strings means they'll be at higher tension when tuned to pitch.

Most packaged sets already are tighter on the D and G than the E; the tension isn't balanced well, IOW. You'd be exacerbating the mismatch in tension.

You might just want to go to a heavier set and tweak the truss rod accordingly.

 

[FunkMetalBass]

There are a couple of directions you can go. The first is a lighter D-string and G-string. Because they should have more ability to vibrate, these should have a bit more presence in the second and third harmonics where you want them. The second option is to go with flats for those strings. It's actually quite common, and places like BassStringsOnline and JustStrings sell a multitude of flatwound singles.

 

[Duckwater]

Upping your gauge will actually make your D & G brighter IME, I've tried this many times myself while looking for a full, even tone across all strings. If you want really comfortable, balanced sounding/feeling, & long lasting strings. Get some Circle K's.