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Non-matching G string flatwound… would this bother you?

Texican

Texican

Supporting Member
Aug 9, 2018
1,980
5,613
#1
I recently purchased a used fiesta red classic vibe 60s precision bass, and it arrived with an eight month old set of broken in GHS precision flats. All is well in the universe, but I didn’t like the 55 gauge G string at all. So I tried a couple of different sets I had laying around, the last being a set of DR legends. I ultimately decided that the original strings that were on it sounded and felt best, aside from the ginormous G string.
46CDBF68-2D6E-4BB5-B7EA-4A952AF2BAE2.jpeg

Oddly enough, the feel, tension, and even sound seem to match up and balance nicely. I think I could leave it this way and be satisfied, but there is some nagging part of me that knows it’s just not “right”. What would you guys do? Order a single lighter gauge G string from fret nation? Or leave it as is and enjoy the quirkiness?
 
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#2
Texican said:
Oddly enough, the feel, tension, and even sound seem to match up and balance nicely. I think I could leave it this way and be satisfied, but there is some nagging part of me that knows it’s just not “right”. What would you guys do? Order a single lighter gauge G string from fret nation? Or leave it as is and enjoy the quirkiness?
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If they sound good and feel good together, why not? The fact the silk colors don't match shouldn't be a deterring factor unless it aggravates your OCD too much. ;):D
 
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#6
weird_hermiston said:
I have a slightly heavier gauge g on my mustang cause the matching one was too dainty. It feels good and sounds much better to me. So why not keep it like that?
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Because it doesn’t feel better and sound better to me. Also, your Mustang is a short scale with less string tension relative to each string compared to a 34”.
 
#7
Texican said:
Because it doesn’t feel better and sound better to me. Also, your Mustang is a short scale with less string tension relative to each string compared to a 34”.
Click to expand...
But you said in your original post it does work for you except that it doesn't meet your ideas of matching. So what's your problem with what I said?

In other words, I'm saying keep yours like it is with mismatching strings- since it feels good to you, so what are you on about replying to mine like that?
 
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#8
weird_hermiston said:
But you said in your original post it does work for you except that it doesn't meet your ideas of matching. So what's your problem with what I said?

In other words, I'm saying keep yours like it is with mismatching strings- since it feels good to you, so what are you on about replying to mine like that?
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When you pointed out that you have a heavy G string and prefer it that way because it sounds and feels good, I thought you were saying that I should also be happy with how the heavy gauge G string sounds and feels on my bass. I didn’t realize that you meant I should keep it mismatched… I thought you meant that I should keep the heavier G string like you did. Apologies.

To answer your original question, I guess my only motivation for not keeping them mismatched is that now I can’t use the rest of the DR legend set, and I have other instruments that I could put them on. Again, sorry for the confusion on my part.
 
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#9
Texican said:
I recently purchased a used fiesta red classic vibe 60s precision bass, and it arrived with an eight month old set of broken in GHS precision flats. All is well in the universe, but I didn’t like the 55 gauge G string at all. So I tried a couple of different sets I had laying around, the last being a set of DR legends. I ultimately decided that the original strings that were on it sounded and felt best, aside from the ginormous G string.
View attachment 4816894
Oddly enough, the feel, tension, and even sound seem to match up and balance nicely. I think I could leave it this way and be satisfied, but there is some nagging part of me that knows it’s just not “right”. What would you guys do? Order a single lighter gauge G string from fret nation? Or leave it as is and enjoy the quirkiness?
Click to expand...
I left a Rotosound FunkMasters G on a bass that had La Bella White Nylon strings on it. Really enjoyed it!
 
#19
It’s completely fine. In the cello world (very similar to bass flatwounds, TI actually makes fantastic cello strings) it’s super common to mix sets to get the desired sound/response. You see mixed silks all the time there.

Mine has Thomastik-Infield spirocores on my C and G, and my D and A are from larson, a completely different manufacturer and type of string. But they sing better and are more musical on the higher strings.

People play famous Bach pieces on $200,000 cellos like this. An electric bass can’t be more complex than a bunch of paper thin wood under high tension held together by horse glue (imo).

If your ears are happy, screw everything else.
 
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#20
Texican said:
I recently purchased a used fiesta red classic vibe 60s precision bass, and it arrived with an eight month old set of broken in GHS precision flats. All is well in the universe, but I didn’t like the 55 gauge G string at all. So I tried a couple of different sets I had laying around, the last being a set of DR legends. I ultimately decided that the original strings that were on it sounded and felt best, aside from the ginormous G string.
View attachment 4816894
Oddly enough, the feel, tension, and even sound seem to match up and balance nicely. I think I could leave it this way and be satisfied, but there is some nagging part of me that knows it’s just not “right”. What would you guys do? Order a single lighter gauge G string from fret nation? Or leave it as is and enjoy the quirkiness?
Click to expand...

All good if it’s good with you. In the upright bass world it’s a common practice to use mixed strings, and even mixed types of strings, like steel stranded core and nylon core or other structural differences.

A black magic marker will fix those different colored silks, if that’s bugging you….
 
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