Put heavier strings on my jazz bass than my Ps and learned something.

[MrRiff]

I never gave a thought and always put the same brand and gauge strings on my jazz and P basses, Light or medium light but recently discovered the jazz seems to like a heavier gauge. Just sounds bigger and meaner not as polite I mean it’s like I’m rediscovering the bass. Thought I'd share my discovery.

 

[BGroovy]

Strings can be as/more important than pickups when you’re dialing in tone on a bass IMO.

 

[michael_t]

I never gave a thought and always put the same brand and gauge strings on my jazz and P basses, Light or medium light but recently discovered the jazz seems to like a heavier gauge. Just sounds bigger and meaner not as polite I mean it’s like I’m rediscovering the bass. Thought I'd share my discovery.

Just curious... What specific brand/type/gauges are you talking about?

 

[HelpImaRock]

Strings can be as/more important than pickups when you’re dialing in tone on a bass IMO.

Agreed. Everything matters, but strings, pickups, and technique can make up for a lot of variation between instruments.

 

[Pocket Dave]

I run medium gauge D'Addario EXL160's on my Jazz, BTW. 50 70 85 105. Leaves enough meat on the bone to punch hard while still allowing for a tight-toned response when favoring the bridge. For me it's the best of both ends of the spectrum.

 

[Rumfoord]

Strings can be as/more important than pickups when you’re dialing in tone on a bass IMO.

Absolutely.

I even think that it's possible that some of the tone change the OP hears with thicker strings could be coming partially from something else: like, what if playing the strings slightly more softly (with fingers used to playing lower tension) produced more fundamental? Seems plausible to me, but who knows!

In my experience playing with a pick, sometimes higher tension and/or thicker strings can sound brighter—because the higher tension facilitates more of the higher harmonics. And sometimes I can't even decide if a thicker or thinner pick ends up sounding thicker or thinner (between two picks that are quite similar, actually: ultex 0.88 versus 0.73). Sometimes (with some strings) the thicker pick sounds thicker to me (in some ways), but sometimes (on some days, on some basses, on some strings) the thinner pick actually sounds meatier. I think even that subtle of a change can also change how you play. Each change to the entire system can affect the timbre (I find it fascinating, tbh).

 

[MrRiff]

Just curious... What specific brand/type/gauges are you talking about?

It’s about hex core vs round core. I realize now that round core strings have a looser or lighter feel than the same gauge in hex core. When I went from Fender 7250s to a lighter gauge DR Sunbeams it was too much of a change. In other words 45-105 Sunbeams would be like playing Fender 40-100s. When searching for the right gauge rounds coming from flats this hex/round core thing was a curve ball. Just now starting to understand it.I have sets of DR Sunbeams 40-100 that I just can’t use. They make a 45-100 that might be ok of me but when i put the stock 7250s back on my jazz bass it killed.

 

[Element Zero]

That’s cool! I myself found that my fretted Stingray prefers light gauge strings while my fretless Stingray STRONGLY prefers medium/heavy gauge. Go figure.

Speaking about the fretted, it’s an older SR5 and I’ve owned it for 5 years now. Spent way too much money on trying strings with it to realize it feels incredible with the factory spec Ernie Ball Super Slinkys. While I’m not a fan of the lack of freshness longevity, the tension and strong texture is just perfect and it’s just the quintessential Stingray tone especially played with a pick.

 

[EricOnTheBass]

That’s cool! I myself found that my fretted Stingray prefers light gauge strings while my fretless Stingray STRONGLY prefers medium/heavy gauge. Go figure.

Speaking about the fretted, it’s an older SR5 and I’ve owned it for 5 years now. Spent way too much money on trying strings with it to realize it feels incredible with the factory spec Ernie Ball Super Slinkys. While I’m not a fan of the lack of freshness longevity, the tension and strong texture is just perfect and it’s just the quintessential Stingray tone especially played with a pick.

When I get a used bass I tend to put the factory spec strings on it from the start, and then only try something different if it’s not doing it for me.

 

[MrRiff]

When I get a used bass I tend to put the factory spec strings on it from the start, and then only try something different if it’s not doing it for me.

Smart, I think many of us (me) love to take off OEM. Every time I bought a new I immediately took the stock strings being a gear snob but I’m learning. As I mentioned already I rediscovered my jazz by putting the stock 7250s back on. In fairness thought I’ve had neck relief issues over the years a couple which made me always look for light gauge. Some of the more vintge American Standards were known for maxing out the truss rod to get a straight neck. But I’m over that lol.

 

[michael_t]

It’s about hex core vs round core. I realize now that round core strings have a looser or lighter feel than the same gauge in hex core. When I went from Fender 7250s to a lighter gauge DR Sunbeams it was too much of a change. In other words 45-105 Sunbeams would be like playing Fender 40-100s. When searching for the right gauge rounds coming from flats this hex/round core thing was a curve ball. Just now starting to understand it.I have sets of DR Sunbeams 40-100 that I just can’t use. They make a 45-100 that might be ok of me but when i put the stock 7250s back on my jazz bass it killed.

I understand what you're saying about round core vs. hex core. I once tried the DR Sunbeams 45-105 and the Nickel Lo-Riders 40-100 back-to-back and found the latter to be more to my liking due to their firmer feel (hex core) without being too stiff (lighter gauges). The SB were a little too loose despite the larger gauges.