String Gauges question

[Dp1363]

I have been playing Dunlop SB Nickels RW for years. The gauges are .105 .85 .65 .45. I always considered these medium gauge.

Now I realize these are really considered hybrid. Medium on the A and E, and light on the D and G. Medium by many string manufacturers seem to be .105 .85 .70 .50.

Besides playability what would be the advantage to using a medium gauge D .70 and G .50 string? Do heavier gauge strings offer more advantages such as smoothness, or sustain, etc?

I do notice that my G string and D can be thin sounding at times I was never sure if that was due to them being a lighter gauge. Do most of you that use medium strings use hybrids?

 

[michael_t]

It's best not to get hung up on terminology. Different manufacturers define the terms differently, so they will only confuse you.

What really counts is how a set of strings sound and feel to you. Have fun experimenting.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Those numbers aren't actually gauges, they're the diameter in inches.
Gauges is a separate thing where a larger number is a smaller diameter.

G & D probably sound thinner, because they are literally thinner.
but if you put heavier gauge strings there, then you're working with unbalanced tension


Your numbers are off by a decimal point:

".85 .65 .45" should be .085 .065 .045

0.85" is larger than 3/4"

 

[michael_t]

Those numbers aren't actually gauges, they're the diameter in inches.
Gauges is a separate thing where a larger number is a smaller diameter.

View attachment 1363913

You keep bringing this up in your posts. The word "gauge" is a widely accepted term around here to refer to different sizes of strings. Let's not get too technical.

 

[Dp1363]

Those numbers aren't actually gauges, they're the diameter in inches.
Gauges is a separate thing where a larger number is a smaller diameter.

View attachment 1363913


G & D probably sound thinner, because they are literally thinner.
but if you put heavier gauge strings there, then you're working with unbalanced tension


Your numbers are off by a decimal point:

".85 .65 .45" should be .085 .065 .045

0.85" is larger than 3/4"

Thats what I get for working and trying to post on TB at the same time. LOL!

 

[lz4005]

It's best not to get hung up on terminology. Different manufacturers define the terms differently, so they will only confuse you.

True this.

Words like light, medium, heavy, long, short, extra long, etc all mean different things to different manufacturers.
Go by measurements. And get your decimals in the right place.

 

[Dp1363]

Those numbers aren't actually gauges, they're the diameter in inches.
Gauges is a separate thing where a larger number is a smaller diameter.

View attachment 1363913


G & D probably sound thinner, because they are literally thinner.
but if you put heavier gauge strings there, then you're working with unbalanced tension


Your numbers are off by a decimal point:

".85 .65 .45" should be .085 .065 .045

0.85" is larger than 3/4"

I hear you. I was a drummer for many years before becoming a full time bass player. When I first heard gauge used for string thickness, I kept thinking the larger number was a smaller thickness as well.

We all get that the D and G are thinner, what I meant was they were thinner in relation to the other strings. Light .065 and .045. vs. Medium .070 and .050 when joined by a .085 and .105.

So, back to my original question do heavier "gauge" or thicker strings, have more advantages when it comes to tone and sound quality?

 

[Killed_by_Death]

The word "gauge" is a widely accepted term

People also use tone when they mean timbre, & tremolo when they mean vibrato. That doesn't make it right.
Gauge is a misnomer, unless you're actually referring to AWG numbers.

 

[Jon Moody]

You keep bringing this up in your posts. The word "gauge" is a widely accepted term around here to refer to different sizes of strings. Let's not get too technical.

I'd broaden that to "The word 'gauge' is a widely understood term in the MUSIC INDUSTRY as a whole to refer to the diameter of the string."

 

[Killed_by_Death]

So is the use of tremolo when they're talking about a floating bridge, which is used for vibrato. It's industry-wide & it's still incorrect.
I guess people could be right if they said they're going to change to a larger gauge, if that means they're going to get thinner strings.

 

[scuzzy]

People also use tone when they mean timbre, & tremolo when they mean vibrato. That doesn't make it right.
Gauge is a misnomer, unless you're actually referring to AWG numbers.

tim·bre
ˈtambər/
noun
noun: timbre; plural noun: timbres

1. the character or quality of a musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity.
   "trumpet mutes with different timbres"
   synonyms: tone, sound, sound quality, voice, voice quality, color, tone color, tonality, resonance
   "the timbre of the reeds"

 

[saltydude]

Heavier / thicker (to use understandable terminology) strings will sound heavier, be less flexible and if you know how to properly adjust your bass can give you lower action.
The sound and tonal differences will have a lot to do with the different materials used and the differences in construction from one manufacturer to another.

 

[40Hz]

So is the use of tremolo when they're talking about a floating bridge, which is used for vibrato. It's industry-wide & it's still incorrect.
I guess people could be right if they said they're going to change to a larger gauge, if that means they're going to get thinner strings.

Vox Populi Vox Dei.

In a living language, meanings change and evolve over time, such that consensus and "commonly accepted meaning" dictates the "correct" interpretation of a term. Even electrical wire makers take care to use the term 'AWG' to differentiate their "gauge" (i.e. Brown & Sharpe -or- American Wire Gauge) from all the other wire gauges in use out there. And even AWG is not a global standard. It's mostly used in North America last I heard.

So lets not get too academic or pedantic about this. We all know what somebody means when they're talking about a musical instrument string's "gauge."

 

[Nev375]

I have been playing Dunlop SB Nickels RW for years. The gauges are .105 .85 .65 .45. I always considered these medium gauge.

Now I realize these are really considered hybrid. Medium on the A and E, and light on the D and G. Medium by many string manufacturers seem to be .105 .85 .70 .50.

Besides playability what would be the advantage to using a medium gauge D .70 and G .50 string? Do heavier gauge strings offer more advantages such as smoothness, or sustain, etc?

I do notice that my G string and D can be thin sounding at times I was never sure if that was due to them being a lighter gauge. Do most of you that use medium strings use hybrids?

It's like buying shoes. You might be a size 10 or whatever, but a size 10 in Nike is a very different experience than a size 10 in New Balance.
Just keep trying til you find a brand and "gauge" that fit you. Also take all marketing speak with a grain of salt. I don't think "hybrid" is an industry standard term at all.

 

[40Hz]

It's like buying shoes. You might be a size 10 or whatever, but a size 10 in Nike is a very different experience than a size 10 in New Balance.
Just keep trying til you find a brand and "gauge" that fit you. Also take all marketing speak with a grain of salt. I don't think "hybrid" is an industry standard term at all.

IIRC the term 'hybrid' started with D'Addario as their version of Ernie Ball's "Light Top Heavy Bottom" designation. I think D'Addario is just about the only string maker that does use that word.

 

[michael_t]

IIRC the term 'hybrid' started with D'Addario as their version of Ernie Ball's "Light Top Heavy Bottom" designation. I think D'Addario is just about the only string maker that does use that word.

I think you have them reversed. D'Addario uses the term "Light Top-Medium Bottom", as in EXL165, and EB uses the term "hybrid", as in Hybrid Slinkys.

As for me, the only "hybrid" I know is Toyota Prius.

 

[GK Growl]

I think Killed by Death should change their username to Killed by Too Much Useless Information Even if it Is Correct Terminology Because it Goes Against the Word that Everyone Uses to Describe the Size of the Strings They Use.

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I'm just glad the OP spelled gauge correctly.

 

[40Hz]

I think you have them reversed. D'Addario uses the term "Light Top-Medium Bottom", as in EXL165, and EB uses the term "hybrid", as in Hybrid Slinkys.

As for me, the only "hybrid" I know is Toyota Prius.

Oops! Mea culpa. EB started using the phrase "Skinny Top Heavy Bottom" not "Light Top Heavy Bottom" back in the 70s.

As far as terminology goes, I don't care what a company cares to call their sets. Until I try a set out, it all means zip to me. I just look at the posted gauges (which vary from set to set and are only approximations anyway) and go from there. The proof is in the sound. Not the verbiage.

 

[michael_t]

Oops! Mea culpa. EB started using the phrase "Skinny Top Heavy Bottom" not "Light Top Heavy Bottom" back in the 70s.

View attachment 1366528

Interesting... I didn't know this.

Here's what I was referring to:

 

[Two-Spirit]

I have been playing Dunlop SB Nickels RW for years. The gauges are .105 .85 .65 .45. I always considered these medium gauge.

Now I realize these are really considered hybrid. Medium on the A and E, and light on the D and G. Medium by many string manufacturers seem to be .105 .85 .70 .50.

Besides playability what would be the advantage to using a medium gauge D .70 and G .50 string? Do heavier gauge strings offer more advantages such as smoothness, or sustain, etc?

I do notice that my G string and D can be thin sounding at times I was never sure if that was due to them being a lighter gauge. Do most of you that use medium strings use hybrids?

You're using the same gauge as Bootsy Collins. I don't think gauge is your problem.