My understanding is that heavier gauges have more bass because of size and less sustain because of tension pulling from the bridge and tuners.
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I use "wiggle stick" so I may be way past salvation.
String diameter, material, wind, core shape, heat/cold treatments, fret scale, reciprocating mass of the string, and bridge type will all play into how a string sounds... Tension, material, wind being most important in how it feels to play.
The higher tension strings allow for a lower action, and having the tension of the strings balanced will give a more consistent feel in the action from string to string. (I play with 43 lbs on all 5 my strings at 35" scale... action for all 5 string would make ants duck their heads as a result).
The higher tension strings allow for a lower action, and having the tension of the strings balanced will give a more consistent feel in the action from string to string. (I play with 43 lbs on all 5 my strings at 35" scale... action for all 5 string would make ants duck their heads as a result).
I use balanced top and bottom...or light top light bottom if you will
It appears that few are actually addressing your question. My suggestions are as follows:
- Don't worry about what manufacturers call their strings, there is no industry standard,
- Gauge probably has the least effect on tone; materials and manufacturing make a bigger difference,
- Sounding thin could be a result of many things including EQ on your amp,
- Don't worry about what others do, do what is right for you.
Figure out what your goals are in selecting a string then ask @SLaPiNFuNK (the proprietor of bass strings online) for a recommendation.
Boy... philosophical thread and no practical response.
I'll base this on my own experiences with strings. I've had several hundred basses over the course of my playing years. As a few have hinted, there are lots of factors that determine the sound. But lets assume all things are equal other than a change of strings. I've done exactly this many, many times because I'm a gear junkie, addicted tinkerer, I'm way too damn technical with my instruments (meaning I look to the engineering, construction, electronics, material, etc, before I look at my own "artistry" when determining why one thing sounds different than the other). Having said all that, here is my opinion:
Lighter strings tend to sound "twangier," generally speaking. Of course, this depends on the string material as well: SS, Nickel, etc, and the wind. But let's assume roundwound in either stainless steel or nickel. Lighter strings sound slightly more "scooped" generally speaking, and twangy. I find lighter D and G strings help even out the output for percussive styles and slap (which means, yes, they are lower output). Heavier D and G tend to pop and slap way hotter than the E and A strings and make a compressor almost required. On the other hand, for fingerstyle, I would say a heavier G and D string is an advantage because of their slightly higher output. They sound out live more evenly. As you mentioned, the lighter G and D can sound a bit "wimpy" in general. That has been my experience for typical fingerstyle, but not for slap funk--for that, they (lighter G and D) sound more even to me and don't "bark out" so loudly as the heavier (G and D) strings to.
I also find the heavier gauge I go, the darker the sound and less definition. At some point, the pitch will start becoming indistinct with super heavy gauge strings. Personally, I have also found that the heavier the string gauge, the more likely that I will be buried in the mix or just have a woolly mess of low frequencies that do not quite have distinct pitch. The trick is finding a happy medium, because I've also found that super light gauge strings can become so "stringy" and wimpy sounding that they also become lost in the mix. I've used everything from 30 - 90 up to 55 - 110 on long scale basses. The 30 - 90 were wonderful for slap... but that was about the only thing they were wonderful for. Beyond that, they were barely adequate and I had to play with such a light touch it became annoying. And the really heavy strings just get too woofy for my tastes.
I don't know what type of bass you play, but I think this goes generally speaking for long scale basses. For short scale, I find the same thing, but even more pronounced for the various gauges. But do keep in mind that so many other factors either enhance or diminish this effect, ESPECIALLY active circuitry. The above is offered only with all other factors equal besides the string change.
Above all, experiment. Only you know what you want to hear. The rest of us can only offer our perceptions... and philosophies.
I'll base this on my own experiences with strings. I've had several hundred basses over the course of my playing years. As a few have hinted, there are lots of factors that determine the sound. But lets assume all things are equal other than a change of strings. I've done exactly this many, many times because I'm a gear junkie, addicted tinkerer, I'm way too damn technical with my instruments (meaning I look to the engineering, construction, electronics, material, etc, before I look at my own "artistry" when determining why one thing sounds different than the other). Having said all that, here is my opinion:
Lighter strings tend to sound "twangier," generally speaking. Of course, this depends on the string material as well: SS, Nickel, etc, and the wind. But let's assume roundwound in either stainless steel or nickel. Lighter strings sound slightly more "scooped" generally speaking, and twangy. I find lighter D and G strings help even out the output for percussive styles and slap (which means, yes, they are lower output). Heavier D and G tend to pop and slap way hotter than the E and A strings and make a compressor almost required. On the other hand, for fingerstyle, I would say a heavier G and D string is an advantage because of their slightly higher output. They sound out live more evenly. As you mentioned, the lighter G and D can sound a bit "wimpy" in general. That has been my experience for typical fingerstyle, but not for slap funk--for that, they (lighter G and D) sound more even to me and don't "bark out" so loudly as the heavier (G and D) strings to.
I also find the heavier gauge I go, the darker the sound and less definition. At some point, the pitch will start becoming indistinct with super heavy gauge strings. Personally, I have also found that the heavier the string gauge, the more likely that I will be buried in the mix or just have a woolly mess of low frequencies that do not quite have distinct pitch. The trick is finding a happy medium, because I've also found that super light gauge strings can become so "stringy" and wimpy sounding that they also become lost in the mix. I've used everything from 30 - 90 up to 55 - 110 on long scale basses. The 30 - 90 were wonderful for slap... but that was about the only thing they were wonderful for. Beyond that, they were barely adequate and I had to play with such a light touch it became annoying. And the really heavy strings just get too woofy for my tastes.
I don't know what type of bass you play, but I think this goes generally speaking for long scale basses. For short scale, I find the same thing, but even more pronounced for the various gauges. But do keep in mind that so many other factors either enhance or diminish this effect, ESPECIALLY active circuitry. The above is offered only with all other factors equal besides the string change.
Above all, experiment. Only you know what you want to hear. The rest of us can only offer our perceptions... and philosophies.
I'll just add that you are using my favorite strings. Also, I wouldn't want the D & G any heavier because they already feel tighter than the E & A strings. I like the gauges as-is in the Dunlop SB 45 to 105 set.
Yep, you pretty much have to try a whole bunch before settling on something you prefer. It really isn't practical, even with deep pockets, to try "everything " out there and the manufacturers are coming out with new wrinkles all the time. As for Nike, I usually can't even get my feet into their shoes as they're too narrow for me. And if I can, they are supremely uncomfortable. And either the manufacturers are changing their sizing, or my feet are getting larger as I get older. Used to be an 8 1/2 but now take a 10-11
.
In my experience, gauge has an effect on the sound due to the way I strike strings of different gauge. I play with a solid touch, and like a quick rebound, so medium/heavy suit me really well. I don't like the excessive clank and twang I get with lighter gauge when I play the way I play. If I were to go with a very low action with a very light touch, any string works great, but lighter gauge become all the easier to play. If I played that style, it would be light gauge all the way.
In my limited experience, the tone isn't greatly varied by gauge (though there is some) but the Crux of it all for me is the string feel. I simply prefer medium/heavy and find a string that produces the tone I like with that weight. It varies greatly between my different basses as well..
If you feel your D and G strings sound thin, try upping their size by .005 and see if it is preferred. Even going up by .01 may be to your liking. Brand/material/construction=tone, gauge=feel....imo.
Sorry for my off topic earlier, I have been rightly chastised, and hope this response is of some value!
In my limited experience, the tone isn't greatly varied by gauge (though there is some) but the Crux of it all for me is the string feel. I simply prefer medium/heavy and find a string that produces the tone I like with that weight. It varies greatly between my different basses as well..
If you feel your D and G strings sound thin, try upping their size by .005 and see if it is preferred. Even going up by .01 may be to your liking. Brand/material/construction=tone, gauge=feel....imo.
Sorry for my off topic earlier, I have been rightly chastised, and hope this response is of some value!
i posted a similar topic the other week. i went up to .070 and .050 for the d and g and love it. l like the extra tension on those strings. feels good for aggressive playing and slapping.
i have to agree with killedbydeath on the gauge thing. gauge and string diameter are two different things.
i have to agree with killedbydeath on the gauge thing. gauge and string diameter are two different things.
Well, I may as well stray: as for the term "gauge," I don't think it's much different than many, many words in the English language that have a technical definition, a popular usage (typically not the same meaning), and sometimes a slang usage (definitely not the same meaning). Hate to break it to everyone... but the popular usage of a word almost always ends up being the accepted definition at some point--or at least one of them. Languages change...
It seems like a solid question, but the problem is that it's all subjective so it's really hard to answer. There are so many ways to interpret what makes something an "advantage".
Here's what I can answer:
With all else being equal (same make and model of string, no adjustments to the bass of any kind, same tuning), changing your two top strings from .045 and .065 to .050 and .070 will result in slightly more volume on those two strings relative to the other two, slightly more tension on those two strings, a change in the way the string tension is distributed across the neck, slightly more stiffness in those two strings (which is a little different than tension) and a slight increase in neck relief.
Are any of these things advantages? That really depends upon how your bass is set up, how you play and what you like. The only way to know would be to try it and see.
You may even find that one or more of the changes is so subtle as to not make much discernible difference.
Completely true. As a result, there's no real comparison possible except between gauges of the same make and model string.
Truth! I'll add that your bass' setup also has a much bigger effect upon both sound and feel (IMO, of course). Regarding item #1, the gauges the OP listed first are what I have been buying as "Medium" for decades. Call 'em what you like, they're still 45-65-85-105.
Lastly, for the semantics lovers who have gone coo-coo-crazy about the word "gauge", a gauge is nothing more than a means by which something is measured. That's why 20Ga wire is not the same diameter as a 20Ga shotgun shell. The two systems use different gauges by which to measure their size.
gauge
ɡāj/
noun
- 1.
an instrument or device for measuring the magnitude, amount, or contents of something, typically with a visual display of such information.
synonyms: measuring device, measuring instrument, meter, measure
- 2.
the thickness, size, or capacity of something, especially as a standard measure, in particular.
The gauge by which bass strings are measured is thousands of an inch. Therefore, a .045" string is, in fact, gauged .045 (or 45 in industry vernacular). That's the string's gauge. It also happens to be the string's diameter in inches. That's what our industry uses to gauge the sizes of strings. The OP used exactly the right terminology.
Those of you who are hell-bent to point out that using the term "string gauge" is incorrect are incorrect. Sorry. There are times when that word is used incorrectly, but this isn't one of them.
If anyone can tell what GAUGES your strings are by listening, they are psychic. Get what you want.
Are you still offering money to those who CAN tell the difference? Or, are you simply referring them to the scientists who want to study them?
Personally, I'm not generally a fan of thin G strings. They tend to ride a bit tight in my bu...
Oh wait. Wrong forum.
It's a bass by bass... er... basis. But I'm fairly partial to .045 and .065 respectively. On my fretted basses it just feels right. My fretless however simply sings with .040 .060 .080 .100 .128.
Oh wait. Wrong forum.
It's a bass by bass... er... basis. But I'm fairly partial to .045 and .065 respectively. On my fretted basses it just feels right. My fretless however simply sings with .040 .060 .080 .100 .128.
