Tried 30-50-70-90

[Alex Bass]

All I use are 35-95 Ken Smith Slap Masters

 

[Ric5]

I know most people will never play a gauge below 40, so I thought I'd report. No idea what possessed me, but I bought a pack of DR Hi Beams in 30-90. I have always played 45-105 (128). Restrung the Jazz with these and... they are so much fun. A few observations on first blush:

1. Playing becomes kind of effortless. Close-to-the-bridge playing is much easier with the lower tension.
2. Slap is absurdly efficient. You barely need to move and it sounds great. I understand Mark King better now... the way he gets that fingerstyle tone, especially. It has something to do with the super-light strings, for sure. There's something raw about it that I love the sound of. And those bends behind the nut on harmonics are a good time.
3. The difference between a plucked note and a funky HONK is a subtle amount of force. On the right material, you have a lot of tonal variation with little effort.
4. The G string is too loose for my liking, fun as it is.
5. I don't understand the physics of it, but I was very surprised to find the low end was not compromised in any way. Just as I expect it normally.

Will I keep them on? Hard to say. Probably not, but it makes me want to try 40-100 next time.

I am looking for a set like the 30-90 except for 5 string bass … I currently use D'addario super light 125-95-75-60-40 … I am looking for something like a B 120-115 E 95-90 A 75-70 D 60-50 G 40-30 for a 5 string bass

 

[singlemalt]

The DR Pure Blue VW set is nice. 90-40. My favorite of the Pure Blues and the lightest set they offer.

I’ve got some of the Boomer 35’s inbound. They’ll go on the Cirrus and I’ll be able to compare them with a new set of the PB VW’s.

I’m going to put the TI jazz flats back on the super P to compare tensions across all three sets.


I’d try the rotosounds 35’s if they did nickel.

All about trying the super light strings these days. The quality and clarity of sound is great. So responsive to touch.

I’m looking for recommendations for super light, nickel or alloy, round wound for long scales.

Let’s hear em!

Let the amp do the heavy lifting.

 

[Ric5]

 

[40Hz]

Makes perfect sense to me.

In the last couple of years I’ve been slowly migrating everything I own over to 40-100 gauge sets whenever possible. And I haven’t lost any lows or punch doing so. If anything, I’ve found the lighter gauges are far more responsive to my playing technique. And the lower resistance is just the icing on the cake for what I’ve found is a more versatile range of gauges overall

 

[michael_t]

I currently use D'addario super light 125-95-75-60-40 … I am looking for something like a B 120-115 E 95-90 A 75-70 D 60-50 G 40-30 for a 5 string bass

GHS Boomers 5L-DYB, 40-55-75-95-120. These would be at the heaviest end of your specified ranges.

Or, get the above-mentioned extra-light 4-string set (30-90) and add a single 115.

 

[Ric5]

GHS Boomers 5L-DYB, 40-55-75-95-120. These would be at the heaviest end of your specified ranges.

Or, get the above-mentioned extra-light 4-string set (30-90) and add a single 115.

I am trying to stay with D'Addario

I may buy the extra super light and buy a single .120 B

 

[aprod]

Timely thread for me. I just put on some 40-100 and they feel like guitar strings. I normally play 45-105. Not sure if I like them or not. I'll gig them this weekend and see how work for me.

 

[john_g]

I played Funkmasters for years and loved them at the time. I moved up to 40-100's and stayed there ever since. Tried some Funkmasters recently on my Wal and while it was fun, eventually I took them off because like the OP, the G string was way too light.

 

[mikeswals]

Will I keep them on? Hard to say. Probably not, but it makes me want to try 40-100 next time.

I've tried it too. didn't like the G that way either.
40-100 is where I'm at now.

 

[arbiterusa]

it makes me want to try 40-100 next time.

Once I get through my current stash, I'm going to be on the 40-100 program (DR Hi-Beams) for as long as I can play. That gauge is everything I ever wanted.

And yeah, I got there through the Funkmasters. Which is also a great set, but I play a little bit too hard to make them work. A very light touch is required. And as others have remarked, if you think they can't be "bassy", listen to Mark King.

 

[michael_t]

I am trying to stay with D'Addario

I may buy the extra super light and buy a single .120 B

Or, you can always try the EXL160BT (50-67-90-120) for B-E-A-D and add a single 32 or 35 for G.

 

[xnewyorka]

Also there's the Stanley Clarke .035 to .090 gauge... .035, .050, .070, .090

There's a thread here that covers most bassists and the gauges they choose
Famous bassist strings and their gauges

The Victor Wooten entry in that list is outdated.

He uses Fodera Ultra Lights (.040 - .095).
It would appear that they work fairly well for slapping.

 

[Ric5]

Or, you can always try the EXL160BT (50-67-90-120) for B-E-A-D and add a single 32 or 35 for G.

thanks for that info … I hadn't thought of that ...

 

[JSandbloom]

If you want to play with really light gauge strings, but on some eye liner and play guitar.

 

[micguy]

I play 35-50-70-95's on most of my basses - that's a very balanced set tension wise. A 130 works with that set if you're doing a BEAD (50-70-895-130) or a 5 string.

I agree about the availability of different tonality by varying your touch - there's a "twang" you get that doesn't happen on higher gauge strings when you dig in.

 

[micguy]

If you want to play with really light gauge strings, but on some eye liner and play guitar.

I'd suggest you go to a ZZ Top concert and heckle Billy Gibbons at the top of your lungs for using 7's. Go ahead call him a______; suggest he wear a skirt, or whatever you want. See how far that attitude gets you.

 

[baileyboy]

Because of an arthritic index finger that would become inflamed after each gig, I tried DR Sunbeams 40-95, which was a lighter gauge than I was used to. The low end sounds fat and my index finger has not become inflamed since dropping to a lower gauge. Additionally, these strings keep their sound for quite a while, much longer than other brands I've tried.

 

[Jay2U]

I did something similar with 40...95 gauges. The low end is even more present, as higher harmonics are less prominent. Because of lower tension, the strings stay alive notably longer.
I had to adjust my fretting technique, because I pushed the thinner strings onto the wood. Also the strumming fingers have a lighter job now.

 

[Jack Butler]

Hmmm.... Maybe this could be the answer.
I have been thinking of using 55-110 set on one of my JBs and tune it B-E-A-D.
Any recommendation or experience with this?

I have been considering the same exact thing.