What is the "standard" gauge for bass strings?

[RedJag]

Question is in the title. Bas(s)ically I am wondering what is the usual gauge that most basses come fitted with? For guitar it's 9-42. I am guessing 45-100 is average for most 4-string basses?

BTW, a mod needs to fix one of the links in the FAQ -- the "differences between kinds of strings" link is broken.

I would say the most popular gauges are 45-105 for standard tuning. And for guitar I would say it’s 10-46

 

[Thir13teen]

What gauges would you reccomend for a drop-d tuning. Consider that I'm also half a step tuned downm, so my usually tuning is C#, D#, C#, F#

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H2MJG04/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[MrAB4003]

With all the options that are available today, I don't think there's a "standard" gauge of bass strings anymore. It depends on the brand and string type.

For example, D'Addario's most popular gauge of Chromes is 45-100 (Regular Light). Compare that to LaBella, whose 1954 Originals have been their standard for 70 years. Those are 52-113 gauge, which are much heavier than most other brands offer. Both sets are flats, but you can compare rounds, semi flats, and tapes for different brands.

 

[buldog5151bass]

There is no "standard", either for guitar or bass. I've used 45-105 hex core settings for about the last 40 years, but that's just me.

 

[blr2]

A "standard" gauge is what fits you best, and whatever you consider standard.

 

[GIBrat51]

Question is in the title. Bas(s)ically I am wondering what is the usual gauge that most basses come fitted with? For guitar it's 9-42. I am guessing 45-100 is average for most 4-string basses?

BTW, a mod needs to fix one of the links in the FAQ -- the "differences between kinds of strings" link is broken.

Personally? With very few exceptions, every new bass I've ever bought has come to me with 45-100 round wounds; and they were almost always D'Addario EXL 170s. Even my short scale Dano Longhorn had those things on it. The only exceptions? My EBMM 4HH Stingray Special came with EB 45-105 Hybrid Slinkys, and the Schecter Stiletto Lined Fretless came with 40-95 EB Group IV Flats. And, the two basses I had made, came with the strings I told them to put on them. Which were not rounds...
I can't say if 45-100 is the average for 4 string basses, but... if most people prefer to use the same kind of strings the bass came with? Then, yeah; it probably is. The D'Addario EXL 170's are pretty much the standard factory strings, these days. I prefer 45-105 flats for a lot of my basses, but TBH? About half of them have flats with gauges that are all over the place. To get the sound I want? I'll use whatever gauge flats will give it to me...

 

[Ritter667]

I suppose .100 to .045 and .105 to .045 are just about equally common.

Personally I would chose a gauge .100 - .080 - .060 - .045 set to start with, if I was you.

 

[Iristone]

45-65-85-105.
From my calculation, "balanced tension" should be like 45-60-80-105. La Bella seems to have got it right in their flats, Rickenbacker in their rounds, and Thomastik in both.

 

[Drop1]

105-45 is BY FAR what is see the most of on the shelves.

 

[fighting Irish]

I thought when you see 50-105 it meant 50 was the low E. Then it went in order from low to high with 105 being the G string.