What would i gain or lose??

[bogie1519]

I've used almost all my playing time. Using Light or extra light gauge strings. I'm using at the moment
D'Addario Nickel Wound Super Light strings 40 55 70 95. I've used flats in the past but there not for me.
The reason for using lights all the time. Is mainly for the feel and tension. But I have noticed that the D and G strings lack the punch or even the volume sometimes. What am gaining f I try a regular gauge set? That I don't have now. Thanks

 

[michael_t]

What am gaining f I try a regular gauge set? That I don't have now.

I've been on a downward trend for my gauge selection in the last year and a half. Based on my experience, going up and down in gauges of the same string would affect the playing feel more than the tone itself.

If you're not happy with the XL Nickel 40-95, try something else of the same gauges instead of just bigger gauges of the same string.

I use the GHS Pressurewound 40-54-76-96, and get plenty of punch and output from G and D.

 

[bogie1519]

I've been on a downward trend for my gauge selection in the last year and a half. Based on my experience, going up and down in gauges of the same string would affect the playing feel more than the tone itself.

If you're not happy with the XL Nickel 40-95, try something else of the same gauges instead of just bigger gauges of the same string.

I use the GHS Pressurewound 40-54-76-96, and get plenty of punch and output from G and D.

Thanks, I will the 54 76 96 seems odd. Were those a special order?

 

[michael_t]

Thanks, I will the 54 76 96 seems odd. Were those a special order?

No. That's just the way GHS has the exact gauges worked out for certain sets instead of rounding them off to the nearest 0 or 5 like some companies do.

SETS - PRESSUREWOUND™

 

[bogie1519]

No. That's just the way GHS has the exact gauges worked out for certain sets instead of rounding them off to the nearest 0 or 5 like some companies do.

SETS - PRESSUREWOUND™

Great how's the tension for that set?

 

[michael_t]

Great how's the tension for that set?

Very comfortable without being floppy. I would say slightly firmer in feel than the D'A XL Nickels 40-95, but nicely balanced in tension across all strings.

 

[Jaco who?]

But I have noticed that the D and G strings lack the punch or even the volume sometimes.

Have you tried raising the pickup(s) height a tad under the D and G strings? I've never noticed your problem with the XL220 set, so give it a try, if you haven't already.

 

[bogie1519]

Very comfortable without being floppy. I would say slightly firmer in feel than the D'A XL Nickels 40-95, but nicely balanced in tension across all strings.

Thanks, I'll give them a try...

Have you tried raising the pickup(s) height a tad under the D and G strings? I've never noticed your problem with the XL220 set, so give it a try, if you haven't already.

Those are on a Jazz bass. I'll try that first.If I can find the pickup specs on line.

 

[Hounddog409]

I've used almost all my playing time. Using Light or extra light gauge strings. I'm using at the moment
D'Addario Nickel Wound Super Light strings 40 55 70 95. I've used flats in the past but there not for me.
The reason for using lights all the time. Is mainly for the feel and tension. But I have noticed that the D and G strings lack the punch or even the volume sometimes. What am gaining f I try a regular gauge set? That I don't have now. Thanks

Raise the pickups on the D G side.
Fixed.

 

[pcake]

I've used almost all my playing time. Using Light or extra light gauge strings. I'm using at the moment
D'Addario Nickel Wound Super Light strings 40 55 70 95. I've used flats in the past but there not for me.
The reason for using lights all the time. Is mainly for the feel and tension. But I have noticed that the D and G strings lack the punch or even the volume sometimes. What am gaining f I try a regular gauge set? That I don't have now. Thanks

those are my strings of choice, and i haven't had any issues with weak D and G strings. i second trying this:

Raise the pickups on the D G side.
Fixed.

btw, are you using a balanced set or the regular set? i use the regular, but my husband has a balanced set on his CN jazz, and it's really nice, too.

 

[michael_t]

Thanks, I'll give them a try...

Just to clarify my earlier post...

I wasn't necessarily recommending GHS Pressurewounds over D'A XL Nickels. The main point I was making is when I went from the PW 44-102 down to the PW 40-96, I didn't feel I was losing anything in tonal quality while gaining more in overall playing comfort. So, in your case, simply going up in gauges may not be the solution.

Meanwhile, I do agree experimenting with pickup height, as already suggested, is a good first step.

 

[bogie1519]

those are my strings of choice, and i haven't had any issues with weak D and G strings. i second trying this:

btw, are you using a balanced set or the regular set? i use the regular, but my husband has a balanced set on his CN jazz, and it's really nice, too.

Using balanced set. Someone suggested checking pickups. But I've got to looked factory site and go from there.

 

[Spirit of Ox]

I think you should try the DR Fatbeams.
They are a nice low tension round that sound amazing.

 

[michael_t]

I think you should try the DR Fatbeams.
They are a nice low tension round that sound amazing.

Funny you should mention the Fat Beams...

I just installed a brand set (40-60-80-100-125) on my son's Ibanez a couple of days ago, and the first thing I noticed was G and D sounded thinner and weaker than the SS Lo-Riders of the same gauges they replaced.

 

[ThomasTronics]

In my experience you lose amplitude with small gauges and you can't dig in quite as much.
Ive been playing with 40-100 but occasionally go back up to 45-105 so that i can get more punch and thump that a thin string just can't achieve.
But I'd agree with earlier posts that bring your pickups closer can punch your D and G.
It's never a bad idea to try new strings to see if you like a new feel.
Were all tonechasers and trying new things is always a good thing. Especially strings. Like Victor Wooten says it's the most important part because it's the medium between your fingers and bass.

 

[Aussie Player]

I've used almost all my playing time. Using Light or extra light gauge strings. I'm using at the moment
D'Addario Nickel Wound Super Light strings 40 55 70 95. I've used flats in the past but there not for me.
The reason for using lights all the time. Is mainly for the feel and tension. But I have noticed that the D and G strings lack the punch or even the volume sometimes. What am gaining f I try a regular gauge set? That I don't have now. Thanks

There actually is a middle ground. I was opposite to you in using medium which is really a heavier gauge set of .050, .070, .085, .105 which are reasonably stiff (too much to bend) on an Fender AM Standard Precision bass. Played it that way for 10-12 years changing strings every 3 or 4 years. I had a set of standard .045, 065, .080, .105 Nickels on hand so on a whim tried them and it was a "lightbulb" moment as that P bass lit up and growled at me. If you ever get to play an old P, I am talking late '50's model, there is a sound there that cannot be heard on new basses. Because my P is now 26 years old and the pick up was marketed by Fender as a "Vintage Bass Pick up" bank then, it now seems to have captured some of that old bass sound so is rapidly becoming a favorite bass and I have never been a Fender player or supporter historically being weaned on Gibson's.

 

[red_rhino]

I use the GHS Pressurewound 40-54-76-96, and get plenty of punch and output from G and D.

+1 to everything @michael_t says about Pressurewounds. I have them on two basses, and in both cases I went from using medium-standard gauge strings (45-105) to light gauge PWs without needing to adjust the action, which surprised me. The tension is a bit higher on the PWs, and to me, the light gauge feels a lot like a medium gauge with a bit more flexibility.

In my experience you lose amplitude with small gauges and you can't dig in quite as much.
Ive been playing with 40-100 but occasionally go back up to 45-105 so that i can get more punch and thump that a thin string just can't achieve.

I don't necessarily disagree, but I think that's overly generalized. I've noticed no loss of punch, thump, amplitude, etc, going to light gauge strings, and I can really dig in on the PWs. But I think it's fair to say that not every bass is going to excel using a specific type or gauge of string. It would be nice to have one string to rule them all, but sometimes it's about what string is best for a given bass, and you don't know until you try.

 

[Killing Floor]

You could try TI Jazz Flats. You'd open yourself to things like tort.

 

[DanDBassist]

+1 to everything @michael_t says about Pressurewounds. I have them on two basses, and in both cases I went from using medium-standard gauge strings (45-105) to light gauge PWs without needing to adjust the action, which surprised me. The tension is a bit higher on the PWs, and to me, the light gauge feels a lot like a medium gauge with a bit more flexibility.


I don't necessarily disagree, but I think that's overly generalized. I've noticed no loss of punch, thump, amplitude, etc, going to light gauge strings, and I can really dig in on the PWs. But I think it's fair to say that not every bass is going to excel using a specific type or gauge of string. It would be nice to have one string to rule them all, but sometimes it's about what string is best for a given bass, and you don't know until you try.

Your statement: "But I think it's fair to say that not every bass is going to excel using a specific type or gauge of string." I believe this to be true and a lot if it is due the particular nature of each chunk of wood. I discovered this from my many years spent in music stores (as the string instrument setup tech) and on my own experiments with different gauges of strings on various instruments. The most noticeable effect was with small acoustic guitars. Originally I believed that heavier strings would give a bigger sound but there was a point at which the heavier strings actually dampened the sound. There is probably something like this can occur with basses also.

 

[red_rhino]

Your statement: "But I think it's fair to say that not every bass is going to excel using a specific type or gauge of string." I believe this to be true and a lot if it is due the particular nature of each chunk of wood. I discovered this from my many years spent in music stores (as the string instrument setup tech) and on my own experiments with different gauges of strings on various instruments. The most noticeable effect was with small acoustic guitars. Originally I believed that heavier strings would give a bigger sound but there was a point at which the heavier strings actually dampened the sound. There is probably something like this can occur with basses also.

Completely agree. There are lots of variables involved.

I was thinking after I made that statement that I wasn't giving enough weight to the actual player. Some people do dig in much harder than others, which can be difficult with light gauge strings. In fact, I've have experienced that with some light gauge sets that feel like I just can't get a grip on them. That doesn't happen for me with the PWs, which is why I talk them up as a light gauge solution. As with everything else, YMMV.