Who plays 40-95 set?

[red_rhino]

I have a set of GHS Pressurewounds in those gauges on a 34” fretless, standard tuning. Not too different than the T-I Jazz Flats I used for many years previously. The PWs are a liitle higher tension, actually. Used to have the light Ernie Ball cobalt flats on the same bass for a while too, about the same tension as the PWs.

+1. Moved from standard 45-105 med gauge strings to the smaller gauge PWs on my Tobias Classic without having to make any adjustments to the neck. The PWs feel like a set of medium strings with just a little more flex.

 

[Jack Butler]

Yeah 40-95 cobalt flats tuned standard on a 34 scale. Plays like a dream. Sounds like it would be a nightmare tuned up A-C but maybe you love high tension.

 

[ElCrowg]

I go back and forth between 45-100 or 40-95 sets on my franker-jazz. 34" scale- usually tuned to standard, sometimes down a 1/2 step to Eb-Ab-Db-Gb.
I like the lighter tension and the tone. Go figure.

 

[Riff Ranger]

I primarily play metal, which for at least the last 25 years has meant playing in something lower than standard tuning. I got used to the feel and especially the sound of a typical .105/.085/.065/.045 set tuned CGCF. It seems like most players go with heavier and heavier gauges the lower they go, trying to maintain that ~40# tension per string that a standard set has in EADG. I had been using the same for both (I always keep a beater in EADG for learning classic rock and whatnot), but decided to go the other way with .095/.075/.055/.040 for EADG, and found it sound and felt more like a detuned instrument, which I liked.

 

[Jackcrow]

I use 40-95’s a lot tuned a half step down. Can’t imagine tuning them A-C, I’d probably go lighter if that’s the goal.

 

[Topkat13]

Get a guitar.

 

[GwenOnBass]

.040 - .095 EADG on a full scale here

 

[bassrique]

I have 95s on a Jazz bass (Cobalt Flats) and I have 95s on my 30" mini Ray and 32" Jaguar. Both of those have Roto66 with the baby blue silks (cool).

The Roto66 are particularly easy to bend.

I enjoy 40-95 strings. I also enjoy more standard gauges. I'm not a fan of heavy gauges though.

 

[JimmyM]

No way I’d use 40-95 tuned up that high. I use low tension 40-100 tuned normally and I’d get a thinner set if they made these strings thinner.

 

[farace]

Rickenbacker used to offer a roundwound nickel set in .040, .055, .075, .095 (same A and D as the standard Ric set with lighter E and G). I managed to locate a couple of NOS sets and it’s what I use on my Ric fretless, standard tuning.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

I’ve used 40-95 sets from various companies (D’Addario, Ernie Ball, GHS) on a handful of basses. They’re not usually my preferred string gauges, but I currently have them on my Ibanez fretless. It just seems to like the lighter strings.

 

[Bodeeni]

I had been playing around with 40-95 DR Low Riders and Daddario EXL 220BT. Both hex core. The hex core is a stiffer string. This gauge is on the light side but not crazy light. Sting uses them on his old 50s Ps. I thought they were good for a hifi fusion soloing sound. I had them both on my stingray and jazz bass. They can get pretty buzzy if you lay into them. I have since gravitated back to a more typical round core 105-45 for my roundwounds. A round core that light will be very slinky.

 

[_Obra_]

I play 40-95 on my Sandberg California with normal tuning. It's great!

 

[Rib 13]

I use 40-95 on just about all my 4 string basses tuned EADG

 

[Deleted member 271037]

That's basically baritone tuning. I don't think you would even be able to tune a 40-95 set that high without breaking them.

Baritone guitar sets are designed for around 28-30" scale so you would probably want something slightly lighter than standard baritone sets for a 34" instrument. The gauges in baritone sets from different manufacturers can vary a LOT though. Finding a good, balanced set may need some experimenting.

If I had to guess I would start around .025-.065 for A-tuning on a 34" instrument, or perhaps SLIGHTLY heavier, like maybe .028-.068. I'm sure someone more theoretically minded than myself can do the math and figure out the actual tension. Keep in mind that you should probably aim for tension figures that are comparable to baritone guitar tension, rather than bass guitar tension (at standard tuning). If you aim for bass guitar tension you will probably end up breaking a lot of strings...

 

[Deleted member 271037]

For normal tuning I never go lighter than 45-105 with roundwounds or 40-100 with flats. Any lighter than that will give me fret buzz with the action I want. This will of course depend on playing style and personal taste.

There's ONE exception though: TI Jazz Rounds. I'm willing to raise the action a bit for the amazing tone these strings provide. For some reason they don't need to be raised nearly as much as other strings at similar gauges to avoid buzzing. I suspect the silk layer between wrapping/core may dampen the amplitude of these strings a bit.

 

[Slevage]

All my 5er's sport a high C (.032). I suggest getting a light 5 string set and selling or ditching the unused E string.

 

[IvanBassist]

Vincen Garcia uses those gauges and he slays on a 34” standard tuned bass

 

[TheSeagoats]

I have 40-95 halfrounds on an Ammoon jazz knockoff, I really like how they feel, it's the only bass that has something other than 45-105 and that's because I got the bass as a "leave at church" bass that other people may end up playing so I wanted it as easy to play as possible. I can't imagine tuning them ADGC but Steve Harris plays 50-110 strings in standard and the tension per string looks close to what michael_t posted from Stringjoy so it might be possible.

 

[TheArchitect]

I have 40-95 halfrounds on an Ammoon jazz knockoff, I really like how they feel, it's the only bass that has something other than 45-105 and that's because I got the bass as a "leave at church" bass that other people may end up playing so I wanted it as easy to play as possible. I can't imagine tuning them ADGC but Steve Harris plays 50-110 strings in standard and the tension per string looks close to what michael_t posted from Stringjoy so it might be possible.

50 - 105 is fairly common and 50-110 sets are not hard to find either. Someone must be doing it.

All that said, The Roto RS66LA set is 30/50/65/85 and is probably a better starting point. I may try those and see how they performs.