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wow...45-100 is now my gauge
- Thread starter matito
- Start date
Before I got rid of my short and medium scale basses I used 45-100 long scale Chrome flats. They worked very well.
My main gigging bass has 43-104 (LaBella 760FL flats).
My backup bass currently has 65-115 (Rotosound tape wounds).
I will probably be swapping these out for 45-105 (LaBella 760FS).
My rock bass has 50-105 (Chromes flats).
My main gigging bass has 43-104 (LaBella 760FL flats).
My backup bass currently has 65-115 (Rotosound tape wounds).
I will probably be swapping these out for 45-105 (LaBella 760FS).
My rock bass has 50-105 (Chromes flats).
Now I'm thinking of changing to 45-100. It sounds like a good idea. I'll give it a shot with my next set of strings.
There are too many variables. I think the only safe statement is that within the same make and model of string, the larger the string the more tension.Jake said:
It sounds more like you needed a truss rod adjustment.
My Fender's neck was never bowing or having any problems, I just thought to ask for smaller gauges (45-100) when it was set up to prevent any problems. When I just replaced the Boomers I had on there, I put Lo-Riders on in the same gauge. My action could use a little adjustment, it buzzes a little, but I tend to play very soft with a lot of amp volume so the buzzes aren't bugging me too much.
can i use the 45-100 to a bass guitar with a 33 inches scale length(nut to bridge)?...will it loose some tone clarity?
ive always used 45-100 on my jazz basses for years. never had a problem with them. i used fenders nickel rounds and now use EB super slinkys. but i get all the dynamics i want with 45-100. simon gallup pick tone or big thick low end finger stuff. seems to do it all.
i'm not using a 45 but i too like 100 (E strigs). seems to keep things from getting muddy.
i talk a bit about it in my own thread.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=403910
i talk a bit about it in my own thread.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=403910
I disagree with many that have posted in this thread. I feel that lighter gauge strings are muddier and heavy strings have a clearer sound.
When I compare heavy and light strings of the same brand - I seem to notice that the lighter strings have a thicker, deeper sound. What people often call "warm" or "round".
It is the thicker, higher tension strings that sound "thin" or "tinny" or whatever you want to call it.
Basically, a lighter string is a looser string, and a looser string gives a deeper sounding note. Isn't this why so many artists have detuned to get what they consider better
tone?
Just like EQing your amp - What sounds deep or warm and round when playing alone, turns into mud in the mix, and what sounds thin and weak playing alone, sounds deep yet punchy and articulate in the mix.
So, if any string is muddier in the mix, it's lighter gauges. Maybe you guys just thought your 105 E was muddy because your old strings were dead.
When I compare heavy and light strings of the same brand - I seem to notice that the lighter strings have a thicker, deeper sound. What people often call "warm" or "round".
It is the thicker, higher tension strings that sound "thin" or "tinny" or whatever you want to call it.
Basically, a lighter string is a looser string, and a looser string gives a deeper sounding note. Isn't this why so many artists have detuned to get what they consider better
tone?
Just like EQing your amp - What sounds deep or warm and round when playing alone, turns into mud in the mix, and what sounds thin and weak playing alone, sounds deep yet punchy and articulate in the mix.
So, if any string is muddier in the mix, it's lighter gauges. Maybe you guys just thought your 105 E was muddy because your old strings were dead.
I have been a fan of 45-100 for some time. My frustration is the brands with really good tapered B strings (La Bella, Sadowsky) either go 40-100 or 45-105. The 40-60 on the D and G are thin to my ears. The 85-105 on the A and E are boomy to my ears. Reading this thread makes think I should just go back to D'Addario XL-170s. The Fender Nickels come 45-100 and are pretty good too.
Ok, this thread is almost twenty years old.
But I’ve come to the same realisation. I’ve been finding 45-105 sets a bit tiring. So my #1 Pbass has been sporting various “lighter sets” over the past year:
40-100 (Fender rounds): very comfortable, but the D and G sound too thin IMO.
45-105 (Dunlop Super Bright Nickels): softer and less taut by nature, these are nice, got to admit.
45-100 (Fender rounds): feels so nice, D and G are thicker and sound better, A and E are comfortable to play and do sound good too.
Last week I thought I’d give the Fender rounds 45-105 set a try, just to see.
I found the tension to be a bit too much for me. And sound-wise, in my rehearsal room with the exact same settings as the week before, the A and the E sounded a bit muddier, a bit overpowering. I obviously adjusted neck curvature, saddles and pickup height so it’s not a lack of setup.
So today I’ve put back the 45-100 I removed on the bass and it feels like home again.
Looking forward to rehearsing again next week, with the same settings again, to see if it’s definitely the string gauge that impacts the sound, but comfort wise I know that 45-100 is a great set for me.
But I’ve come to the same realisation. I’ve been finding 45-105 sets a bit tiring. So my #1 Pbass has been sporting various “lighter sets” over the past year:
40-100 (Fender rounds): very comfortable, but the D and G sound too thin IMO.
45-105 (Dunlop Super Bright Nickels): softer and less taut by nature, these are nice, got to admit.
45-100 (Fender rounds): feels so nice, D and G are thicker and sound better, A and E are comfortable to play and do sound good too.
Last week I thought I’d give the Fender rounds 45-105 set a try, just to see.
I found the tension to be a bit too much for me. And sound-wise, in my rehearsal room with the exact same settings as the week before, the A and the E sounded a bit muddier, a bit overpowering. I obviously adjusted neck curvature, saddles and pickup height so it’s not a lack of setup.
So today I’ve put back the 45-100 I removed on the bass and it feels like home again.
Looking forward to rehearsing again next week, with the same settings again, to see if it’s definitely the string gauge that impacts the sound, but comfort wise I know that 45-100 is a great set for me.
45-100 on my two basses, both of which are short scale and tuned down 1/2 step. I have never used a different gauge, though I have tuned to standard E and down a full step as needed.
I've made the opposite road: playing d'addario EXL220 (40-95) instead of 45-105 for a better comfort on all my basses since years; i have discovered the short-scale world with a very nice Sire U5 loaded with EXL 170 (45-100), and found it perfect. So i've tried it on my regular basses and it went very well too. So finally i switched all from 40-95 to 45-100.
Lower gauge strings produces a much more complex/richer and much clearer tone, it just a matter of adjusting your fretting and plucking/picking technique accordingly, there is not need to punish the bass, unless of course you like that sound, but in my opinion a light touch sounds much better.
Personally I've found that approximately balanced tension strings makes for a more uniform feel and sound too.
Personally I've found that approximately balanced tension strings makes for a more uniform feel and sound too.
I thought I would try some lighter gauge strings on my P bass so I picked up some DR Pure Blues 40-100. I’ve never tried light gauge strings. I was hoping for tighter g string pops on the few songs that I play that have a little slap in them. I’ll give them a try after the grandkids leave and I have a nap. 
