What gauge strings do you use?

[molan]

I've noticed that over the years I've been playing slinkier strings and really quite like a set of 40-95's I currently have on one bass.

However a recent purchase arrived with something like 50-110 flats fitted & I really quite enjoyed playing with them.

I've noticed a lot of shops seem to have big stocks of good old 45-105's and it made me wonder if these are still the most common because people simply like this classic weight & feel or whether it's because they are what a lot of new basses come fitted with & it's the most commonly found in shops?

I've set the poll up for 4 string sets simply because it was easier - I'd guess 125 is the most common B string with some heavier sets opting for a 130?

Edited August 21, 2011 by molan

[deanovw]

45 - 105

tried thinner and didnt like them.
I have tried did a 110 E string but it made my finger ache!

[Conan]

Back in the eighties and early nineties I played the Superwound Funkmaster sets - 30-90. Great at the time (or so I thought) but very little tone or volume.

For the last fifteen years or so I have used predominantly 40-100s, which seemed the ideal compromise between the playability of the light strings and the booming tone of the mooring cables.

Recently, I have found myself moving towards slightly heavier gauges. My most recent sets are 45-105s but next purchase may well be 50s!

[Dad3353]

Black nylon Tru Bass, 65-115 on a Verithin bass...

[chris_b]

I don’t slap, tap or bend notes so I find the heavier gauges work for me. Usually 130's.

[molan]

[quote name='Dad3353' post='1347196' date='Aug 21 2011, 03:08 PM']Black nylon Tru Bass, 65-115 on a Verithin bass...[/quote]

Now added to the poll & I voted for you

I don't think my fingers are strong enough to play a 65-115 set though!

[noelk27]

While all .105 strings are the same "gauge" they're not necessarily the same mass, and my choice has always been more focused on the mass of the string than the stated gauge. It's why, with unaltered setup criteria, I've gone from using one manufacturer's .045 - .105 set to another manufacturer's .045 - .100 set, with no loss of output across the .080 and .100 strings, but have to accept that there's a touch more output from the .045 and .065 strings.

[ezbass]

45,65,80,100 I find (or imagine) that this gives me a more even response and tone across the strings.

[Hobbayne]

Good question! with 3 answers -
45 - 100 on the Jazz Bass
45 - 105 on the Precision
40 - 100 on the Stingray for slappety thwackety fun!!

[Delberthot]

Roto RS77LD flats for me 45,65,85,105. the last time I used rounds they were Hartke 45,65,80,105.

The only string I have found a huge difference between gauges were with Optima gold. I initially used 45,60,80,100 then tried 45,65,80,105 and the differnce in that tiny change made the E especially a lot tighter and less floppy

[pickle]

45-105 never tried any else.

[chrismuzz]

I have an aggressive attack plus I downtune so I need heavier, custom gauges. on a 4 in standard tuning I use 45-105 though

[chris_b]

[quote name='molan' post='1347208' date='Aug 21 2011, 03:26 PM']....I don't think my fingers are strong enough to play a 65-115 set though!....[/quote]
Rotosound say they are "ultra low tension".

[bartelby]

Also not on the poll are Billy Sheehan sig 43 - 65 - 80 - 110.

[Highfox]

I voted 45-105 with rounds, but couldn't vote 43-104 with Flats Rounds on my Jazz and Flats on my P.

[molan]

[quote name='bartelby' post='1347310' date='Aug 21 2011, 05:37 PM']Also not on the poll are Billy Sheehan sig 43 - 65 - 80 - 110.[/quote]

I've always thought that to be an 'odd' combination, given the most common spacing being 45 - 65 - 85 - 105. Seen a few sets that are as 'standard' but with a 110 instead of the 105 but Billy S goes for a lighter A but then a heavier E.

What are they like to play?

[bartelby]

[quote name='molan' post='1347328' date='Aug 21 2011, 05:58 PM']I've always thought that to be an 'odd' combination, given the most common spacing being 45 - 65 - 85 - 105. Seen a few sets that are as 'standard' but with a 110 instead of the 105 but Billy S goes for a lighter A but then a heavier E.

What are they like to play?[/quote]


IIRC, Billy's logic was the 110 was good because he dropped to D so it kept the tension, the lighter G was to help even the tension across the set. He never mentioned why the A was lighter though.

They're pretty nice to be honest, the light G was great for bends and tapping. But I don't do much of that these days.
So 50 - 110 rounds or flats are on 5 of 6 basses.

[The_D]

[quote name='ezbass' post='1347238' date='Aug 21 2011, 04:05 PM']45,65,80,100 I find (or imagine) that this gives me a more even response and tone across the strings.[/quote]

+1

Like you said possibly imagined but gigged my jazz last night after stringing it up with the above gauge and it hasnt sounded better.

[BottomE]

45-105's for fretted basses and something else for fretless rounds.

I just setup a Precision with 40-100 and they feel different but not in a bad way - just different.

[muttley]

[quote name='chris_b' post='1347288' date='Aug 21 2011, 05:15 PM']Rotosound say they are "ultra low tension".[/quote]

Yes, they are. TruBass nylon flats are very easy on the fingers.

[EssentialTension]

I didn't vote because I use different strings on different basses and all of them I had to look up the gauges - anyway, I wouldn't buy or use a string merely because of gauge.

La Bella 760FS - 45 65 85 105

TI Jazz Flats - 43 56 70 100

La Bella 760N - 60 70 94 115

[thumbo]

40-100's for me, except my P-Bass which I think really benefits from a set of 45-105's.

[Blademan_98]

I have used 45 - 105 on everything until yesterday!

I fitted 45 - 100 flatwounds to my Jazz fretless and they feel and sound great!

I'm getting the feeling that strings are, well, just strings and it probably doesn't make a great deal of difference.......

I'll get me coat

[Jean-Luc Pickguard]

Whatever gauge TI JF344 are

[Lozz196]

Rotosound Rounds, 50 - 110, but have to be old ones. None of that twangy business thanks (makes me wonder why I don`t get into flats really - ah, I know, I don`t like the feel, they just seem wrong).