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String gauges - what and why


JapanAxe
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This is [b]NOT[/b] about brands, nor is it about roundwounds vs flatwound.

My question is: What [b]gauge[/b] of string do you favour and [b]why[/b]?

I'll start: Not long after I started playing bass, I needed to replace a set of strings, so I checked the ones on my bass and found them to be a 45-105 set. These seemed about average, so not seeing any reason to change, I got a replacement set, and have stuck with that gauge ever since.

Now I can imagine that going lighter might make for an easier play, but in your experience (not just what you have heard), is this actually the case? And all other things being equal, does it affect the output? Or the tone, and if so how? How light do you have to go before the pitch is adversely affected by heavy pick/finger attack?

Over to you, esteemed BCers...

[size=2]PS - did I mention this is not about brands? Or the roundwound/flatwound debate?[/size]

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Some comments here to get you started:
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/151628-what-gauge-strings-do-you-use/"]- http://basschat.co.u...ngs-do-you-use/[/url]
[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/82233-different-sounds-from-different-gauges/"]- http://basschat.co.u...fferent-gauges/[/url]

Edited by ikay
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50 - 110s.

I find I get a much deeper thicker sound, and the few times I`ve bought 45 - 105s, I`ve been like "where`s my bass gone". Plus, the heavier gauge are higher tension and as I hit the strings quite hard, prefer this.

Have to say though, it is easier to play lighter gauge strings.

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42-118/120.

I don't dig in deep in general play and that is just the way I developed the playing.

The downside is that I loose level ..as other bass players are waaaaaaaaaaaay louder than I am on my own gear, but
then I don't beat up my hands and that should make my playing life better and longer... and I have 550 and 750/900w amps anyway.
I am not chasing for volume..

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