JapanAxe Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 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] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted December 16, 2012 Share Posted December 16, 2012 (edited) 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 December 16, 2012 by ikay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JapanAxe Posted December 16, 2012 Author Share Posted December 16, 2012 Thanks ikay. I did search the forum before posting but didn't find those threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 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. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 45-105 Generic all the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyc Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 I use 45 - 105 on my four string, but on my five string I prefer 40 - 115 as that bass seems to have higher tension and lighter strings seem to balance it out a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassmachine2112 Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 [u]40-100 [/u]all the way by the way which gauge is best for metal hat,scarf,coat and gloves are ready Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted December 19, 2012 Share Posted December 19, 2012 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.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Delberthot Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Normally 45,65,85,105 but I've recently started using D'addario Chromes 40s and they feel really nice tension. Alternatively, Roto 50s flats tuned down a semitone sound amazing. Really heavy duty bass tones and feel nice tension but way too much tension when tuned to pitch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrismuzz Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 I like 45 - 105 for playing in E flat. They're not too tight to play comfortably on, and they're not too floppy to have a fairly low action with. Also having a slightly less deep tone makes my overall sound and attack tighter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.