Lightest Gauge Strings

[Frank Blank]

My first ‘proper’ bass was a beautiful black Jaydee Supernatural that I purchased from the Bass Centre in Wapping in 1988. Before I start crying about the bass I regret parting with the most I’ll get to the point. When I bought it I asked for it to be restrung, when asked what type/gauge I just said (as a complete novice who didn’t even know why he’d asked for it to be restrung) “The lightest gauge possible please...” While it was being restrung I pondered why I was having it strung with the lightest strings possible when my aim was to play in a heavy/goth band and also why on Earth I’d bought a Jaydee given that same ambition. Anyway I loved the bass and loved those strings too, I have no idea what gauge they were or even what make. My Godin is about due a new set of strings am I’m thinking of going light again, anyone have any recommendations for really light strings? What’s the lightest gauge you’ve ever used?

[itu]

30 - 50 - 70 - 90 from Rotosound. These are really light!

http://www.rotosound.com/funkmaster/

 

Nowadays something like 40 - 60 - 75 - 95 (- 125) from D'Addario or 40 - 58 - 80 - 102 from GHS. Always stainless.

http://daddario.com/DADProductDetail.Page?ActiveID=3769&productid=143&productname=EPS220_5_ProSteels_5_String_Bass__Super_Light__40_125__Long_Scale

https://www.ghsstrings.com/products/11286-bass-super-steelstm?category_id=1964708-super-steelstm

[HazBeen]

40-95 is probably what was put on at the time. Not my cuppa but they are readily available still.

[Frank Blank]

Thanks @itu, that’s really cool!

[HazBeen]

Ooh, a quick Google tells me you can even get 30-85....

 

[Frank Blank]

4 minutes ago, HazBeen said:

Ooh, a quick Google tells me you can even get 30-85....

Thanks @HazBeen, man that’s light! Must try them all out!

[Deedee]

I recently put a set of D'Addario XL Nickel Wound 95-35 on my Status and they're fantastic. Certainly the lightest strings I've ever used.

 

[Frank Blank]

30 minutes ago, Deedee said:

I recently put a set of D'Addario XL Nickel Wound 95-35 on my Status and they're fantastic. Certainly the lightest strings I've ever used.

Cheers @Deedee, I particularly fond of D’Addario strings so they might be just the ticket!

[Teebs]

I use these on my Aria for twangy-plucking things:

 

Edited April 3, 2019 by Teebs

[BreadBin]

Funkmasters are great on a fretless 👍

[Frank Blank]

3 hours ago, Teebs said:

I use these on my Aria for twangy-plucking things:

I must admit I’m partial to a twangy pluck.

[three]

On ‎03‎/‎04‎/‎2019 at 16:46, Frank Blank said:

Cheers @Deedee, I particularly fond of D’Addario strings so they might be just the ticket!

I've been using these for the past 3 or 4 months on Fender type basses and I'm really enjoying them - I moved over from exl220s (40-60-75-95).  The difference isn't massive but the lighter gauge is preferable for me and there's plenty of bright twang if that's what you're looking for.  I've been shopping around but picked-up a few sets at about £18-19 including shipping

[JohnR]

DR Strings Hi Beams XLR-30   30-50-70-90 rock my world. Hard to track down though.

[itu]

Actually the thinnest (maybe not the lightest) set I have used is 18 - 50:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/ghs_3045_lsp_p.htm

But not for the ordinary tuning. It was in my Kramer Ferrington and was fun for few days. Sold that bass soon after the trial.

[Guest ixlramp]

If we're going to get silly, here's the lightest set, .009 - .028 https://kaliummusic.com/product/string-pack-3r646a6d/

Edited April 26, 2019 by ixlramp

[TheGreek]

I prefer light gauge strings but found the 30s sets too light - I'll take 35s when I can. I even experimented with the top 4 from a 6 string set from D'Addario for a while ("custom set") - 0.28 upwards. D'Addario were very obliging and only charged me the same as a 4 string set. These were the days when Andy (of Bass Bash fame) was the Sales Rep .

The bass did feel like it was playing itself but TBH it felt a bit novelty-ish.