String Gauge

[Pow_22]

Ive always used Rotosound Rounds (45-105) but recently had a bit of a prob in the rehearsal room. I like to play my bass VERY bassy, i even want the G & D string to sound deep. Anyway, after much messing around i seem to have nailed the sound..BUT...everything sounds sweet on the A & E strings but when i go up top for some fills or mini riffs the sound kinda gets lost. I dont think its the height of the pups or anything because they seem fine. I think its just i have my sound SO bassy that the upper notes get lost. I was wondering what changing to a heavy gauage (50 - 110) would do to the sound, anyone done this switch before have any opinions?

[Pow_22]

Also while im on the topic, has anyone ever played flatwounds with a pick? I play 90% of my stuff with a pick and was wondering if flats would help me get that even bassier tone without cutting out the sustain too much

[Mog]

not sure if the thicker gauge would give a boost in bass frequencies. increasing gauge is usually a solution to tension issues. maybe some serious eq'ing would sort it out. something like a 32 band. picking on flats will produce lots of clicks.

Edited December 14, 2009 by Mog

[Bay Splayer]

get yourself some DR Fatbeams

same gauge but give a slightly bassier tone

IMO

[Conan]

Sometimes heavier gauge strings can give more harmonics or overtones to the sound, which might make the your tone a bit "fuller"... Or adding a bit more middle to your EQ should give more definition. Not sure what you mean by a "bassy" sound!? Do you just mean roll all the top end off, or set all the bass/low-mid knobs to 11?!

Its all very well flapping your own trousers, but if there is no definition to the sound nobody will be able to hear what you are playing!

Edited December 15, 2009 by Conan

[SteveK]

[quote]everything sounds sweet on the A & E strings but when i go up top for some fills or mini riffs the sound kinda gets lost[/quote]
Sounds to me like an EQ problem. Are you sure that you're not cutting too much of the mid/upper-mid frequencies to get your "VERY bassy" sound?

[Cat Burrito]

I agree the problem is more to do with the EQ then the string gauge. You could try a hybrid gauge so you aren't making the E and A thicker but you thicken up the D and G - however your solution lies in the EQ. I mainly play fingerstyle but do use a pick sometimes and do play with flatwounds. I like the sound. There was a thread this week about Mike Mills of REM having a great tone using a pick with flatwounds. So yeah, you can do - I guess it depends how you play. I probably favour 70/30 towards fingerstyle but the pick on flatwounds still gets me the desired tone I want.

[spinynorman]

I always play flats, either Roto Jazz 45-105 or TIs, and always with a pick (.45mm Dunlop). Clicks aren't a problem unless you've got a very trebly EQ. As flats are less zingy than rounds you might find they help.

[EssentialTension]

Lots of people use flats and a pick. It was not uncommon amongst '60s session players like Joe Osborn, Carol Kaye, John Paul Jones. No clicks there.

[Pow_22]

cheers for the reply peeps. Seems my problem maybe more serious. I use a TE BFC cab (1x15 bottom n 4x10 top all in one cab). Anyways, without previously noticing (only used it twice) it seems only the 15'' is working. Ive started a thread in the Amps section for recommendations. Ta