Bass strings: heavy or light?

[Deleted]

As an only occasional bass player I've never really looked into this aspect of the bass and have just settled for whatever is on a bass. But it just occurred to me that heavier gauge bass strings ought to remove a good deal of clatter as they should be tighter with less flap. Would this be correct?

Why wouldn't I want heavy gauge strings?

And would a comparable flatwound string also have less flap than an roundwound of equal gauge? Nothing to do with tone here, just feel and response.

[Deleted]

Would also love to know more on this subject! +1

buuuut ,. ... nothing wrong with some fret noise when you hammer the string as it adds to the Analogness of it all related to tone!

[Deleted]

I was just playing my Jazz unplugged before starting this thread, as I waited for the kettle to boil, and thought 'goodness, what a lot of clatter'. It's not so much hammer on fret noise that worries me. Just the fact that I need to play so gently to avoid other buzzes and rattles. Anything approaching a snap and I get more than one snap. And any fast runs are beset with rattles. Then again...in the mix...

Maybe flatwounds are for me.

[DerAlex]

My bass teacher said trying out flats would be a good option. He also recommended using 45-100 (on a 4-string bass) and not going heavier.

There is also an extensive test of flatwounds (unfortunately in german) but this guy noted down every detail and seems not to be so inspired by hard 'n' stiff" strings:

www.bonedo.de/artikel/einzelansicht/vergleichstest-flatwound-saiten-fuer-e-bass/2.html

Maybe auto-translation in Chrome helps a bit.

[Deleted]

I'm on 45-100 now. Roundwounds but I do like the feel of flatwounds on my fretless. I have a set in my little box of odd 'n' sods (actually steadily growing bigger box. I had to upsize a couple of weeks ago!). Maybe I should try them out on my fretted Jazz. It's a different sort of playing though. Worth a try.

[Deleted]

Maybe you need a higher action I try to play gently as that is my prefered tone, even if I need more punch I will try to mute strings with my fretting hand or crank the Compressor and then its much easier to get punch WITHOUT going hard on the strings (up the Attack knob). But yes I too get rattle if I really dig into the strings. My action is around 2,8 mm on E and maybe a bit lower on G.

[Deleted]

I definitely plan to raise my action on a few guitars. I've been steadily doing over the past year as playing has become easier. There's a tendency to try and get it as low as possible when you first get one rather than what suits your playing. I reckon the Jazz is a candidate too.

[JAC]

[Deleted]

"There is no shame in going back to basics" !

[Deleted]

Flamed out thread but as a new bass owner and bass beginner/wannabe player, thought it worth a relite.

Interestingly my 2021 manufactured Yamaha TRBX174 bought new last month (03/22) which is Yamaha's entry level 4 string bass came fitted default with .45-.105s. That's also spec. fitment stated on their website. No brand specified on the 174 and 204 series. D'Addario on all TRBX segments above i.e. 304/504 etc according to their current (2022) website specs. Typically Yamaha use Korean sourced OEM components when not specifying a brand. Unsure what their relationship is with Chinese manufacturers, who make a superb quality strings in their mid and upper brand segments IME of those I've tried and used on guitar. e.g. Alice, Orphee brands -but just two of many. Cost/quality/effectiveness, they leave well known overpriced American brands for dead with no discernible tonal, feel or service life tradeoff that matters to me. But I digress.

Those default unknown brand OEM fitment .45-.105s are my first exposure to bass strings, so I have no datum comparative.

As is my "be prepared" maxim nature, the first thing I did the same day I ordered my bass was to order a spare set of strings so as not to be held to ransom paying an exorbitant amount for ridiculously priced Ernie Balls, D'Addarios or Elixirs off the shelf were replacement string/s to be needed ad hoc. The long and the short of it, on a rapid voyage of gauge options and end user preferences discovery, I ended up buying a set of well regarded .45-.100 Nickel Roundwounds.

[strummer]

I've had my bass for many years and haven't had to change the strings yet, though I realize it might be necessary someday ...

[Deleted]

Apr 7, 2022 19:40:37 GMT strummer said:

I've had my bass for many years and haven't had to change the strings yet, though I realize it might be necessary someday ...

Fair enough.

IDK yet about uncoated (wound) bass strings lifespan in terms of A. acceptable tonal fidelity due fatigue and the gradual loss of elastic properties, and B. feel due inevitable exposure to contact with reactive substances in play and everyday rack/stand/hanger storage inducing corrosion. Breakages will be rare if ever on a conventionally strung standard gauge 4 string I expect given bass strings are, (i) wound and, (ii) of such relatively large robust gauge suggestive they'll wear out per definitions A & B referred to in the preceding sentence long before risk of a breakage ever occurring even on a G. I'll certainly find how long that metaphorical 'piece of string' is quantitatively in time. I expect for reasons iterated, thankfully given the relative cost per set their lifespan will be longer than that I experience of a typical set of .9s or .10s (electric) or .12's (acoustic) guitar strings.

I do truly know someone who is content to play guitar (not bass) with the same original sets of towing cables strings he bought his guitars with still fitted having owned them for several years. The mindset is one of 'the only time it's necessary to change strings is if/when one breaks'. I'm always amazed at how he perceives strings sound acceptable near half a decade or more on when my E, B (& G on electric) are black, corroded, feel utterly dreadful to fret, are tonally dull with the wound G on acoustic discernibly the latter too within 3~4 months on acoustic, generally less on electric.

Mindful of avoiding invitation to argument, an unspoken policy of each to their own has prevailed between us, although his preferred practice doesn't work for me.