Re: What's the tonal impact of smaller gauge strings?
^
I've got one bass (a short neck 30" scale) that I keep light gauge rounds on, just to play with the very different feel than I'm used to.
But I generally play somewhat akin to the style of an upright player (since I learned on flats, and play upright), so heavy gauge flats work best for my "general purpose" bass strings.
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Re: What's the tonal impact of smaller gauge strings?
Originally posted by ItsaBass View PostYou should pick the strings that give you the amount of push back and "rubberiness" that feels best to you. The tone can all be tweaked with various adjustments (pickup height, e.g.).
To me, light strings feel bad, on both hands. They are harder to control, because they don't "settle" well to my taste. Heavier strings feel far more stable and predictable to me; they are always right where I expect them to be, and I never miss a beat. On light strings, I stumble, sometimes even after I get used to them. Others who play differently will have different experiences with light and heavy strings.
Also remember that string height goes a long way. Light strings can be made hard to play if they are set high...and heavy strings can be made easy to play if they are set low.
On guitar I use 9s for the same reasons. I play both with a 1.14mm pick (or sometimes my fingers).
But I don’t like very low tension strings like Thomastics. Too soft. D’Addario have just the right amount of tension.
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Re: What's the tonal impact of smaller gauge strings?
Originally posted by ArtieToo View PostNice setup. Wasn't Soundgear associated with Ibanez? Or am I thinking of something else? Do you sell those pups?
Yes I sell those pickups.
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Re: What's the tonal impact of smaller gauge strings?
Originally posted by ArtieToo View PostMy luthier friend did a setup and fixed the nut after I swapped the bridge for the Fender Badass clone. But there's a couple things about that bridge that I don't like. So I already ordered the Hipshot version. Hopefully, will arrive tomorrow. My friend is going to do a new bone nut at that time. However, she plays great, sounds amazing right now.
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Re: What's the tonal impact of smaller gauge strings?
Thanks. Good info. I'm still a bass newbie, so it's going to take awhile for me to figure out what feels natural to me. The good news is that this new P-Bass is really inspiring me to learn it better. I just don't know what there is about this thing. Maybe it's just that the classic "Fender Bass" is so iconic. I can't remember the last time an instrument so begged me to pick it up so much.
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Re: What's the tonal impact of smaller gauge strings?
You should pick the strings that give you the amount of push back and "rubberiness" that feels best to you. The tone can all be tweaked with various adjustments (pickup height, e.g.).
To me, light strings feel bad, on both hands. They are harder to control, because they don't "settle" well to my taste. Heavier strings feel far more stable and predictable to me; they are always right where I expect them to be, and I never miss a beat. On light strings, I stumble, sometimes even after I get used to them. Others who play differently will have different experiences with light and heavy strings.
Also remember that string height goes a long way. Light strings can be made hard to play if they are set high...and heavy strings can be made easy to play if they are set low.
Leave a comment:
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Re: What's the tonal impact of smaller gauge strings?
Originally posted by ArtieToo View PostNice setup. Wasn't Soundgear associated with Ibanez? Or am I thinking of something else? Do you sell those pups?
Since the 80s pivot from Fender and Gibson copies to own original designs, all high end Ibanez stuff is always made by Fujigen Gakki, a prolific Japanese contract manufacturer (also known for some Fender Japan, Jackson, own brand FGN, etc.)Last edited by Adieu; 05-03-2019, 11:02 PM.
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Re: What's the tonal impact of smaller gauge strings?
Nice setup. Wasn't Soundgear associated with Ibanez? Or am I thinking of something else? Do you sell those pups?
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What's the tonal impact of smaller gauge strings?
Originally posted by Adieu View PostDunno about the '87's (JJ pups, right?), but later Japanese 5string Soundgears with the soapbars really, and I mean REALLY benefitted from ditching the preamp and swapping in Duncan Actives with basic pots
Moved them up from just plain good to downright ridiculously superior to anything you can buy off the shelf
Now it’s passive with dual rail neodymium jazz pickups I make. You are hearing both pickups with the bridge slightly higher in the mix. It was direct into Behringer UMC22 interface into Logic Pro X. I’m using the amp and effects plugins there.
I like the Duncan active pickups. Had a girlfriend that played bass, so I built her a PJ style bass with the active pickups with the DIP switches back in the 80s. That was a great sounding bass.
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Re: What's the tonal impact of smaller gauge strings?
My luthier friend did a setup and fixed the nut after I swapped the bridge for the Fender Badass clone. But there's a couple things about that bridge that I don't like. So I already ordered the Hipshot version. Hopefully, will arrive tomorrow. My friend is going to do a new bone nut at that time. However, she plays great, sounds amazing right now.
The bridge I ordered:
Last edited by ArtieToo; 05-03-2019, 08:15 PM.
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Re: What's the tonal impact of smaller gauge strings?
Originally posted by DavidRavenMoon View Post
Moved them up from just plain good to downright ridiculously superior to anything you can buy off the shelf
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Re: What's the tonal impact of smaller gauge strings?
Originally posted by DavidRavenMoon View PostYou get more snap and grind.
These are D’Addario XLs on an ‘87 Ibanez SR885LE. It’s running direct into Logic Pro X, with one of the amp plugins.
https://soundcloud.com/davidravenmoon/supercollider
It’s probably best to have a jazz with light roundwound strings and a P with heavier flats for ultimate tonal versatility.
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Re: What's the tonal impact of smaller gauge strings?
I put a set of DR Black Beauties 40-120 on my Jazz V, very good bass sound and I think more balanced with the smaller B string. Sounding as good as my medium (45-130) set.
No you won't sound like a guitar.
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Re: What's the tonal impact of smaller gauge strings?
Originally posted by ArtieToo View PostI just "googled" that. Nice little bass. Part of the reason I want to try lighter strings is because I can't help playing my bass like a guitar. It's a hard habit to break. I'm wanting to try the more traditional "finger stroking" thing, but I keep coming back to thumb picking.
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Re: What's the tonal impact of smaller gauge strings?
I just "googled" that. Nice little bass. Part of the reason I want to try lighter strings is because I can't help playing my bass like a guitar. It's a hard habit to break. I'm wanting to try the more traditional "finger stroking" thing, but I keep coming back to thumb picking.
Leave a comment:
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