nuts and strings

[skabassist13]

ok, i was looking into this and i have a few questions:

1: if i were to increase the gauge of my strings, from say a 100 on the E to a 105, i would have to file the nut right?
2: if i were to put the thicker string on there, would there be any difference in tone?
3: would there be any difference in tension of the string?
4: if i wanted to use the same bass but change the gauge of the strings on a regular basis, would it be wise to get another nut for the second set of strings and swap it out every time i wanted to change gauge?
5: would it even be feasable to change the nut on a regular basis?
6: should i just experiment and see what i like better and then set up my bass for that gauge.


oh if it helps any im currently playing slinkies, and intend to keep it that way. thanks in advance.
Travis

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>1: if i were to increase the gauge of my strings, from say a 100 on the E to a 105, i would have to file the nut right?

IMO no. I regularly change E string gauge without a prob. I normally use 110 for the E. I don't know for sure but I would think EB, and other manufactures, would take account of the fact that players are going to swap gauges on their instruments. I imagine the nuts are filed to take a heavy gauge right from the start. If you were going to modify the instrument eg...fit a B string in place of the E...then the nut would have to be filed.

>>>2: if i were to put the thicker string on there, would there be any difference in tone?

From what I've read on other threads...the heavier the gauge the thicker the tone. Although I like the feel of a 110 E string, I can't really tell the diff between that and the 105. I've never tried lights but would imagine that going from lights straight to heavy gauge, there's going to be a difference.

 

[Bassplyr]

ok, i was looking into this and i have a few questions:

1: if i were to increase the gauge of my strings, from say a 100 on the E to a 105, i would have to file the nut right?
2: if i were to put the thicker string on there, would there be any difference in tone?
3: would there be any difference in tension of the string?
4: if i wanted to use the same bass but change the gauge of the strings on a regular basis, would it be wise to get another nut for the second set of strings and swap it out every time i wanted to change gauge?
5: would it even be feasable to change the nut on a regular basis?
6: should i just experiment and see what i like better and then set up my bass for that gauge.


oh if it helps any im currently playing slinkies, and intend to keep it that way. thanks in advance.
Travis

I agree with Trussbroken: You shouldn't have to file the nut for different gauges; There is a slight difference in string tension with heavier strings; and changing nuts everytime is not feasible. It would totally mess up your neck with repetative substitution, and could be expensive. The most common guage (I sell) is 45-105 for 4-string. Larger gauges tend to be more warmer and thicker sounding, smaller gauges tend to be thinner sounding. Good luck!

 

[skabassist13]

cool. thanks for the input.

 

[fifthorange]

skabassist13, thanks for posting this thread, it really helpped

 

[skabassist13]

no problem.

 

[dlloyd]

>>>1: if i were to increase the gauge of my strings, from say a 100 on the E to a 105, i would have to file the nut right?

IMO no. I regularly change E string gauge without a prob. I normally use 110 for the E. I don't know for sure but I would think EB, and other manufactures, would take account of the fact that players are going to swap gauges on their instruments. I imagine the nuts are filed to take a heavy gauge right from the start. If you were going to modify the instrument eg...fit a B string in place of the E...then the nut would have to be filed.

For what it's worth, I currently have a .110 E and it required no modification of the nut.

>>>2: if i were to put the thicker string on there, would there be any difference in tone?

From what I've read on other threads...the heavier the gauge the thicker the tone. Although I like the feel of a 110 E string, I can't really tell the diff between that and the 105. I've never tried lights but would imagine that going from lights straight to heavy gauge, there's going to be a difference.

The main difference in my experience is volume. It's difficult to get an objective idea of tonal differences between strings because you tend to change old strings for new in which case there's going to be a difference anyway.

Conventional wisdom would have it that heavier strings have a thicker, warmer tone.