Preferred Strings

[IvanHardy]

hey guys i wanted to ask all of you what gauges do you guys use on your basses for Standard tuning and the occasional Drop D. i'm back in that search for the right gauges but it's hard to try everything when a pack of strings are 20 each. i currently have power slinky's on mine and i've been playing them for the better part of a year now. but the string tension is too much for me on the D and G strings. does anyone use regular or hybrid slinky's? can i hear some opinions about them?

 

[Ray Salamon]

Well, I'm using a 5er, but we downtune 1/2 step for our live shows. I use Regular Slinky's, .45/.65/.80/.100/.130s, so they're slightly lighter than the power slinky's. I like these because they feel pretty even across the strings - not perfect, but IMO very well balanced.

 

[strummer]

Well, I'm using a 5er, but we downtune 1/2 step for our live shows. I use Regular Slinky's, .45/.65/.80/.100/.130s, so they're slightly lighter than the power slinky's. I like these because they feel pretty even across the strings - not perfect, but IMO very well balanced.

This is exactly what I do too, and I've dropped the whole set a whole step too on occasion.

 

[IvanHardy]

Well, I'm using a 5er, but we downtune 1/2 step for our live shows. I use Regular Slinky's, .45/.65/.80/.100/.130s, so they're slightly lighter than the power slinky's. I like these because they feel pretty even across the strings - not perfect, but IMO very well balanced.

cool perhaps i'll try the regular slinky's 4 string version obviously. i was thinking of trying 45-105 see how that might feel if not i'd probably go 50-105. with power slinky's when ever tried slapping or popping or even playing the g string i'd get tired and my fingers would be so sore everytime i played.

 

[IvanHardy]

This is exactly what I do too, and I've dropped the whole set a whole step too on occasion.

i don't want to go too light though because going back to super slinky's i'd have to have my bass set up and money's tight right now.

 

[Ray Salamon]

Good opportunity to learn to do your own setups It's really a simple thing, just takes a bit of time and patience. It's not that big of a jump on string gauge, so you'll at worst have a tiny bit of intonation to do and make a small tweak on the trussrod.

 

[supadave]

I'm using EB reg roundwound coated slinkys on my Stingray and EB hybrid slinky coateds on my blah blah Jazz. The jazz is tuned to low C and I needed to go down in weight to get the 'E' string under control when its tuned down so low. My Stingray goes from Standard to drop D to Drop Eflat to Drop A(yep, all over the place) without any problems at all and tunes up in an instant. While I think I would like to use a 100 on my E string there is no set which carries 50, 70, 85, 100 and I'm not buying two sets at $50 each just to get that lighter E. Either way, the coated slinkys are really good, last for freakin ages and always tune up even when I'm going up and down between tunings.
And I don't want to hear anyone say "Get a five string". That is blasphemy to me.

 

[ksandvik]

You need stiff strings for down-tuning. I usually use Lo Riders but as usually everyone has their own taste about strings and string tension.

 

[Ray Salamon]

I'd die if I had to pay $50/set of strings. Youch. I like mine super fresh so mine are constantly being changed.

 

[IvanHardy]

thanks guys. i'm comfortable with adjusting the truss rod that's the nothing new to me but intonation that's too complex for me. i'm leaning heavily on trying hybrid slinky's. yeah stiff strings are good for lower tunings but i hate that feeling in standard.

 

[Ray Salamon]

Intonation is pretty easy, just need to be able to tune

 

[supadave]

thanks guys. i'm comfortable with adjusting the truss rod that's the nothing new to me but intonation that's too complex for me. i'm leaning heavily on trying hybrid slinky's. yeah stiff strings are good for lower tunings but i hate that feeling in standard.

You're looking at tiny tweaks of your intonation, nothing serious. Just work in quarter or half turns so you can go back easily if you need to. I doubt you'll need to adjust it much at all. I've hardly messed with my intonation at all and I have zero problems. Zero. And I'm going up and down in tuning all night(d-tuner please santa). Mind you, Ray pretty much tunes herself these days.
I fully recommend hybrid slinkys and agree regards the stiff strings. Not my thing either.

 

[IvanHardy]

You're looking at tiny tweaks of your intonation, nothing serious. Just work in quarter or half turns so you can go back easily if you need to. I doubt you'll need to adjust it much at all. I've hardly messed with my intonation at all and I have zero problems. Zero. And I'm going up and down in tuning all night(d-tuner please santa). Mind you, Ray pretty much tunes herself these days.
I fully recommend hybrid slinkys and agree regards the stiff strings. Not my thing either.

thanks i will try hybrid slinky's. my truss rod on my maple stingray has been a little hard to adjust right now for some reason and i haven't changed strings yet my strings are just buzzing and i've felt lately like this bass hasnt had good tone or enough punch like my other 'ray

 

[Golem]

thanks guys. i'm comfortable with adjusting the truss rod that's
the nothing new to me but intonation that's too complex for me. i'm
leaning heavily on trying hybrid slinky's. yeah stiff strings are good
for lower tunings but i hate that feeling in standard.

Yup. Simple solution .... never go back to standard.

I keep nearly all my 4-strings tuned to DGCF. Thems
what ain'ts are tuned to CFBbEb. I don't search out
exceptionally heavy strings, altho I stay away from
any especially light guages.

An occasional side benefit of permanent low tuning is
a confused look on the geetard's face if he's reading
my hands and sees me "playing off key". Clearly not
of the "sound good = is good" clan. You may [or may
not] be amazed how many tone deaf geetards know
63 gazillion chords but don't know what they hear !


`

 

[cyoungnashville]

duuuuhhhhhhh.. its called a capo... check into it.

 

[bovinehost]

I thought a capo was a mafia dude.

Does Guitar Center have those?

 

[adouglas]

I thought a capo was a mafia dude.

Does Guitar Center have those?

Mafia dudes? Maybe in Jersey….

 

[J Romano]

Why bring my Uncle Vinny into this

 

[IvanHardy]

Mafia dudes? Maybe in Jersey….

that's it i'm never going back to jersey again....but anywho i just bought a pair of Hybrid Slinky's. i'm gonna put them on and let you guys know what i think.

 

[IvanHardy]

Why bring my Uncle Vinny into this

he's in the mafia? i got a job for him