Buying Strings?

[TheophileIII]

Im a newbie to Bass, so i was just wondering in about a week im gonna go to my local music store and buy 4 new strings for my bass. My question is what kind of strings do i get? i was looking at strings online and i didnt know there was more to it then just picking out a brand. I found out that i have to pick out a Gauge of the string which i have no idea what that means and how it makes the bass sound better/worst. And then i found out i need to pick Nickel or Stainless Steel once again i have no idea what they do or if they make the bass sound better/worse. So any info on buying strings would be dandy. Thanks in advance

[ATM]

LaBella strings are good.

[EADG]

It doesn't really matter what you get, it's all preference.


Nickel and steel strings will give a different sound and feel, but either will work fine.

As for gauge, they affect the tension (how tight the string is). The heavier the gauge, the tighter they are (generally). Some people prefer light gauge because they bend easier. Most people use heavy gauge if they downtune.

If you're in doubt (which you seem to be), go for standard gauge (45, 65, 85, 105 or 45, 65, 80, 100) and decide from there.

[HELLonWHEELS]

It doesn't really matter what you get, it's all preference.


Nickel and steel strings will give a different sound and feel, but either will work fine.

As for gauge, they affect the tension (how tight the string is). The heavier the gauge, the tighter they are (generally). Some people prefer light gauge because they bend easier. Most people use heavy gauge if they downtune.

If you're in doubt (which you seem to be), go for standard gauge (45, 65, 85, 105 or 45, 65, 80, 100) and decide from there.
I agree with EADG

Also keep in mind that string have differant textures. Rotosounds are very rough and can eat away at your frets but give a sound like no other string.

Flatwounds are smooth string which are great for a warm sound nothing too bright and IMO are usually tighter strings(tension wise) they strings don't really go to well with slap bass, so if your into that count them out.

There are also coated strings which are my personal favorite becuase they aren't very bright but can still bring out the ringing sustain you hear in roundwound strings.

Guages

40-100 - If you slap a lot these strings are more flexible, but beware of fret buzz.

45-105 - Is probably the most popular of the guages its really is the bar.

50-110 - For heavier music for the most part. Since the strings are thicker they are tighter(tension wise) and are good for drop tuning.

You can combien those three guages so you if you play mostly in drop D but you want the other string loose then you can get 45-110 or a 40-105.

[EADG]

40-100 - If you slap a lot these strings are more flexible, but beware of fret buzz.




Generally people with light strings will have to raise their action.


Well, any gauge change could require a setup.

[ebe9]

The is an article from "bassplayer" magazine I believe, in which they sat down and tested a wide ranges of strings from a variety of different manufacturers.

Someone recently made a thread about it.

I do have the link but not on this computer. I can try posting it when I get home. It might help you out a bit.

[Smokin' cowboys]

The is an article from "bassplayer" magazine I believe, in which they sat down and tested a wide ranges of strings from a variety of different manufacturers.

Someone recently made a thread about it.

I do have the link but not on this computer. I can try posting it when I get home. It might help you out a bit.


Was me, here it is: http://www.bassplayer.com/story.asp?storycode=4037

Enjoy

[psbassplayer]

u also have to choose from different types of strings. there r roundwound, which is prolly what u have on ur bass rite now. then there r flatwound, which r, well flat...wound. they r not coarse like roundwounds, but they tend to go dead sooner than roundwounds. but while sliding u wont get that scraping sound. then there r groundwounds, or half-wounds. ive never tried these, but i hear they have the characteristics of both rounds flats. they r flat on the outside, and round on the inside near the core of the string. there r other aspects to these and all strings, but for ur puposes this is prolly as in depth of info as ull need.

hope this helps

Peace

-psbass