Need some string advice for Bass

[Nadz1lla]

Eyup guys,

I would like to change the strings on my Squier Jaguar Bass. My guitar is tuned down to drop C using the low B from a seven string set (so tuned upwards one note too high for extra attack and tension).

I play mainly metal but I like my note definition, I'd like my Bass to sound bright, so I'm thinking a lighter gauge? Obviously needs to reflect what my guitar is tuned to. The Jaguar is 34" scale, which I believe in terms of Bass is "long" scale?

I'm a novice when it comes to Bass strings, so could someone point me in the right direction regarding string gauges and makes / types.

I know Nolly uses Circle K on his Dingwall (which sounds AMAZING!), but would that be the right way to go for me?

[BigB]

34'' is indeed "long scale" (or more exactly the standard 4 strings bass scale really). A light gauge will help wrt/ brightness and (for a guitar player at least) playability but you'll loose some tightness, fullness and definition too. OTHO if you downtune the bass you'll need heavier gauge to make up for the tension.

I'm not a real bass player myself but when I was playing the bass in a band I used Rotosound 66LC 40/95 http://www.thomann.de/fr/rotosound_rs_66_lc.htm, but you'd better wait for someone more knowledgeable to chime in   :lol:

[Lucifuge]

Are you going to be tuning your bass to drop C as well to match the guitar? If so, you might want to go for a light-gauge B string from a 5-string set, maybe a .120 or something. Or maybe go for a heavier gauge 4-string set like  .050 - .110.

However, you might need to widen the nut slot on your bass to accommodate this gauge, and also check the slots or holes on the bridge to make sure they will fit through.

[Nadz1lla]

Cheers guys,

Looking at the nut, the E string fits rather snugly so I may have to widen it a little, yes.

So which sets are "bright" sounding? Were those Rotosounds particularly bright?

[Deadstar]

I'm literally in the same boat as you  :D  Going to drop my bass to C before recording soon - have a regular set in that tuning at the minute, sounds far too loose.

I'd stay away from lighter gauges for drop tuning (especially since you do the same thing I do for guitar) the tuning stability tends to go a bit whack.
Low strings need that extra tension for drop tuning, I find the 105 for the E that comes on most standard basses even a little light for standard tuning.
You may need to rest the truss rod a little and most likely the bridge saddles to correct the intonation.

Never heard of Circle K but just looked them - they seem to have made the gauges for equal tension in various tunings and scale lengths
Thinking about a 5 string that typically comes with a 135 on the low B so I'd reckon either a 130 or 125 would be around the right mark for that extra half step
so either of these sets would probably do it, depending on just how tight you like the bass across all the strings:

http://circlekstrings.com/store/product2747.html
http://circlekstrings.com/store/product2699.html

Could always buy single strings from other brands if they don't have the gauge you like.

As for the brightness (although string gauge is a factor) much of that is determined by the characteristics of the instruments build,
the pickups and can be manipulated what you're running it through (ie - DI, amp, distortion, eq etc...)
Most nickel roundwounds should do the job, pure steels would brighten it up but it might be going too far for some.

[BigB]

So which sets are "bright" sounding? Were those Rotosounds particularly bright?

Well, I don't have much to compare with but they were indeed rather bright and kept most of the brightness for a few months of moderate use (one or two rehearsals + about 6 hours home practice a week). I think most bass players would find them more usable by that time than new :lol:, but I really like this bright metalic klang/kerrang you get from new strings.

[Nadz1lla]

Absolutely BigB, know what you mean mate, heh. Love the sound of new strings. :D

Cheers Deadstar, that really helps, actually. I just chucked a set in the basket on the Circle K site and the shipping is the same amount as the actual strings!  :lol:

I might bite the bullet, though, as I've heard great things about them. That balanced tension sounds great.

[gnarmageddon]

I'm mainly a bassist, and the pickiest one I know at that, and I have to say I hated Rotosounds and didn't think they sounded particularly bright. Mostly I hate how they feel against my fingers; they grip too much when I do slides. Anyway, I'd go with Ernie Ball Super Slinkys for a 5-string and throw out the high string. Ernie Balls are nice and bright and feel great to play. Other than that, D'Addarios are real bright, but I like how Ernie Balls are guaged; the intervals in thickness are nice and even with no huge jumps that feel strange when you do sweeps or something like that.

[Dave Sloven]

I used to have a BC Rich (USA) Warlock as my first bass (a late '80s or 1990 one, complete rubbish, I think it was plywood and the hardware was dreadful, I ended up trading it in on a Peavey Unity Koa, which I still regret selling to pay for a flight to the USA back in 1997) and that was set up with a Bad Ass II bridge, a brass nut (after the original nut flew off the bass at the first string change) and B-E-A-D tuning using a 5-string set.  It was standard scale like yours (from memory).

The main problem I had with it (besides toneless plywood body, the original 'flying' nut, and the wonky bridge saddles) was that with the new nut and string set I seemed to have a lot of string rattle.  You might need to set the action higher than it is currently, just to allow the correct clearance at the frets.  It might also be the case that the big string moved around more when it vibrated, and that this why it rattled.

God I hated that thing.  Anyway, I think that you should go with a lightish 5-string set (as you are effectively tuning up for a 5-string) and sell the G to some friend who plays jazz, and just be careful that you get the action set up right.

I also found that the big gauge roundwound strings were a bit noisy with the pick attack. This won't be an issue if you are playing fingerstyle of course.

[Nadz1lla]

Cool, cheers guys! I did buy some strings but not changed them over yet... can't remember what I bought though, hah! O'll keep all this in mind for my next set. :)