Bass string with good tone
- Thread starter SicBarney
- Start date
Are they good? And ah. I found out that my B string like no tension like that. like super flimsy. What strings gauge should i use? Thicker ones?
exin
New member
Hickey_:
I think the tension might be due to your bass setup.
For all instruments there's this thing called a BREAK ANGLE. I'm not sure if you guys heard about it before but i learnt about it from a luthier. For your normal fender jazz bass and i believe precision basses, the headstock has a string guide (the circular metal piece) installed on it to let the D and G strings go under it. That string guide actually creates an angle that increases the tension on the D and G string. It's a design that counters the flatness of the headstock.
Try this experiment, don't put the strings under the string guide and see what happens to your D and G strings. There was once i accidentally forgot to guide the D string under the string guide and when i tuned it up, my D string was extremely floppy, i only realised it when i checked the entire length of the string and found that the D string wasn't under the guide.
For other bass manufacturers, they have a tilted headstock that tilts back at a 13 degree angle, this creates tension when you tune up your strings therefore eliminating the need for a guide.
There are several ways to solve a string tension issue. You'd realise that with optimum tension your tone will naturally improve regardless of the brand of the strings. More sustain, better clarity, tighter lows.
Another aspect is your bridge. Alot of musicians, when doing their own setup tend to lower the bridge saddles all the way down to lower the action. It's a quick fix to get a lower action on your strings but not really the best, again, due to break angle. This reduces the angle the strings have from the ball of the string to the saddle therefore reducing the tension on the strings. The best way to get a good break angle is to fix up the neck, ensure that the neck is straight and if necessary, shim the neck. After which fix up the saddles so you get enough angle on the strings. I'm sorry but i don't have photos to illustrate that.
There are aftermarket hardware that allows you to modify your break angle, for example a string tree http://www.allparts.com/store/hardware-string-guides-ap-0724-002,Product.asp. Or what fender did on their american deluxe basses http://www.fender.com/products//search.php?partno=0194760752.
The hardware can be installed by a tech on the headstock to increase the break angle.
Sorry i diverted out of topic.
Anyway i'm using DR Hi-beams on my bass. I'm using a Yamaha BBN5A with Bartolini Classic Bass pickups and Audere Classic 4 preamp. The reason why i stuck with hi-beams is due to their clarity and their amazing string life compared to other string brands i've used. Honestly i don't think there's a better brand or what, each string manufacturer has their own unique tone. Billy Sheehan swears by Rotosounds and he has his own reasons. So i think the best option is to just try out all sorts of strings and determine which brand would give you the best tone for your bass.
Cheers! Keep Grooving.
I think the tension might be due to your bass setup.
For all instruments there's this thing called a BREAK ANGLE. I'm not sure if you guys heard about it before but i learnt about it from a luthier. For your normal fender jazz bass and i believe precision basses, the headstock has a string guide (the circular metal piece) installed on it to let the D and G strings go under it. That string guide actually creates an angle that increases the tension on the D and G string. It's a design that counters the flatness of the headstock.
Try this experiment, don't put the strings under the string guide and see what happens to your D and G strings. There was once i accidentally forgot to guide the D string under the string guide and when i tuned it up, my D string was extremely floppy, i only realised it when i checked the entire length of the string and found that the D string wasn't under the guide.
For other bass manufacturers, they have a tilted headstock that tilts back at a 13 degree angle, this creates tension when you tune up your strings therefore eliminating the need for a guide.
There are several ways to solve a string tension issue. You'd realise that with optimum tension your tone will naturally improve regardless of the brand of the strings. More sustain, better clarity, tighter lows.
Another aspect is your bridge. Alot of musicians, when doing their own setup tend to lower the bridge saddles all the way down to lower the action. It's a quick fix to get a lower action on your strings but not really the best, again, due to break angle. This reduces the angle the strings have from the ball of the string to the saddle therefore reducing the tension on the strings. The best way to get a good break angle is to fix up the neck, ensure that the neck is straight and if necessary, shim the neck. After which fix up the saddles so you get enough angle on the strings. I'm sorry but i don't have photos to illustrate that.
There are aftermarket hardware that allows you to modify your break angle, for example a string tree http://www.allparts.com/store/hardware-string-guides-ap-0724-002,Product.asp. Or what fender did on their american deluxe basses http://www.fender.com/products//search.php?partno=0194760752.
The hardware can be installed by a tech on the headstock to increase the break angle.
Sorry i diverted out of topic.
Anyway i'm using DR Hi-beams on my bass. I'm using a Yamaha BBN5A with Bartolini Classic Bass pickups and Audere Classic 4 preamp. The reason why i stuck with hi-beams is due to their clarity and their amazing string life compared to other string brands i've used. Honestly i don't think there's a better brand or what, each string manufacturer has their own unique tone. Billy Sheehan swears by Rotosounds and he has his own reasons. So i think the best option is to just try out all sorts of strings and determine which brand would give you the best tone for your bass.
Cheers! Keep Grooving.
Putting low-B string, replacing the E string, on a 4-string bass neck and neck joint that was designed for E, A, D, G ?
Apart from the nut slot, will the neck and neck joint be able to handle the heavier guage? Knowing that there's difference between the B string tension, and the E string tension. Will this spoil the bass? Just wondering.
Apart from the nut slot, will the neck and neck joint be able to handle the heavier guage? Knowing that there's difference between the B string tension, and the E string tension. Will this spoil the bass? Just wondering.
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Smack your lovelovelovelove face.
exin
New member
Billy Sheehan does that on his ATT bass. Replacing the strings from a standard EADG tuning to a BEAD string gauge and it's perfectly fine. Yes, we know his bass is a signature model but what you get on the shelves of Yamaha is what he plays so you'd know that basses can handle that kind of stress.
Any neck movement can be countered with some truss rod adjustment. Actually, heavier string gauges has lighter tension compared to thinner strings. Some manufacturers actually print the string weight when tuned up on their string boxes and if you notice the heavier string gauges has lighter weights compared to the thinner ones. So i think shouldn't be an issue lah.
