This Time....Strings for 4003/s5

[mp_me]

I have a JG 4003/s5.....Black TRC and Pickguard...chrome hardware...a BEAST!!!!

I was wondering what sizes of strings other players use for this bass.
Nickle....Nickle on Steel...Steel....?
I just ordered a set from juststrings....I had to order 5 seperate strings to build my own set to Rickenbacker specs (45,55,75,105,115).

[rickaddict]

I like Elixers on my S/5. They're nice and slick, they last a long time and they sound good. Sizes are limited though from what I remember. But if yours is one with the chunkier neck (around 1998 and later) it can handle 'em.

[mp_me]

The reason I bought the set I did was because the thick set did a number on the neck.
Anyone have problems with heavy strings making the nech too concave?

[gshadoan]

It's been awhile, but when I had S5's (3 of them) I settled in to using GHS boomers. I did change them quite often, about once a month, but I liked the feel, and were easy to get the same bright piano like sound no matter which one I picked up. They are well priced if you change them allot. The one thing that always bothered me though, aside from the thin neck, was the floppy feeling of the 115 Low B. I think a 120, or 125 or even a 130 may yeild better results. .010 is not that dramtic of a guage difference between the E and B. I never had any issues with neck bow. they always adjusted well, and were great necks in that regard. I think Jeff Rath ended up with one of them. On my CII/5 I have settled in to using Thomastisk Medium rounds. Love them. Kinda pricey though. The factory guages on the CII/5 require more neck adjustments then I am comfortable with, especally after the truss rod incident, and the mediums are easy on the fingers.

[jwr2]

I have owned 4 4003s5 basses and I worked on a few more ... they vary a lot ...

this one here was best with light guage strings ... a .110 low B ... http://www.3dentourage.com/425/red-4003s5.htm

This one here had a neck that was straight even when the truss rods were finger tight ... http://www.3dentourage.com/425/89-4003s5.htm

This one here was my favorite for a while ... http://www.3dentourage.com/425/90-4003s5.htm

And this one is simply the best of the 4003s5 basses that I have owned ... http://www.3dentourage.com/425/1990-4003s5.htm

Get a good set of nickel plated round wound strings ... I prefer a .125 low B ... Also don't use a low B that tapers at the ball end ...

Also replace the saddles and cut the grooves for a wider string spacing to make it more finger friendly ... stock the 4003s5 is about 2 1/16" but when modded you can get 2 1/4" or possible 2 3/8"

[jwr2]

I have had good success with DR, D'Addario, Copley, Music Yo, Rotosound, and other strings ...

I found that Just Strings sets often had dead B and E strings ...

[ram]

I liked the Rick strings well enough but the B just wasn't doing it fo me. I ended up using the D'Addario EXL220-5 .040/.060/.075/.095/.125.... I guess the string types might depend on how you are tuning it to a B the heaver sets to a C the more regular sets...

[jwr2]

I prefer a .125 B ans a .105 E ... that gives the bass a good solid low end ...