How important are string guages?

[MaplegloMatt]

Well, I guess I'm about to find out. As we know, RIC does not currently offer a flatwound string. So, just ordered GHS Precision Flats, single strings, from juststrings,com in 105,75,55,45 gauges. I really like these strings and currently have a light guage set on my Ric. I'm curious if this custom guage will make a difference. Stayed tuned....

[jimk]

I gather you play a 6 string Rick. I'm a 12 string player. And from what I gather from time spent on the RRF, string gauge is fairly important on a 12, if you don't want intonation hassles.
JimK

[jps]

You will find that string gauge is only one ingredient of several that affect feel and tension. With all else being equal, flatwound strings have more mass than than their same gauge roundwounds. But, the only way to find out how different strings are is to try them, all the talk and opinion doesn't mean a whole lot in the real world experience for each of us. Personally, I prefer lighter (lower tension) string gauges when using flatwounds on my instruments. If you find you do not like the GHS don't give up on flatwounds in general as they are all different. My favorites have been D'Addario Chromes in their Super Soft set (sometimes swapping out the .060 D string for a .055, and TI Jazz Flats which come in only one gauge making choice really easy! Flatwound strings can last for years so the higher cost, especially pertaining to the TIs, are actually more cost effective in the long run than most roundwound strings.

Have fun learning about them; currently I have Chromes on my Stingray and TIs on the Ruby Laredo.

[woodyng]

I've found that a lighter gauge than what you ordered seems to work better on my Ricks. For flatwounds,i usually go with a 40-100 gauge,and the neck tension is manageable. I have used that size set of the GHS flats on my 4000,which worked really well. I agree with Jeff that if you are to try Chromes,the lightest possible set would be the one to go for,as most daddario strings i've tried seem to be pretty stiff and tension-y. Are you putting these on a modern Rick,or a vintage one? That might also be a factor to consider.

[edski]

I used to have Fender 9050 ML's on my 4001 - there are very stiff, high tension strings. The neck had too much relief, but overall I loved the sound. I have since gone to first RW's, and now GHS brite flats that are closer to the Ric specs.

I've found that the feel is better with the spec string gauges, but that is mainly because the neck relief is basically flat with these lower tension strings (I'm not man enough to mess with the truss rods on my 75 4001...)

Of course, as Jeff says, there are many different variables involved, and of course YMMV.

[MaplegloMatt]

Thanks for the responses guys. After posting I got caught up in the holiday madness and have only now checked back. Jeff, I like your point about the extra mass in a flatwound and the E string may be a little bit too much. I do like Chromes and have them on my P bass. I also have a spare set of GHS flats in a light guage so I may mix n match until I find something I like. I'll give it a whirl after the new year. But just to cloud the picture, I put on a set of GHS pressurewounds a while ago. Being mainly a flat wound guy even those had too much zing for me. Well, damned if they haven't mellowed out a bit and I'm really starting to like them. Maybe I need Santa to bring a second Rick so I won't have to choose

[jps]

All strings will mellow out, even flats will over time. Some of the reasons I like using flatwound strings is to get rid of finger sliding noise, reduce fret wear, and make it easy on my fingertips. I used to love that new, zingy sound roundwound strings produce but over the years I have more or less gotten away from that tone, plus flats will way outlast rounds.

The only RW strings I really like these days are TI Jazz Rounds, they have a very smooth feel to them for RWs and they last way longer than other RWs I have used.

[iiipopes]

Yes, the GHS standard set of flats will require truss rod adjustments.

Pressurewounds are great strings. I had their cousins, the Progressives, on my 4002 for decades until I went to tapewounds. If I ever have a gig I need a heavier sound again, the Progressives will go right back on.

You mentioned mix-and-match. I've done that for years. The closest to the "original" gauges on a bass would be to use the G and E strings out of the regular gauge GHS set and the D and A strings out of the light gauge set.

I was ordering custom "balanced" gauges in the Progressives, 45-60-80-105, for decades before that became popular, ever since Progressives were a new string. The only thing I ever picked a nit about was the G string could twang, so if I go back, the G string will be a 44 Pressurewound to take a little twang out of the formula.