Softest/lightest bass strings

[ZB5]

Another +1 on TI flats!

Mellow and musical, easy on the fingers, and respond very well to dynamics and changes with RH technique. I can get some vintage thump or with tone up and driving the amp a nice round-like snarl, plus many more tones in between. My P + TIs take me anywhere I really want to go sonically, plus they make playing for hours easy with no soreness (have tried a lot of other flats I love, but the longer practice time I get with these is one of their best attributes IMO).

 

[bassbrad]

You can always put together your own custom set from singles if you choose. I am using a set out of D'Addario XL round wound singles = .035 + .055 + .080 + .100 [.020 + .120 if needed for extended range basses] super light top light bottom that works well for me for extra articulation and faster playing but still has enough balls for groove playing.
For flats I use RotoSound TruBass 88 on my Washburn AB20 and FrankenPJ.

 

[spigmu]

Tapes! Or you could try tapes.

 

[Scootbass1]

For round wound I use Ken Smith 30-90 sets, both stainless and nickel, with a preference for the stainless myself. Low tension and still have strong fundamentals. I'm an ultra low action type because I am lazy and don't like having to press cables down to the finger board. My aging finger joints appreciate it very much.
Cheers all,
Mike

 

[ixlramp]

I like this sort of question because i can link to this .012-.028 set Hybrid Bass Universal .028″ Balanced Four String Set | Kalium Music
There's no real limit, you reduce gauges (and therefore tension) as far as you want, but that is the lightest set i've seen, although it is not intended for EADG obviously.
I'm happy with a .075 E, it is completely functional and sounds good, so for EADG you could certainly go as light as roughly .075 .055 .040 .028.
The lowest gauges intended for EADG i have seen in mainstream sets are .085-.030 (Rotosound).

Also, odd how almost everyone is recommending TI Jazz Flats, are there not any roundwound players here? There are many roundwound sets with both lower tension and lower stiffness than TI Jazz Flats.

'Soft / light / easy on fingers' is determined by tension (determined by gauge) and stiffness (determined by construction). Stiffness can only be reduced by a certain amount, but tension can be reduced as much as you want by reducing the gauges.
To avoid the common mistake made on this forum, and to avoid being misled by the common bad advice, think about reducing gauges first, not about changing brand or string type.

 

[sabre79]

What would be the the softest or lightest bass strings?
The great Johny Lee long on his youtube channels suggested the "Victor Wooten strings" - DR Pure Blues, for example. Any other suggestions please?
Thank you all.

I love Fender 9120m. The're nylon tapewounds. Very soft on the fingers. I know there are softer strings on the fingers but these Fenders still have a punch to them.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Any 30 - 90 gauge set.

 

[Cutter8]

I’m a huge fan of TI Flats, but if you are after the “softest” strings, that would be Pyramid Gold Flats.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I ordered a five string set of D'Adderio strings a few years ago that were .120-.035. They were incredibly easy to play, but the .035" G string was just too thin sounding to be practical. The rest of the set was great. That's about the lightest I've seen that weren't designed to be used on piccolo bass, but there could be something lighter.

 

[singlemalt]

I love the TI flats and the DR Pure blues in .040.

But I wanted even lighter.

GHS boomers in .030, and Daddario XL’s in .035 are both nice options for nickel rounds. I’ve got these on right now. The .035 are on my Cirrus 35” scale. I think that’s about as light as I can go on a 35”.

The .030 boomers are on a Dingwal Super P, 35-32” scale, and I really like them.

I’m using the Pure Blue .040 on the long scale Dingwall.

Rotosound funkmasters are super light stainless, and next up in my extra super light gauge string quest.

Check in with Fret Nation. Send an email asking about super light sets, because they are adding product everyday. Jason will get you set up!

Create an account for TB vip treatment and discounts.

 

[bdplaid]

Thank you. I meant soft and easier on your fingers. Thanks again.

The Rotosound Funkmaser set, which is something like 30 - 90, is the softest I've ever played. They're a lot of fun, too, like bending harmonics at the nut, is a blast.

 

[Rabidhamster]

What would be the the softest or lightest bass strings?
The great Johny Lee long on his youtube channels suggested the "Victor Wooten strings" - DR Pure Blues, for example. Any other suggestions please?
Thank you all.

Ashbory bass strings are definitely the softest and lightest bass strings. Second is the ukelele bass strings which actually are lighter but they’re at least twice as hard.

You’d need a special bass for either

 

[Adam Wright]

TI Flats or LaBella White Nylon Tapes. Tapes are dope. I use the .60 because the .50 is almost tension free(the gauges are large but don't let it fool you. Played plenty of normal gauge strings with much more tension than the .60 tapes).

 

[sninja]

Elixir Nanoweb 95-40.
Very easy on fingers, easy to slide. Not the lowest tension but feels nice

 

[Jeff Scott]

TI Jazz Rounds FTW here.

 

[Pirate Captain]

DR sunbeams are very supple and dont have a sharp drop off in break in period. I tried pure blues and absolutely hated them, they died with a week and generally just sounded thuddy and dark.

I play Sunbeams on everything except my "motown bass" (which as 8 year old LaBella deep flats)...they are great, not the lightest I've ever played though...those would be the DR Bootzillas ( sure there are lighter...but that's my story and I'm sticking to it)

 

[Dynacord]

TI Jazz Flats remind me of playing with a bass strung with yarn. SO SOFT. SO EASY. I love them on fretted basses, not a big fan of them on fretless.

I love the Labella white tapes on fretless (only downside/consideration is there is some output drop off due the the nylon - at least on the coppers - I knew there was some but it was much greater than I realized when I was changing strings and A/B'd with half TI, half tapes - pretty dramatic).

I’m a huge fan of TI Flats, but if you are after the “softest” strings, that would be Pyramid Gold Flats.

Love the Pyramids - sort of prefer them over TI personally though they are more old school smooth thump relative to TI's more modern character. I do find them a little more stiff than TI. Of course, part of that is down to gauge as with the long scale sets TI has a 100 E standard and Pyramids are 105.

 

[S.F.Sorrow]

TI Jazz Rounds, no contest. The E-string is 089. They make even the TI Jazz Flats seem like bridge cables by comparison. And they're wonderful sounding strings too, very warm, organic, expressive. Not clanky like most rounds. Very smooth sounding right out of the box. If you can handle the low tension you will probably love them. If not you will hate them.

Pyramid Gold are also very soft if you're looking for flats. Wonderful strings if you can handle their quirkyness.

 

[PWRL]

TIs have been mentioned, as have D'Addario tapes and Rotosound Funkmasters. However, Rotosound also makes a set lighter than that, I believe. Funkmasters are crazy light.

 

[howlin]

The softest easiest strings I've played in my P have been La Bella Low Tension Flats. I like them but I went back to TI's for a more metallic sound that's how soft the LTF's were to my ears.