Comparing Flat's Tension (TIs, Chromes, GHS)

lefty007 · #1 04-13-2007, 10:38 AM

I've been a long-time TI user, and also Sadowskys .95 flats.

I need new string for other basses and wanted to try something new.

TIs are famous for very low tension, which I like. The Sadowskys have a bit more tension and are brighter (I think these are made by LaBella).

I'm looking for a bright, low-tension flats and I have narrow it down to GHS and Daddario Chromes. Both are available in .95.

Questions are: which would you recommend and which has lower tension?

Lastly, are Ernie Balls light-gauge flats also low tension?

Thanks.

JanusZarate · #2 04-13-2007, 10:47 AM

I've only used D'Addario Chromes, but having used a wide variety of roundwounds... I'd say the Chromes are pretty high tension. They're hex-core, bright, and stiff. I personally loved them for that, though.

I'd look into seeing if the GHS is a round-core flatwound. Round core strings, IME, seem to have lower tension.

EDIT: GHS doesn't seem to have any tension info posted on their site, or the core design of their flatwound strings. They do have two kinds, though - Brite Flats and regular flats.

D'Addario should have some tension info on their site, though.

Jim Carr · #3 04-13-2007, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

I've only used D'Addario Chromes, but having used a wide variety of roundwounds... I'd say the Chromes are pretty high tension. They're hex-core, bright, and stiff. I personally loved them for that, though.

I'd look into seeing if the GHS is a round-core flatwound. Round core strings, IME, seem to have lower tension.

EDIT: GHS doesn't seem to have any tension info posted on their site, or the core design of their flatwound strings. They do have two kinds, though - Brite Flats and regular flats.

D'Addario should have some tension info on their site, though.

Hmmmnnn....I've got to say tension is relative. Fender Mediums (.055-.105) have a lot of tension. D'Addario Chromes in XL gauge (.040-.095) are much like TI Flats, which I have used a lot. The XL gauge is low tension. They are not as bright as TI flats, nor to me, quite as nasal sounding. Chrome XLs are good low tension strings, IMHO.

JanusZarate · #4 04-13-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

Hmmmnnn....I've got to say tension is relative. Fender Mediums (.055-.105) have a lot of tension. D'Addario Chromes in XL gauge (.040-.095) are much like TI Flats, which I have used a lot. The XL gauge is low tension. They are not as bright as TI flats, nor to me, quite as nasal sounding. Chrome XLs are good low tension strings, IMHO.

Hmm... actually, now that you mention it, I don't know what a .95 set of Chromes is really like... I used a .105 set.

Ignore my opinion!

RSY · #5 04-13-2007, 03:55 PM

Go to D'Addarios website. It's very cool in that they list the tension figures for all their strings.

www.daddario.com

scott

JanusZarate · #6 04-13-2007, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RSY

Go to D'Addarios website. It's very cool in that they list the tension figures for all their strings.

www.daddario.com

scott

+1... that's what I suggested.

The only problem is that the tensions aren't listed for GHS flats on the GHS website. It's hard to compare numbers to brands that don't provide them

**yodedude2** · #7 04-13-2007, 06:42 PM

in my limited experience:

the ti flats are the lowest tension strings i have tried. the la bella nylon flats that i use are the second-lowest tension flats i have ever tried; i found them to be lower tension than the d'addario chromes i tried. i would not, however, describe them as low-tension strings; they seem average (medium?) to me. unfortunately, i do not remember the gauge of the chromes set i tried; it was years ago. the fender steel flats i tried were among the highest-tension strings i have ever tried.

i have only tried the ghs ground wound strings, and they were similar in tension to the la bella nylons; that is, about average (and less than the chromes, tension-wise). again, this was years ago. hope this helps, later, ron

Quote:

Originally Posted by lefty007

I've been a long-time TI user, and also Sadowskys .95 flats.

I need new string for other basses and wanted to try something new.

TIs are famous for very low tension, which I like. The Sadowskys have a bit more tension and are brighter (I think these are made by LaBella).

I'm looking for a bright, low-tension flats and I have narrow it down to GHS and Daddario Chromes. Both are available in .95.

Questions are: which would you recommend and which has lower tension?

Lastly, are Ernie Balls light-gauge flats also low tension?

Thanks.

Jim Carr · #8 04-13-2007, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yodedude2

in my limited experience:

the ti flats are the lowest tension strings i have tried. the la bella nylon flats that i use are the second-lowest tension flats i have ever tried; i found them to be lower tension than the d'addario chromes i tried. i would not, however, describe them as low-tension strings; they seem average (medium?) to me. unfortunately, i do not remember the gauge of the chromes set i tried; it was years ago. the fender steel flats i tried were among the highest-tension strings i have ever tried.

i have only tried the ghs ground wound strings, and they were similar in tension to the la bella nylons; that is, about average (and less than the chromes, tension-wise). again, this was years ago. hope this helps, later, ron

Oh, but gauge is the MAJOR determinate (due to mass) of tension. Evalutations are good, but without gauge, it is difficult to use them. IMHO.

RSY · #9 04-14-2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysticBoo

+1... that's what I suggested.

The only problem is that the tensions aren't listed for GHS flats on the GHS website. It's hard to compare numbers to brands that don't provide them

Whoops. Sorry 'bout dat.

I imagine you could use the D'Addario site to look at similar gauge strings and the numbers would be pretty close for other brands, as well.

Of course, I could be dead wrong, as well.

scott

jmceachern36 · #10 04-14-2007, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lefty007

I'm looking for a bright, low-tension flats and I have narrow it down to GHS and Daddario Chromes. Both are available in .95.

Questions are: which would you recommend and which has lower tension?
Lastly, are Ernie Balls light-gauge flats also low tension?
Thanks.

I 've used both the GHS and Chromes (in .105-.45/50 gauge). The GHS seem to have much less tension but are not as bright as the Chromes. I've used the GHS brite flats as well and they sound less brite than the regular flats.

**yodedude2** · #11 04-14-2007, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Carr

Oh, but gauge is the MAJOR determinate (due to mass) of tension. Evalutations are good, but without gauge, it is difficult to use them. IMHO.

Agreed. And yet, different brands of strings of the same guage yield different tensions when tuned to pitch.

I did qualify my experience: by any measure, limited. i feel fortunate: i love the la bella nylon wound flats and put them on all my basses. it's so nice to have something i like so much so readily available. regards, ron

SherpaKahn · #12 04-14-2007, 07:58 PM

An important thing to remember when dealing with string tension and how tight a string feels is that "tension" solely has to do with how much mass there is per unit length, and how high it's tuned.

What we commonly call "Tension" is actually how taut the string feels, which is affected by the actual tension (pulling), and how stiff the string is (for an example of this, try bending a loose roundwound string vs. a loose flat; there's no tension on either string, but the flats are harder to bend).

A good rule of thumb is that a set of flats will often feel like a set of hex-core rounds that are one gauge heavier.

That said, I've played 40-95 Fender flats and 45-100 Chromes, and the Chromes indeed felt tighter, and felt about as tight as my 45-105 DR Hi-beams. I now use Lo-riders for their sound and tighter feel.