I Love Low Tension.

**TheEmptyCell** · #1 01-21-2008, 12:21 PM

After discovering DR HiBeams and slapping a set on my 6er (custom 130 100 80 60 40 30), I've fallen in love with the low-tension feel.

I have SunBeams 100-40 on my Jazz, and a 100-40 set coming for my new Ibanez. I use TI Jazz Flats on my T-40.

My Ibanez SR wears a set of ProSteels (gross sounding strings, but it's better than the dead ones it had on it). They may only be 105-45, but good lord are they taut. The action is the same on this bass as my others, and I was swearing up and down, til I checked, that it was a few millimeters too high.

My Artcore wears a set of GHS flats. These things are like steel I-beams. No flex, just thomp-thomp-thomp. I had a set of Chromes on an old bass before, and as far as I remember, the TI's remind of those strings, if not better.

What flats will get me close to the TI tension, but not the TI price tag?

Mojo-Man · #2 01-23-2008, 01:39 PM

GHS Flats come close.

But nothing plays like TI-flats. ( stay with the TI's)

SteveC · #3 01-23-2008, 02:20 PM

I have DR Sunbeams on my fretless, but I think I'm going to go to TI's. Gonna give it a couple more gigs but I think I want a more "upright" sound - less Jaco.

I love DR strings - HiBeams on my fretted.

Etbass · #4 01-31-2008, 09:43 PM

Dude. Low tension loves you too.

fearceol · #5 02-01-2008, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheEmptyCell

What flats will get me close to the TI tension, but not the TI price tag?

They are cheap in the long run when you consider how long they last.

bassman1185 · #6 02-01-2008, 11:14 AM

I actually much prefer higher-tenstion strings. I've got a set of Bootzillas on one of my basses, and they sound great, but they feel like I'm not playing anything. I play pretty hard, so I like having strings that let me know I'm actually playing something.

If I did more slapping and tapping, or even worked my technique up to be a bit more refined, I would probably love the lower tenstion.

Fuzzbass · #7 02-01-2008, 11:20 AM

I have a set of TI flats that I throw on my Fender RB5 every so often. They're a challenge at first, because my right hand tends to be aggressive with rounds. The low tension TI's were perfect for a mellow country/blues band I used to play in. I just had to get used to hitting the strings more lightly so they wouldn't buzz or bottom out.

The new Sadowsky Blue Label nickels seem to have lower tension than their counterpart Black Labels.

**TheEmptyCell** · #8 02-02-2008, 06:04 PM

I ordered a 100-40 set of D'addario Chromes for the Artcore in hopes that they'll be a little softer feeling than the GHS that are on it right now.