Ideal string tension

[NineSpine]

What is your ideal string tension in pounds?

[Munjibunga]

Whatever puts the string in tune, and no other.

[greenboy]

Anything that's closer to balanced than most over-the-counter sets works for me. I'm currently doing .038 (guitar string)-.050-.065-.090-.125 tapered (Hipshot B/A) - this averages around 30 pounds per string. But I've done a set even lighter than that and a couple sets leading up to .045-.060-.080-.105-.145 tapered - in that case things average more like 42 pounds per string.

I like the feel and tonal matches better when the sets are balanced, and when all the mid and upper strings are lighter/matched-tension then the low B/A string doesn't seem flabby anymore regardless of whether the set is lighter or heavier.

[Roland777]

Are you asking for a subjective opinion, or wanting an objective one? There's no objective opinion - but personally I like my strings to hover around 30lbs of tension, plus minus a few pounds.

[NineSpine]

Im trying to pick a set for my new 5 string 35 scale Spector, and I wanted some ideas for around what tension to shoot for, for the first set I try.

[Bass Below]

For my playing style I like it to be close to 40, and as Greenboy said, very uniform.

Anything less than mid 30's and not only does it sound crappy at my tuning, but my end strings are being pushed off the edges of the board.

[nad]

Loosy goosy baby, loosy goosy.