Lowest tension round wounds

[nrauch2]

What are the lowest tension round wounds that you have ever tried.

[DogBone]

The TI Jazz rounds I have on my shortscale are pretty low tension.

Oh, they sound good too.

[Duckwater]

TI Jazz rounds or light gauge Circle K's

[scottbass]

TI Jazz Rounds. DR round core (not hex core) roundwounds (like Sunbeams) are also lower tension than most.

[Jay2U]

I tried a very light gauge D'Addario set about a year ago. EXL220, 0.040 to 0.095. They were too light for me, as I kept smashing them against the fretboard. Maybe I could try 'em again, cause my technique improved substantially.

[ixlramp]

It's possible to go extremely light if you adjust your technique.
At one point i was tuning from E up in fifths with a .070 for E on a 35" scale, that was the tightest string in the set, the tension fell steadily from low to high.

[Jerry Ziarko]

DR Sunbeams. Very loose, very soft. They sound great on some basses. I had a walnut Cirrus they just killed on.

[darkstorm]

Dean Markley blue steel. Little bit lighter tension then rotosound swing66 and dr neons & sunbeams.

[SLaPiNFuNK]

There are 4 string sets tuned E A D G using .030 .050 .070 .090, those are pretty low tension...

Most string sets are available in smaller gauges like this.

[SolarMan]

If you could weigh the strings, the lighter strings would have lower tension for a given frequency, no?

As far as I know - nothing else can interfere with the laws of physics - as long as we are talking about pieces of metal under tension

Even the core and wrappings shouldn't matter - that would only affect break point

If we could get a "grams per centimeter" for different strings, we should be able to predict the tension

(this is what my father told me, and he used to design cables for suspension bridges - oh, and he has a PhD in civil engineering)

But hey, what do I know - I only play bass

[jasper383]

IME, the TI Jazz Rounds JR344 set was the slinkiest by far, although I'm sure many of the 30-90 sets Slapinfunk mentions come close, and are cheaper.

Cook yourself up a set of 30-90 D'Addarios, and that would likely be the best value option.

[ixlramp]

Originally Posted by SolarMan

If you could weigh the strings, the lighter strings would have lower tension for a given frequency, no?

As far as I know - nothing else can interfere with the laws of physics - as long as we are talking about pieces of metal under tension

Even the core and wrappings shouldn't matter - that would only affect break point

If we could get a "grams per centimeter" for different strings, we should be able to predict the tension

Yes.
Yes, for the measurable, scientific tension of reasonably flexible strings.
Yes, but then there's perceived tension / feel, which is affected by the string structure.
Yes, unit weight values, tension charts and formula for tension here :http://www.daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf. Unit weights and tension charts here: http://circlekstrings.com/CKSIMAGES/...nsionChart.pdf

The lowest tension 4 string set i know of is:
.045 4 String 34 to 35 Scale Length Balanced
.045 .031 .020 .014
From Circle K Strings Circle K Strings - Standard Balanced 4 Strings
But of course tension depends on tuning and this set is not for standard EADG.

[jmlee]

Originally Posted by SolarMan

If you could weigh the strings, the lighter strings would have lower tension for a given frequency, no?

As far as I know - nothing else can interfere with the laws of physics - as long as we are talking about pieces of metal under tension

Even the core and wrappings shouldn't matter - that would only affect break point

If we could get a "grams per centimeter" for different strings, we should be able to predict the tension

(this is what my father told me, and he used to design cables for suspension bridges - oh, and he has a PhD in civil engineering)

But hey, what do I know - I only play bass

Absolutely right. Vibrational frequency (pitch) is determined by the square root of the string tension divided by the mass per unit length of the string. Ergo, for a given pitch (say A), the tension will go up proportionally with the mass if the string: high mass strings will give higher tension. And what portion of the string is actually bearing load is irrelevant to this consideration. A+ to engineer Dad. I've got a PhD in physics and teach engineering.

[4-string]

Originally Posted by SLaPiNFuNK

There are 4 string sets tuned E A D G using .030 .050 .070 .090, those are pretty low tension...

Most string sets are available in smaller gauges like this.

Yup, that's what I use for my Status. DR Hi Beams, haven't tried the Smiths yet. Love the DRs though.