Lowest Tension Strings?

[Modern Growl]

Does anyone know of the lowest tension strings? 34' scale and nickel or stainless suggestions are desired.

thanks!

[Ostinato]

My faves were always R. Cocco strings.

[Slater]

Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Rounds have to be a contender for lowest tension...

[fretlessrock]

+1 on the TI Jazz Rounds. Also, I've played Zon UltraSonic Nickel Lights (.035 / .055 / .075 / .095) and they were just about as light. You might also be able to build a custom set like the top 4 of thier light 6 string set (.025 / .035 / .055 / .085 ). But for an off the shelf set I have never played anything lighter than TI Jazz Rounds. They sound good too.

[Ric Vice]

I concur, the Tomasticks are very low tension and really
easy on vintage bass necks. They are pretty pricey however.
They also have a winding of silk between the inner and outer
cores. I like it, others feel that it dampens the sound.

Ric

[slugworth]

Lighter guage=Lower tension.

Slug

[fretlessrock]

Not necessarily. The tension of a string is a function of mass/length and differences in alloys, core diameter, winding diameter, and winding shape can make for a smaller string with more mass/length, or vice versa. TI happens to publish tension specs for their strings. Most other manufacturers don't.

[Bruce Lindfield]

Rubber bands would be pretty low tension....

[slugworth]

Originally Posted by fretlessrock

Not necessarily. The tension of a string is a function of mass/length and differences in alloys, core diameter, winding diameter, and winding shape can make for a smaller string with more mass/length, or vice versa. TI happens to publish tension specs for their strings. Most other manufacturers don't.

>>> Agreed. However in general, lighter guages have lower tension. Here's D'Addario's tension specs:

http://www.daddariostrings.com/Resou...sion_chart.pdf

[slugworth]

Originally Posted by fretlessrock

Not necessarily. The tension of a string is a function of mass/length and differences in alloys, core diameter, winding diameter, and winding shape can make for a smaller string with more mass/length, or vice versa. TI happens to publish tension specs for their strings. Most other manufacturers don't.

Here's a little excercise to illustrate that point, comparing
TI vs. D'addario long scale nickel roundwounds with guages
as close as possible:

TI JAZZ ROUNDS D'AD XL NICKEL
lbs
E .89 27.99 .90 30.5
A .68 29.54 .70 33.7
D .51 30.20 .52 33.1
G .43 34.61 .42 37.1


2.51 122.34 2.54 134.4

The mass/tension index for the TI's comes out to 48.74,
compared to 52.91 for the D'Addario's. TI's are the low tension winner in this scenario with 8% less tension across the board, owing to their component construction. However I think you'd be hard pressed to find any comparison where a 40-100 set in any brand would have equal or more tension than any 45-105 set.

Too much fun.

Slug