Question about Tension

ishouldbeking · #1 05-22-2007, 12:42 PM

I've recently switched to flatwounds, but I'm still trying to find my brand. The strings I'm using now on my Jazz bass are webstrings flats (the .045-.105 set) and while I like the sound, I find them to be a little harder to play than I like.

So my new Precision bass arrived this morning (strung up with rounds) and I'm going to buy a set of flats, but i was wondering if I should go with a low tension string like TI's or maybe I'd be better off with something in the middle like LaBella's or Chromes?

The problem is I don't have any point of reference to compare the webstrings with, all I know is that they feel high tension to me. What are the disadvantages of low tension strings?

The sound I"m going for is close to a classic P bass thump, but I'll be playing in an indie rock band so I'm not too hung up on being 100% traditional with my tone.

ishouldbeking · #2 05-22-2007, 06:36 PM

anybody?

JimmyM · #3 05-22-2007, 06:47 PM

People can tell you about their string experiences until they're blue in the face, but the only way to truly tell if you'll like a type of string is to buy a set.

Jo6Pak · #4 05-22-2007, 07:12 PM

FWIW, lighter strings = lower tension (someone shoot me if I'm wrong). I typically use D'A ECB80 Chrome (40-95). However, with a lighter string you may also sacrifice some of that P bass rumble you desire. That is especially true with the D'A Chromes. They are fairly bright, but thats what I like. As previously stated, in the beginning its all trial and error.

pjwalsh · #5 05-22-2007, 08:05 PM

The Ti jazz flats do feel a bit loose at first, especially if you are switching from roundwounds. The only disadvantage is you may miss the bounce of 45-105 rounds. One solution is to just pluck a bit closer to the bridge.

Another recommended by Carol Kaye is increasing string length significantly past conventional intonation to bring string tension up. If combined with medium high action this doesn't seem to affect one's abillity to play in tune all that much as the notes are not off by much on the low frets and the natural tendency to choke the strings slightly on the middle and upper frets raises the pitch pretty close to true.

I know it seems like heresy but I tried it out and checked tune carefully all the way up the neck using both a keyboard and electronic tunner and was surprised at how minor the discrepancy was. In fact it motivated me to rethink the way I intonate my bass - in the past I had compared harmonics to carefully fingered upper register notes. Result was that when playing at speed my upper register notes were mostly sharp due to slight bends. Now I check tune when fretting with gusto and end up with slightly longer string length.

ishouldbeking · #6 05-22-2007, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjwalsh

The Ti jazz flats do feel a bit loose at first, especially if you are switching from roundwounds. The only disadvantage is you may miss the bounce of 45-105 rounds. One solution is to just pluck a bit closer to the bridge.

Well I've been playing these webstrings flats for a while, and they're not toooooo bad, just a bit hard to fret. Basically I've narrowed it down between the TI jazz flats and the La Bella 760FL flats. From what I gather the TI's will be a little bit 'looser' than the La Bella's, but I guess I just wanted to know if i'm losing anything. I tend to like my E strings around .100 up to .105. And I play with a pick (blasphemy, right?), if that makes any difference.

ishouldbeking · #7 05-22-2007, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

People can tell you about their string experiences until they're blue in the face, but the only way to truly tell if you'll like a type of string is to buy a set.

Yeah, I understand. I'm just narrowing it down between the TI's and Labella's and wanted a little advice... plus flats aren't cheap, and if they're gonna last me a year or two I'd like to get the "right" set for my new P-bass.

cymbop · #8 05-23-2007, 06:59 AM

The TIs were my first flats. I like them, but wanted a little more tension. So I went to the LaBella 760FL's, and after getting used to the TIs, the 760s had too much tension. There's a big difference between them.

ishouldbeking · #9 05-23-2007, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cymbop

The TIs were my first flats. I like them, but wanted a little more tension. So I went to the LaBella 760FL's, and after getting used to the TIs, the 760s had too much tension. There's a big difference between them.

Ah, ok... that's basically what I was wondering. Well since I'm looking for less tension than I've currently got, I suppose I should go for the TI's. Thanks!

greenboy · #10 05-23-2007, 05:44 PM

I personally call the TI strings "the un-flat" because they are made of different materials in a different way than any of the "traditonal" flatwounds. They even have a slight gap between each top wind. This is not better or worse, per se, just different. They sound markedy different than the sound that traditonally is associated with flats, and feel different too.

If you are looking for the sound that's like the old classic records you might just go for the Labellas or one of the other true flatwounds in the lightest gauges possible. Either that, or just set your bass up with a little lower action and get used to the flatwound trip.

If on the other hand that type of tone is not what you are going for specifically, the TI "unflats" are a great string with a detailed midrange-favoring voice, and last a long time too.

ibnzneksrul · #11 05-23-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishouldbeking

plus flats aren't cheap

http://cgi.ebay.com/DAddario-ECB81-B...QQcmdZViewItem

Not expensive either.

greenboy · #12 05-23-2007, 05:56 PM

Or, Carvin sells the Labellas at a good discount.

seanm · #13 05-23-2007, 08:24 PM

ishouldbeking, you seem to be the first on the list to try webstrings flats. So nobody can give you a reference of how much tension they have. Once somebody else tries them, or you try something else, we will have a reference.

As you have found, one of the problems with flats is that they last so long you don't get to try that many.

JimmyM · #14 05-23-2007, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjwalsh

Another recommended by Carol Kaye is increasing string length significantly past conventional intonation to bring string tension up. If combined with medium high action this doesn't seem to affect one's abillity to play in tune all that much as the notes are not off by much on the low frets and the natural tendency to choke the strings slightly on the middle and upper frets raises the pitch pretty close to true.

I know it seems like heresy but I tried it out and checked tune carefully all the way up the neck using both a keyboard and electronic tunner and was surprised at how minor the discrepancy was. In fact it motivated me to rethink the way I intonate my bass - in the past I had compared harmonics to carefully fingered upper register notes. Result was that when playing at speed my upper register notes were mostly sharp due to slight bends. Now I check tune when fretting with gusto and end up with slightly longer string length.

Hmmm...this is one thing Carol has always said that I really don't believe. She says that setting intonation was unnecessary on bass and that it was a holdover from the guitar. Me, I'll settle for setting the intonation properly because my action is pretty low, but if you use higher action, you could be right.