String tension on fretless acoustic...

[2stripe]

Hi all, first post...

Just picked up a Breedlove BJ350/CM4 fretless acoustic, my first fretless and first acoustic bass, and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. But one thing is bugging me...

The strings out of the factory are D'addario EXP phosphor bronze (45-100 I believe), and while they do seem like a nice set for a fretted acoustic I really don't want them on there. Firstly, because I'm already seeing a few lines on the fingerboard from the winding, and also because I converted to flatwound on my MM Stingray a couple of years ago and haven't looked back since!

Anyway, I have a set of Chromes (45-100) that I bought recently and would really like to have flats on the acoustic, both for the sound and the feel. Looking through the tension charts etc. on the D'addario website it would seem that the chromes have a little less tension than the EXPs, and are the same diameter on each string so as far as I can tell I can just put them straight on.

EXP phosphor bronze tension
ECB81 Chromes tension

Is there any reason why I should be concerned about putting the chromes on the acoustic i.e. is there any adjustment in string tension for electric strings on acoustic that might cause problems over time?

Thanks.

[Sav'nBass]

Hmm no one answered this.. this was a question I was also wondering in another thread..

[Denial]

I would be more worried about higher tension than less tension. You may need to adjust the truss rod for the lower tension strings, but you should be fine.

[UnfortunateTony]

Go for it.

[JTE]

As long as you understand that less tension on an acoustic instrument means less volume. The strings move the top of the guitar, causing.it to pump air. Lower tension means less energy going into the top.

John