Tension: Flats vs. Rounds

[bass-shy]

I know that there are exceptions to every rule, but in general, do flatwound strings have higher tension than rounds of the same gauges?

I recently came across a thread that indicated that early Rickenbacker 4001 basses required one to only use flats because the higher tension of roundwound strings could damage the neck.

Conversely, most of the ABG threads here on TB, and some manufacturers, mention some warning about the use of flats on ABGs due to the inherently higher tension as compared to rounds.

I understand that some string makers produce very low tension flats (TI) while others are very high (GHS Precision Flats). I also understand that some rounds range from very light to very tight.

In general, which winding type produces the tighter string?

[tobie]

Interesting question as I've swopped between rounds & flatwounds a few times and the flats surely feel much 'slacker' than the rounds. It would be interesting to hear from someone who has actually measured these tensions.

[Jaydin Nathan]

With flats there is a lot more variation in the tension between different brands. I personally think that flats tend to sound slacker, but my D'Addario Chromes are the same tension as the rounds I used to use.

[Lurker79]

There is a big difference between chromes and ti flats, for sure. I think it's a lower tension that I really like the most, but I still play with both. I have not changed my strings in about a year. I know that is really nothing, but going to from rounds to flats and never changing a string again is so awesome.

[Deacon_Blues]

IME, the differences in tension between different brands of flats are definitely bigger than between any rounds I've played. Both the stiffest and the slackiest strings I've played have been flats.

[One Drop]

To further muddy the waters, flats feel stiffer (as the windings are flush) to play cmpared to a round with the same tension.

So tension and stiffness are not always directly proportionate.

[DogBone]

Originally Posted by bass-shy

I know that there are exceptions to every rule, but in general, do flatwound strings have higher tension than rounds of the same gauges?

I recently came across a thread that indicated that early Rickenbacker 4001 basses required one to only use flats because the higher tension of roundwound strings could damage the neck.

Conversely, most of the ABG threads here on TB, and some manufacturers, mention some warning about the use of flats on ABGs due to the inherently higher tension as compared to rounds.

I understand that some string makers produce very low tension flats (TI) while others are very high (GHS Precision Flats). I also understand that some rounds range from very light to very tight.

In general, which winding type produces the tighter string?

I say it's impossible to generalize since flatwound tension is all over the map.

Case in point:

I have TI jazz rounds on my shortscale bass, and they are pretty low tension. So there's low tension rounds.

I have TI jazz flats on my P bass (love them BTW). So there's low tension flats.

I have D'addario Chromes on my ABG. Much higher tension than the phosphor bronze Elixirs I had on there (and wow what a sound). So there's high tension flats.


Thomastik Infeld publishes their tension, I'm sure other manufacturers do as well. That can be a good starting point for an in depth comparison.

And I've heard the Rickenbacker story as well. I was a teen when the 4003s came out (and a rabid Rick fan then) and I can tell you there were all kinds of stories floating around as to what was going on.

Peace.