Tension of Pressurewounds?

Charley Umbria · #1 11-13-2011, 01:19 PM

I've been eyeing the GHS pressurewounds as a good middle ground between traditional flats and full-on rounds. Assuming they're similar gauges, how does the tension of the pressurewounds compare to, say, LaBella flats or standard rounds?

mmbongo · #2 11-13-2011, 01:28 PM

They should be about like rounds, maybe a hair stiffer.

Ask Jason at Bass Strings Online though. He loves some Pressurewounds and can give you all the info you can stand about them

www.bassstringsonline.com

Josh Pelican · #3 11-13-2011, 01:54 PM

Jason definitely loves his Pressurewounds. I just ordered a set, but unfortunately I can't add anything useful until they arrive.

MisterFabulous · #4 11-13-2011, 02:09 PM

Got GHS Pressurewounds (.044-.102) on two of my basses now. IME, the tension is medium; less tension than my D'Addario Half Rounds (.045-.100) for sure.

I've also had GHS Pressurewound (.044-.106) and IIRC, the tension is similar to the .044-.102s.

They are similar in tension to most rounds I've played. Less tension than the flats I've played.

I've not played LaBella Flats. They are at the top of my string wish list.

SLaPiNFuNK · #5 11-13-2011, 05:31 PM

they are a little heavier than standard hex core rounds of similar gauges...

half rounds of .045 compared to rounds of .045 are going to be heavier... Half Rounds start out as thicker strings and are grinded down and end up being .045... they may start at .055 for example (not exact number but you get what im saying?)...

Jay2U · #6 11-13-2011, 06:55 PM

The density of pressurewounds is in between rounds and flats, so the tension should be for equal gauges.

1958Bassman · #7 11-13-2011, 07:07 PM

I bought an Ibanez fretless and after asking around here/contacting Jason, we decided they were Pressurewound. I really liked the original ones but they were duller than I wanted and I didn't know how old they were, so I bought new ones. The old ones definitely had reached the point of not having much/any more elasticity. After hard plucking or if I had tuned them higher, I'm sure they would have snapped. The new ones were noticeable softer/had lower tension and they came around quickly after playing and stretching them. I like them. I can play for a long time without fatigue and I rarely need to tune them. I haven't had this bass long enough to try other brands, though.

soulman969 · #8 11-14-2011, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charley Umbria

I've been eyeing the GHS pressurewounds as a good middle ground between traditional flats and full-on rounds. Assuming they're similar gauges, how does the tension of the pressurewounds compare to, say, LaBella flats or standard rounds?

I replaced a set of GHS Precision Flats with Medium Light GHS Pressure Wounds on my CV Jazz Bass. Definitely lower tension than those flats if that's of any help to you.

I've played rounds for years before trying the Pressure Wounds and I'd say the tension is more similar to rounds of the same gauge or maybe just a bit stiffer.

I play fingerstyle most of the time and they respond real well to a light touch. No problems doing triplets or trills on them like I had with the flats. Very responsive strings.

**bassman_al** · #9 11-16-2011, 05:16 PM

Agree with what others are saying here. I love the GHS ML pressure wounds I just bought. The feel more like rounds than flats and the have much less tension than my La Bella 760FS flats, which are 45-105

jallenbass · #10 11-16-2011, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charley Umbria

I've been eyeing the GHS pressurewounds as a good middle ground between traditional flats and full-on rounds. Assuming they're similar gauges, how does the tension of the pressurewounds compare to, say, LaBella flats or standard rounds?

LaBella flats come in a wide variety on gauges. No one can base their opinion on just a brand name without specifying the gauge. That seems to happen frequently on Talkbass.

soulman969 · #11 11-17-2011, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jallenbass

LaBella flats come in a wide variety on gauges. No one can base their opinion on just a brand name without specifying the gauge. That seems to happen frequently on Talkbass.

Sorry, good point. If you go to the bassstringsonline site and look up GHS Pressure Wounds the guages of of a 4 string Medium Light Set are; .044, .058, .080. .102, which is what I'm using.

They also have a Lights; .040, .054, .076, .096 and Mediums; .044, .062, .084, .106.

Hope this is more helpful.

Charley Umbria · #12 11-17-2011, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jallenbass

LaBella flats come in a wide variety on gauges. No one can base their opinion on just a brand name without specifying the gauge. That seems to happen frequently on Talkbass.

I guess I should have been clearer about what I meant by "(a)summing they're similar gauges."

I've been using LaBella 760 FLs, which are 43-60-82-104. The GHS Pressurewounds I'm considering are the medium lights mentioned by Soulman: 44-58-80-102.

brocco · #13 11-18-2011, 06:15 AM

I use GHS Pressurewounds M7200 .044-.128 on my SR5...I much prefer them over the standard slinky's. Has a nice old school vibe, ,but with a lot of Punch.The B string is tight and just kills.And tension is real nice.

jallenbass · #14 11-18-2011, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charley Umbria

I guess I should have been clearer about what I meant by "(a)summing they're similar gauges."

I've been using LaBella 760 FLs, which are 43-60-82-104. The GHS Pressurewounds I'm considering are the medium lights mentioned by Soulman: 44-58-80-102.

If I had read what you actually wrote I would not have posted. Sorry about that.

That said, there is a lot of brand comparison on TB that don't take gauge into consideration.

Charley Umbria · #15 11-18-2011, 05:09 PM

Ha, no worries, Bro. Half the time, what I write and what I think I wrote are NOT same thing...

soulman969 · #16 11-18-2011, 11:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brocco

I use GHS Pressurewounds M7200 .044-.128 on my SR5...I much prefer them over the standard slinky's. Has a nice old school vibe, ,but with a lot of Punch.The B string is tight and just kills.And tension is real nice.

That's a nice way to describe them brocco. They're a very punchy string with a lot of clarity when you compare them with flats but not overly bright. On my Jazz Bass I can even EQ out some of the highs and give them that low mid thump you get out of most PBasses.

For me the tension is perfect. Loose enough to bend or do right hand pull offs but not at all floppy or loose. Even nicer is the fact that for about $20 you can try them on the bass you play and see if they're what you're looking for.

I've spent far more than that on dinner and drinks with a woman and found out she was definitely NOT what I was looking for. Those strings won't talk about you behind your back or spread nasty rumors about you either if you don't use them again.

brocco · #17 11-19-2011, 06:41 AM

soulman969

Thanks for the kind words. Yeah they are a nice quiet strings also,no finger noise.Hey keep lookin for that special woman,you WILL find her.Had mine 30 yrs now and she does put up with my passion for playing and being a gear hog!And she does get most of my money...still but worth every penny

rollyolly · #18 11-20-2011, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulman969

I've spent far more than that on dinner and drinks with a woman and found out she was definitely NOT what I was looking for. Those strings won't talk about you behind your back or spread nasty rumors about you either if you don't use them again.

This is so classic and so true. Nice point,