who else here prefers high tension?

[Rugaar]

Fender 9050ML flats for me, too. I like the quick, responsive feel when I hit 'em. With lower tension strings I tend to push them around too much.

[Tostenbass]

Yep, i tend to go for the heaviest gauges.......

[waterberry]

i've never used the string under 105 gauge.
i've always used 110 for jazz and now i'm using 105 for my warwick thumb!
i love the depth and power of the sound!!

[JOE EDO]

DR LoRiders SS (hex core) 50 -110 on the 4 bangers and 45 -130 on the 5er's. Tight and dynamic with fingers, picks, thumbs, funk fingers, elbows, .... just about anything you can hit a string with. Love'em

[DavidRavenMoon]

I like the feel of the 45-130 D'Addario XL 5 string set. I like to feel some resistance on my plucking hand, yet they are easy to bend.

I keep my action fairly low.

[Kwesi]

I'm realizing that i like high tension better. I've had a set of DR Fat Beams on my Squire for about 6 months and they're getting really loose (sound great though) to the point where I can feel the extra effort i'm putting into to plucking a string and it's uncomfortable. Just got a new Cort/Elrick RB4 and since the strings are brand new i don't have that issue (still breaking them in soundwise though) much more comfortable and less hand cramping.

[ShirazBop]

Higher tension Nickle wounds nowadays verses lighter gauge SS a few years ago. Better for my heavier plucking right hand. More depth, sustain...etc...

[BuffaloBass]

DR nickle Lo Riders, all the way. Gimme tension baby!

[joelb79]

I think all you people are NUTS!

[old mark]

I have been playing low-tension round wounds for decades. Started playing again recently, and wanted to try a different sound. Bought a set of Fender Stainless Flats 9050L for my Peavey Foundation.
They are great!
The old bass sounds better than I imagined it could, and I have no trouble bending or hammering on the strings. They give me a lot of good highs that I didn't associate with flats. They stay in tune, and notes are clear with less noise.
They are like the best of both worlds.

mark

[lonote]

Another vote for high tension. I use Fender 9050's on my P-Basses and D'Addario Chromes on my J-style basses and my Ibanez Artcore.

[Bass Below]

Originally Posted by knuckle_head

I like that you can dig in harder - much more dynamic for me.

Same here. Plus I'm not a very good player, I'm a bit sloppy so with less than desirable tension, I push the strings off the edges of the board.

[Blues Cat]

+1 on the high tension hex core low action. I have 2 DW's that actually have thin round core DW strings but the extra length gives them hex core tension. I long for the day I can get DW hex core strings. It could be coming soon.

[T-34]

Another Fender 9050 user here

They are awful when new (especially E) but after 2-3 months of good use there is nothing better

[BackwaterBass]

Its got to be tight for me or I can't play detuned without every note sounding like slap bass CLAKETY CLACK..

[FenderP]

High tension + high action = only way to go

[Dee_01]

I dig light strings on bass. Having been a guitarist for most of my life I am used to the feel of skinny strings. Huge bass strings can sometimes sound a bit dull, too, and I like a bit of zing! Usual 45-105 set is as high as I'd go on a 4-string. I prefer a 40-100 set pretty much. I like VERY low action also!

[*smb]

High tension on some basses, low on others. Whatever suits.

[markjazzbassist]

i love flats (d'addario chromes) which most would say have higher tension.

i can't stand floppy roundwounds, it's gotta be some tight flats for me.