What factors affect string tension?

[CPMartin]

I have the tightest bass in existence, it seems. The action is not very high, but the strings are very stiff - it's like playing George Washington Bridge on a cold day, we used to say. Even using solo strings tuned down, it's much easier to play some junky school basses than my nice carved old 3/4 French bass. On other respects it's fine - very nice tone, etc.

Since I don't think I can find strings flexible enough to make a difference (I'm using Pirastro Obbligato solos tuned down), what other factors will make a difference? I've had the saddle raised to make the angle of the strings more obtuse.

Can anyone shed light on why it's so tight?

Thanks.

[JoeyNaeger]

The tailpiece cable can contribute to stiffness I've found. A flexible, synthetic cable loosened my bass up a fair amount. It sounds like it's an inherent quality of the bass though so the effect may not be huge.

[reedo35]

The Tailpiece cable can make a minute difference, but like you said, not on all basses. The height of the nut and the camber (scoop) of the neck are greater factors in the playability of the Bass.

[panos]

CPMartin, what is the action of your strings?

I had exactly the same problem with my 7/8 bass. I tried a lot of lower tension strings like Corellis or FlatChromesteel which helped for a while.
But this problem seems to be solved after lowering the height of the strings at the end of the fingerboard (action) and reshaping the fingerboard to avoid buzzing. Now the action is: 4.5 - 5.5 - 6 - 9 (mm) and the tension is normal, so I can use the kind of strings I like without having the limitation of using lower tension strings.
If you eat just 1 mm (filing the slot on the bridge) you will feel a remarkable difference in tension, bigger than expected. If the action of your strings is not high as you said, but still not low, you could try carefully lower it a bit.

[CPMartin]

Hmm, I suppose they could be lower. The E string looks to be about 1/2 inch (12.7mm) off the fingerboard. I'll give that a try, though stiffness is not exactly the same issue as height.

[Eric Hochberg]

Originally Posted by CPMartin

Hmm, I suppose they could be lower. The E string looks to be about 1/2 inch (12.7mm) off the fingerboard. I'll give that a try, though stiffness is not exactly the same issue as height.

Just as the raised saddle took some tension off the top by changing the string angle as it passes over the bridge, lowering the bridge or string slots will do the same thing and possibly give you a looser feel.

[Eric Swanson]

CP, checking out your profile reminds me of being exposed to David Walter during my brief and misspent year at Manhattan School of Music. An inspirational guy. Looks like you have a sweet old bass, too.

What is your string length (mensure), from nut to bridge? I used to play a funky old bass with a 44 /2" mensure, so I have some experience with tightness. No matter what I (or several luthiers) did, that bass was always harder to play than most.

I think of string length as perhaps the single greatest factor in this equation. Since the pitches are consistent, a longer string length will simply be under higher tension. Shorter mensure equals lower tension, in general.

Many basses have between 41" and 42" mensures. Many fine orchestral instruments are in the 40" to 41" range. Many arco players look for basses in the 40" to 41 1/2" range, or even shorter (I think that Edgar Meyer's is 39 7/8", for example).

That's the first thing I'd want to know about your situation. I am currently playing a 42" string length bass. It is tighter than ideal for arco (IMHO), but has a nice punch for pizz, both results of the higher tension.

Tail wires, higher saddles, bridge heights, "softer" strings, all that could help a bit, but if you have a longer than average string length, it may be an uphill battle with modest gains. As we say in New England, you could be "p*ssing up a rope"...

Also worth having a good luthier check out your sound post for length and placement. Michael Hartery, who recently returned here to Boston (email: mhartery@aol.com; or phone: 978.500.8848) just improved my bass' response A LOT in about 45 minutes by replacing my post with a shorter one (for winter/cold/contracted bass body), and by moving it over toward the "G" side and toward the tailpiece (by about 3/8", diagonally). The best money I ever spent on anything related to musical instruments, on work done by a great bassist and luthier.

[fingers]

Originally Posted by CPMartin

1/2 inch (12.7mm) off the fingerboard.

If you are right that is a pretty steep string height. I keep mine at about 9mm on the E and 6mm on the G. I've heard this referred to as a pretty medium height. You'd be amazed how much the feel of the bass changes as you lower the strings.

Also, like Eric Hochberg mentions check your nut slots. You should be able to fit no more than a business card under them if that. A nut that is too high can make the bass feel really hard to play and increase the possibility of injury.