| The BIG string tension issue
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Over the years at Talkbass we have seen issues about string tension raised again and again. And we have heard lots of opinions and "facts" about the issues - enough to make most regular TB participants puke at the sight of another thread on the issue.
Scale length, through-body stringing, string gauges, fanned fret systems, neck angle and shims, high mass bridges, low mass bridges, string extensions beyond the bridge, yadda yadda - we've heard it all.
I am doing a controlled study of string tension. And though a lot of scientific research has been done, the problem comes down to what is "measured" and what is "perceived". For example, several schemes to increase string tension have been de-bunked by scientific measurement, but the same schemes seem to reveal what are determined to be "perceived" differences in the hands of some players. Effectively the results are that the actual measured tension is different from what is "perceived" by some players.
That says to me that we are not measuring the same thing. If I can prove to you that the end-to-end tension on two sets of strings is identical, but you can feel a difference in tension, we have a disconnect. Duh!?
So this thread is about defining that disconnect. It's no good for me to sit on my own and figure I have the solution. I don't have the solution unless we have the solution. So what do WE mean?
I want you to describe as best you can what you mean by string tension from a playing standpoint. Forget what you have read. Don't tell me your B string is "floppy". What do you mean by the term "floppy"? It's more flexible under you finger when you pluck compared to the other strings? Are the other strings all the same - just the B string (or E String) that has a drammatic difference? Or is it a case that the best feel is on the G string and it gets progressively worse on the D, A, E and B strings? Maybe you feel that it is just harder to play the B string because your fingers just skid off it too easily. Or the E string feels like a rope while the others feel like real strings. Your E string buzzes but is seriously higher than any of your other strings?
Best ignore the examples I just gave and just describe how you feel about playing a string that you might feel lacks tension - or has too much tension.
Beware - I am going to critically question your responses. Don't misunderstand me here - I am looking for clarity, not being judgemental. It may seem that I am picking on you, but I am only trying to pry out the real nuggets of infomation that can add to our understanding of the issues involved. So don't participate in this thread if you can't take some prodding.
Do not expect that I will eventually post the "results" of this study. The results are the thread itself. That is to say the thread is intended to help us to communally define that elusive "tension" thing. It will be defined by our voices, our perspectives, our opinions. We may find that we disagree fundamentally in what it is, or we may find that we do perceive the same thing and that could lead to results that fit us better.
Though I will be monitoring this thread regulary, don't expect immediate responses from me. I am running a very busy shop, and as much as I love TB, other priorities rule - they are the ones that pay the bills.
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Instrument Technician, Toronto
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