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05-22-2011, 03:45 AM
| | | | Reducing string tension
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My strings are very stiff, want to make them floppier somehow. Is there anything I can do, apart from changing strings?
Thx. |
05-22-2011, 04:43 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Netherlands | | | Lower action will give you percieved lower tension to some extent. Why wouldn't you want to change strings though, there are many strings that sound almost identical but have different playability. When I want floppy I look for a lower gauge string. |
05-22-2011, 09:39 AM
| | Registered User
I setup & repair guitars & basses | | Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Kensington, Ca | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Follow1  My strings are very stiff, want to make them floppier somehow. Is there anything I can do, apart from changing strings?
Thx. | No.
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05-22-2011, 01:00 PM
|  | Signed, Sealed, Delivered | | Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NY & MA | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Follow1 My strings are very stiff, want to make them floppier somehow. Is there anything I can do, apart from changing strings?
Thx. | Double no. |
05-22-2011, 04:53 PM
|  | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Illinois, USA | | | Tension is simply a function of three things. String mass, pitch, and speaking length. You can't change the length, so you can only change tension by changing pitch (down tuning) or string mass ( gauge).
John
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05-22-2011, 05:32 PM
| | | | 1. Wait, & keep playing them. Every string I've ever used got looser/floppier with time.
2. Down-tune.
3. Switch to a lighter-gauge string. For the same scale length, & a lighter gauge, tension will have to be reduced to get the same pitch.
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05-22-2011, 06:40 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina | | | Lowering the action, even after you adjust the intonation at the saddles, the strings feel a bit floppier
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05-22-2011, 09:13 PM
|  | Ampeeeeeeg \o/ | | Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Israel | | | I used to play with DR Lo-Riders which had extremelly high tension which at first felt like 'Oh, guys on TB say high tension is good so it must be good!'
Then I tried the DR Hi-Beam SS strings once and never looked back. The tension is so much lower, the strings are like butter to my bread. Check it out, yo.
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05-22-2011, 09:26 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: May 2007 Location: Nashville | | | Can never second guess a suggestion with "check it out, yo" in it... |
05-22-2011, 09:53 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnMCA72 1. Wait, & keep playing them. Every string I've ever used got looser/floppier with time. | After 30+ years of bass playing and hundreds of string sets, not a single string of mine has ever gotten floppier over time.
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05-22-2011, 10:03 PM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by FretlessMainly After 30+ years of bass playing and hundreds of string sets, not a single string of mine has ever gotten floppier over time. | Ditto, only 27 years
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05-22-2011, 11:10 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Finland (Northern Europe) | | Hi. Quote:
Originally Posted by FretlessMainly After 30+ years of bass playing and hundreds of string sets, not a single string of mine has ever gotten floppier over time. | Only about 25 years here, but that's my experience as well.
Like said previously, only things that can reasonably be done to lower the tension is to either change the pitch (tuning) or the string diameter.
Not all strings are created equal either, but IMLE the differences are subtle.
Regards
Sam |
05-22-2011, 11:30 PM
| | | IME: YES You CAN.
I do this to my strings to achieve almost same goal as you:
(My strings are LaBella 0760M Deep Talkin' Jamerson set which very stiff, but have good sound that I really love.. But recently I adjust them on one of my P-Bass to be easier for me to relearn my basic technique after 20 years playing professionally  ... Like this:...)
#Adjust the trussrod a bit (turn clockwise); #Lower the bridge;
#Tuned down (Me tune them one whole step down to D G C F).
It force me to pluck the strings lighter tho..
Hope it helps 
Cheers
Last edited by bluesdogblues : 05-22-2011 at 11:42 PM.
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05-23-2011, 12:16 PM
| | | | Thank you all, low action helped a bit |
05-23-2011, 01:02 PM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Illinois, USA | | | Low action doesn't help the string tension, but you don't have to fight it as much so it's easier to play. Similarly, having less relief generally results in lower action, but again the string tension is the same. De-tuning has a lot of impact on string tension, but that's not generally the option most people would go to.
John
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Spelling, grammar, and punctuation do matter, despite the threats of death by grease fire!
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