Tricks For Increasing The Tension

0--+LoveBass · #1 07-23-2007, 01:12 PM

Hey, I have had a six string for a while and I love the sound but i cant stand having such low tension B string. I was wondering if there are any tricks to increasing the tension of the B string.

Thanks

DeliriumTremens · #2 07-23-2007, 01:15 PM

heavier gauge string

nastyn8c · #3 07-23-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeliriumTremens

heavier gauge string

+1

When I use a 34" scale B, I always try to go at least .135" or higher gauge. You may need to get a taper wound string so it will still fit your bridge.

**Chef** · #4 07-23-2007, 01:39 PM

While a heavier guage string may have more tension, it is not necessarily always so.
www.juststrings.com publishes tensions for many of the strings they carry.

iplay4-5 · #5 07-23-2007, 01:42 PM

if ya want to d some custom work getting a string refurrel and stringing the low B through the body may help a little it's kinda like what fodera does w/ there b tuner a lengthen the string so it has more tnsion, but some ppl say it does nothing at all some say it works magic

iplay4-5 · #6 07-23-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nastyn8c

+1

When I use a 34" scale B, I always try to go at least .135" or higher gauge. You may need to get a taper wound string so it will still fit your bridge.

tapered strings have less ension as they have more give so a .135 taper will feel like a .125 lol at least it does to me they work very well for piano like tone an taping though

nemo · #7 07-23-2007, 01:48 PM

Sadowsky strings - either SS or nickel plated are very stiff comparing to others (DR, D'Addario..). Worth try.

iplay4-5 · #8 07-23-2007, 01:51 PM

i hear also that la bella strings do it i talked w/ Roscoe beck and he uses them when he can get his hands on them the .128 b he says is very tight! i'd say Dr's are a good one as well as they are compression wond so the low b i think is like .128 in sum total but = a .125 n they make a .135 i use standard guage Dr's they are my home, the said above i've heard do a really good job of holding tension and carl thompson strings to amazing says Jeff Berlin

Fuzzbass · #9 07-23-2007, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iplay4-5

if ya want to d some custom work getting a string refurrel and stringing the low B through the body may help a little it's kinda like what fodera does w/ there b tuner a lengthen the string so it has more tnsion, but some ppl say it does nothing at all some say it works magic

The fact is that thru-body stringing and the Fodera headstock don't affect tension. These arrangements might have other effects (maybe), but changing tension is not one of them.

Dan1099 · #10 07-23-2007, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuzzbass

The fact is that thru-body stringing and the Fodera headstock don't affect tension. These arrangements might have other effects (maybe), but changing tension is not one of them.

Yes. Please, let's refrain from going here again. The only truly effective ways to increase tension are to lengthen the scale (nut to saddle) or increase the unit weight of the string (go up a gauge).

nastyn8c · #11 07-23-2007, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan1099

Yes. Please, let's refrain from going here again. The only truly effective ways to increase tension are to lengthen the scale (nut to saddle) or increase the unit weight of the string (go up a gauge).

+1,000,000

I'm tired of all of these magical fixes. It's just plain physics. Maybe there's deeper involved physics explaining how other solutions work, but I don't like hearing all of this "I dunno how but some guy said that it works" crap.

In response to iplay4-5: Yes, taper winding decreases the string's mass, also decreasing tension, but if it doesn't fit, it doesn't fit. You just need to find what works for you.

lug · #12 07-23-2007, 02:35 PM

You can increase percieved tension by raising string height.

A little bit goes a long way.

Dan1099 · #13 07-23-2007, 02:46 PM

What is percieved tension, and how does that work?

sockdeluxe_mike · #14 07-23-2007, 03:56 PM

One thing I've read in the 101 tips for bass playing book by Gary Willis was to get one of those tiny tube contraptions called a computer connector or something like that and place it in between the string ball and the bridge? You might know what I mean, it's quite commonplace in computers and normally made of brass

lug · #15 07-23-2007, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan1099

What is percieved tension, and how does that work?

Quite well.

seriously, lots of people feel like they can't dig in as much on the B. By raising it a bit you get more travel room and it feels like it has more tension because it takes more force to fret, i.e. percieved tension.

Stumpy · #16 07-23-2007, 04:30 PM

I really like the 35" scale of my MTD's and of my former Yamaha. I use the 135x's by MTD ... they are tapercore and are really very tight.

Dan1099 · #17 07-23-2007, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sockdeluxe_mike

One thing I've read in the 101 tips for bass playing book by Gary Willis was to get one of those tiny tube contraptions called a computer connector or something like that and place it in between the string ball and the bridge? You might know what I mean, it's quite commonplace in computers and normally made of brass

This is physically impossible. This is precisely the conversation I was hoping to avoid. I wish Gary and many other people would stop perpetuating this myth.

Dan1099 · #18 07-23-2007, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lug

Quite well.

seriously, lots of people feel like they can't dig in as much on the B. By raising it a bit you get more travel room and it feels like it has more tension because it takes more force to fret, i.e. percieved tension.

I'm glad that's what you were getting at. This is true...many times, your B string is not too loose, it's just to low. Raise the action a bit, and voila. Instant awesome B string.

Seriously, folks, if you can get your G lower to the board than your D, and your D lower than your A, and your A can go lower than your E string, why shouldn't this hold true for your low B?

ggunn · #19 07-23-2007, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sockdeluxe_mike

One thing I've read in the 101 tips for bass playing book by Gary Willis was to get one of those tiny tube contraptions called a computer connector or something like that and place it in between the string ball and the bridge? You might know what I mean, it's quite commonplace in computers and normally made of brass

Yeah, and I wrote "THIS IS COMPLETELY WRONG" in bold block letters across the page of my copy. Being a really good bass player and/or instructor doesn't necessarily mean that you understand the physics behind the instrument.

Dave Muscato · #20 07-23-2007, 05:00 PM

This doesn't belong in the Basses forum...

Strings, or Setup & Repair, maybe?