Is that true???

[klystephen]

I always feel the strings of my bass are quite stiff even the strings height are fine. My luthier mentioned that becuase the string length of my bass was 108cm, therefore the tension of the strings was high. The only way to solve the problem is to reduce the string length to 104cm, then I will feel better. Is that true? Is this really the only way to solve the problem?

[bejoyous]

You should try a string with a lower tension first before performing major surgery on your instrument.

108 cm (42.5 in) is not that long of a string length.

Also, is your bridge in the right place. The nicks in the f-holes usually fall in the middle of the feet of the bridge.

[Matthew Tucker]

try a solo gauge of string. They are not exactly the same, but will be similar but lower tension.

[robobass]

How "tight" the strings feel is the sum of several factors. I actually think that stiffness of the top contributes more than string length. I have an 1880's German shop bass which feels very soft under the left hand even though it has a 110cm mensure. Otoh I played a Poellmann fiver for years which felt very tight even though it was only 104cm or so.

Besides trying lighter strings, you could try experimenting with a temporary false nut or rig up a capo to see what effect shortening the string length would have. Shortening the strings by moving the nut is undesirable in that it moves the notes higher on the FB, making the upper neck positions more difficult, but sometimes it is a trade off worth making.

[Eric Hochberg]

Check this thread

http://www.smithbassforums.com/showthread.php?t=1838

[jazzbill]

Originally Posted by klystephen

I always feel the strings of my bass are quite stiff even the strings height are fine. My luthier mentioned that becuase the string length of my bass was 108cm, therefore the tension of the strings was high. The only way to solve the problem is to reduce the string length to 104cm, then I will feel better. Is that true? Is this really the only way to solve the problem?

Here is the equation for a vibrating string:

...................../----
........1\......./ .T
....... -..\.../ .. -
.......2L...\/.....u

Where T = Tension
L = Vibating Length
u = Mass per unit length

Solving for T:

............2 2
...T = 4L f u

Since for any tuned string F is constant.


Tension increases with the square of the length.
Tension increases directly with the mass of the string.


So lighter strings or shorter mensure will give less tension but
shorter makes a bigger difference than lighter.

[klystephen]

I am using the Pirasto Flexocor

[tstone]

Another factor which no one has mentioned is the "stretchiness" (more properly called spring rate) of the string core. It's theoretically possible to have two strings of the same outer diameter and same mass per unit length that feel very different from one another in terms of perceived tension, because one string is stretchier than the other.

Though there may be exceptions, I think strings with synthetic cores tend to have lower spring rates and therefore feel softer than strings with steel cores.

Regarding jazzbill's statement that open string length has a stronger effect on tension than mass per unit length: That is unquestionably true, but from a practical point of view, it's a lot easier to achieve, say, a 10% change in mass per unit length than a 5% change in string length. There's a pretty narrow window in which the bridge can be placed without other adverse effects.