Double Bass Are low tension strings the solution to easier playing?

[damonsmith]

I think this is a true for a narrower sort of sound. For pizz it can be true. I like Spiro solos for a variety of sounds. They give a nice low growl but quicker arco response, they are also great for all the harmonics & multi-phonics. However, I don't recommend these strings for everyone.

 

[fdeck]

I've noticed it on every instrument I've played, including classical, steel string, and electric guitars. I always prefer higher tension strings on all of these, within reason, and super low setups drive me bat**** because I always feel like I can't pull a proper sound without bottoming the strings out. Maybe I'm just a caveman?

Well, if you're wearing holes in your bass, you probably practice a lot.

 

[Mark_T]

It just seems like this is all an oversimplification. I have a hard time believing lower tension strings will improve every instrument. Nor will higher tension strings. It’s a complicated and living instrument.

 

[Jeff Kissell]

Agreed, my bass has sounded excellent with anything from gut to Spirocore meds. I prefer a lower tension and I particularly like how it responds with lower tension but that probably has more to do with my luthier.
When it had a full set of S42s, it was a cannon. When it had a full gut set, it was a different kind of cannon.

 

[Bruce Calin]

As I mentioned in an earlier comment, the main reason I decided on lower tension strings was largely for physical comfort and longevity, but a byproduct I didn't necessarily expect was how well the instrument responded. I've used more different brands and types of strings than I can remember, but the THs are a happy discovery in more ways than I would have thought. There's no reason I can think of to go back to the others.

 

[Selim]

There's no reason I can think of to go back to the others

Ditto

 

[Mark_T]

On my bass the loudest strings I have used were Perpetuals, followed by Spiro Mittels. The quietest were Corelli 370M followed by Spiro 3/4 solos.

The best sounding set I have found so far are Flex 92/s or Bel Cantos, usually with a Spiro weich E.

I am an arco player, but none of those strings were hard on my left hand and all of them bow great.

 

[Selim]

I think it’s a (slightly) different picture for strictly arco players. Many or maybe even most of the strings I’ve used in the past were fine and sometimes wonderful under the bow, but were problematic when playing “modern jazz” all night. At the very least, it made for a more laborious experience than it needed to be. (E.g., those medium pirazzis wore me out!)

Also - the age of the player can be (and in my case, is) a factor.

But at the end of the day, the most beautiful thing about the Tempera hybrids for this older player, is not that they are low tension, but they are that but don’t sound like it. That and there’s no compromises either pizz or with the bow in terms of response and tone. My bass has never sounded better, and sound has always come first in my book.

So that they are also lower tension is just a big bonus.

 

[afroblue]

The temperas truly are an amazing development. I can't ever see myself going back to spiros or Evahs.

 

[Bruce Calin]

I think it’s a (slightly) different picture for strictly arco players. Many or maybe even most of the strings I’ve used in the past were fine and sometimes wonderful under the bow, but were problematic when playing “modern jazz” all night. At the very least, it made for a more laborious experience than it needed to be. (E.g., those medium pirazzis wore me out!)

Also - the age of the player can be (and in my case, is) a factor.

But at the end of the day, the most beautiful thing about the Tempera hybrids for this older player, is not that they are low tension, but they are that but don’t sound like it. That and there’s no compromises either pizz or with the bow in terms of response and tone. My bass has never sounded better, and sound has always come first in my book.

So that they are also lower tension is just a big bonus.

There you go.

 

[Dr. Love]

There's both physics and perception at work here. There are some things that will hold true: a string of a specific construction at a specific length and tension activated by a specific force into vibration will be consistent in it's vibrational amplitude and that will establish the lower operational limit of where the string can be set. The perception of how that feels, sounds, and whether we like it will depend on the human, the instrument, and the environment. If you change any of the physical parameters the end result and our perception can change dramatically which in my experience can lead to extensive string hoarding, forum posting, and borderline psychosis.

 

[PBandJazzBass]

can lead to extensive string hoarding, forum posting, and borderline psychosis.

Hey, my therapist says I’m doing a lot better

 

[Eric Hochberg]

All I can say to you and others of the same school(including my younger self) is please be careful and aware of any physical issues before they become real problems. I've known of too many players , and I mean professionals, who've had career-threatening or limiting injuries to not urge caution and care. Having the instrument in the best possible playing condition for your playing style is also crucial, but anyone planning on or hoping for as long a playing life as possible must be aware of these issues IMO.

Yes, yes,and yes some more! I’ve been through it, luckily I only had to take off a few months with pt. A top Chicago player friend spent 9 years on Fender because he hurt himself so badly on his very tough db setup. He’s back on db now and l still think his setup is too much…

 

[Bruce Calin]

I think some of my students believe I'm just a paranoid old guy because I make such an issue of this. I recently met an excellent young player who I knew had a promising career as a DB player but had to give it up and play exclusively BG because of hand problems. This kind of thing breaks my heart. The fact that it is preventable in many cases makes it even worse. Please be aware, and don't let some sort of macho bs end or reduce your playing days.

 

[Jay Corwin]

I've been a gut, gut + synthetic, or fully synthetic player for 95% of my DB life. Outside of string height, even with low tensions strings, I always find that the "stiffness" of a string can be more of a problem than the overall tension. At least as far as my left hand is concerned. Surely it has something to do with the core materials.

Or maybe I'm just a give-me-my-gut-and-get-off-my-lawn type nowadays.

 

[Selim]

Me and my bass tend to go for low tension but stiff strings. Tempera hybrids fit that bill - out of the box they are springy (stiff) but strung up to pitch they are low(ish) tension.

Flexocor Deluxe would be an example of the opposite - limp noodles out of the pack, but kinda tight when strung up to pitch.

 

[AGCurry]

Me and my bass tend to go for low tension but stiff strings. Tempera hybrids fit that bill - out of the box they are springy (stiff) but strung up to pitch they are low(ish) tension.

Flexocor Deluxe would be an example of the opposite - limp noodles out of the pack, but kinda tight when strung up to pitch.

I don't understand this distinction between "stiff" and "tense." As it affects playing, how does a string's behavior out of the box relate to its tensed behavior?

 

[Bruce Calin]

I don't understand this distinction between "stiff" and "tense." As it affects playing, how does a string's behavior out of the box relate to its tensed behavior?

I'm not sure about these terms, either. For years I played Superflexibles, which I believe are considered quite stiff. As I recall they took a fair amount of effort to get going, but for a long time that wasn't a concern. As I aged and got more interested in working less hard, I went through a few what were thought less stiff. I've eventually come to Tempera Hybrids. Their whole pitch is "less is more". This concept made me more aware of how much effort I was using and minimizing wasted effort. The fact that I get very good sound and use a more efficient technique are most important IMO. Are they more stiff, less stiff? I don't know and really don't care.

 

[Selim]

I don’t have the knowledge to explain it scientifically (I’ll bet others in this forum can), but taking tempera hybrids and similar gauge Spiro weichs as examples—

The Temperas
- have more resistance (more stiff?) but
- are easier to hold down and make a strong sound (low tension)

And you can still get a strong sound even at a lowish string height I think is due to their relative stiffness.

I fully allow that this might only make sense to myself lol..

 

[Bruce Calin]

I don’t have the knowledge to explain it scientifically (I’ll bet others in this forum can), but taking tempera hybrids and similar gauge Spiro weichs as examples—

The Temperas
- have more resistance (more stiff?) but
- are easier to hold down and make a strong sound (low tension)

And you can still get a strong sound even at a lowish string height I think is due to their relative stiffness.

I fully allow that this might only make sense to myself lol..

Thanks for the info, Selim. Now I'm even more confused.