balanced tension sets in 2013

[khutch]

"After many hours of research, we developed an evenly weighted bass set that sounded quite miserable. Oddly enough, what seemed would work wonderfully on paper didn't work out in application. The output of the strings was far from balanced. Only by altering the gauging, as we have in our string lines, have we been able to maintain a balance of gain and gauge."

That's odd. I certainly don't find my balanced tension sets to sound miserable nor did I find traditional sets (back when I used them) to be balanced in tone or output. And how could it possibly take hours of research to come up with a balanced tension set? It takes just a few minutes of time using their own tension tables! Is this why I don't use D'Addario strings? I jest, I've just never gotten around to trying them, or most brands, simply because GHS strings have worked too well for me.

Oh, oh, oh, I get it now! It took hours of research to come up with a balanced set that sounded miserable. If you just go out and do it the obvious way they sound fine!!

Ken

 

[Ian_Flash]

I was buying my own D'Addario XL Nickel "balanced set" by ordering individual strings of equal actual tension, based on D'Add's published Tension Guide. The .060 and .080 I was buying were rated at 42.9lbs and 42.0lbs respectively @ 34" scale standard tuning. The Same two strings in the new Balanced Tension set are 40.86lbs and 40.05lbs. Possibly, they changed the mass or the alloy to achieve this. Although they feel the same as the individuals I used to buy, I will say that in this new set, the .060 and .080 SOUND MORE BALANCED... go Farmingdale! New York in 'da HOUSE!!!!! BOYEEEEEEZ!!!!

 

[Ian_Flash]

Right, but then wouldn't I need an altimeter of sorts, in the event that I'm NOT driving at Sea Level? Please advise... this is VERY important to me. And yes... I DO NEED HELP!!!!

 

[FourBanger]

An altimiter indeed. i would also regularly dismount the wheels and put them in a vacuum chamber to check relative leak rates from all four.

God forbid you have a space-saver spare tire...

 

[Ian_Flash]

No freakin' way! I took out the back seat so I can tote a a full-size 245-55 WITH an alloy rim. No cheap-O steel wheel for this guy! Vacuum Chamber.... BRILLIANT! I'm on it! (Oh God please help me!!!)

 

[dannster]

GHS recently posted their tension chart.
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f16/ghs-tension-chart-available-1039565/


My fav pressurewounds are ordered from BSO in a more balanced set. I'm also doing the Chromes in the set like Jimmy.

Pressurewounds I did basically a light set with a med. light E.
102 76 54 40

Chromes ( this will be my first set of these. Replacing my 9050CL Fenders.) We shall see.
95 75 55 40

I loved the xlbt220 set I got recently. It rekindled my love for lighter gauge strings.

 

[Toptube]

Labella's Stainless sets have data presented and the .105 set actually is balanced:
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I recently used them on a bass that had major action issues, due to a bridge that doesn't have individual saddle height. The low strings were too floppy, on most sets. These labellas make that bass play MUCH better.

I also find Dean Markley .105 sets to be pretty balanced and the gauging would suggest that. As their a strings are usually .80 in a .105 E set.


Looking at Labella's other sets with published data, they are about as balanced as you can get, while still offering normal guages and consistent construction. In other words, usually 3 strings in each set are pretty closely balanced, with one string being a bit further off than I would attribute to the "balanced" adjective.

 

[FourBanger]

I think this is a good example of why people might have been over excited about D'Addario balanced tension. It seems a few of the other guys sets were fair balanced compared to some (cough D'Add cough) even in the same sizes.

Like I had said months/years ago just because we have data for one doen't mean all are similar. So a D'Addario 45-100 set is poorly balanced, doesn't mean a LaBella or Rotosound set is.

The good that came from D's BT sets is now other manufacturers are putting out their data, always a plus.

 

[markanini]

they are about as balanced as you can get, while still offering normal guages and consistent construction.

That raises another problem though, The .105 E will have poor highs due to the increased core size, conversely the .065 D will be overbearingly bright due to the reduced core size. I'd rather see sets built balanced "from the ground up" like Circle K, where you can tell that it's not just the tension that's constant, the tone is as well.

Right now, I'm pretty happy with Fodera stainless singles in 105-75-55-40 though, I guess they don't tweak core-to-wrap ratios like other brands.

 

[Toptube]

That raises another problem though, The .105 E will have poor highs due to the increased core size, conversely the .065 D will be overbearingly bright due to the reduced core size. I'd rather see sets built balanced "from the ground up" like Circle K, where you can tell that it's not just the tension that's constant, the tone is as well.



Well, I'm not sure that core size is a general rule for brightness. The labella stainless set I recently used, as a whole, was not particularly bright. even the D string. I think materials and overall construction/methods have to be accounted for. Many GHS strings are plenty bright and they recently on the forum said that they generally use larger cores than what is typically seen.

Right now, I'm pretty happy with Fodera stainless singles in 105-75-55-40 though, I guess they don't tweak core-to-wrap ratios like other brands.

Interesting. I have the standard .045 .065 .085 .105 SS set on my Ibanez SRT right now (about two months old) and they have felt quite balanced. and that bass strings up TIGHT, so I would especially notice.

 

[FourBanger]

That raises another problem though, The .105 E will have poor highs due to the increased core size, conversely the .065 D will be overbearingly bright due to the reduced core size. I'd rather see sets built balanced "from the ground up" like Circle K, where you can tell that it's not just the tension that's constant, the tone is as well.

I have yet to hear anyone complain that stock sets of LaBellas or TIs don't sound balanced.

The Boomers I use always sound balanced and if you look at their tension chart their 45-105 set is better balanced than the same size D'Addario's XL set. The single string that diverges the most is the low E and that is the one I complain about when I drop to D, the sound stays similar but the feel becomes too loose.

 

[knuckle_head]

Part of what is left out in considering a balanced tension set is what part of a set meets tactile preferences - some like the tension a normal set has on the high side which means you need to up the gauges on bottom. If you prefer the tension a standard .100 or .105 has in an unbalanced set then you need to lower the gauges on the treble side. Much to consider . . . .

Construction is indeed a concern. Core size is the first thought when making a string large. Second is adding wraps. Each of these compromises tone in one way or another, and the lower you go the more apparent the compromises become. It is difficult to get a B string to sound like it belongs with the treble strings within a set. No small task designing strings, let alone getting tensions to line up well.

 

[Jensby design]

Construction is indeed a concern. Core size is the first thought when making a string large. Second is adding wraps. Each of these compromises tone in one way or another, and the lower you go the more apparent the compromises become. It is difficult to get a B string to sound like it belongs with the treble strings within a set. No small task designing strings, let alone getting tensions to line up well.

Yeah, I buy string from that guy. They may not be "the best" for the average 4-string player but quality extended range bass strings are to come by.

 

[KingRazor]

I see a lot of assumptions being made here. Saying "the .105 E will have poor highs due to the increased core size" is a big assumption. How on Earth would you know that unless you've compared .105s from several brands against smaller gauges of E strings?

I've stopped really worrying about tension and have decided to focus purely on feel. If you have a P bass, output isn't really an issue because you can angle the pickups to make each string sound balanced. Unless you're anal retentive about having the pickup follow the fretboard radius (I'm certainly not). I can see it being more of an issue if you have soapbars or jazz pickups.

I play and enjoy Circle Ks, but I also feel that different basses sound better with different strings, and plan to branch out and experiment with other brands. But it's comforting to know that I can always come back to Circle Ks and have a string that at the very least feels great to play (though they've also sounded great on both basses I've tried them on).

I definitely notice the D string feels much tighter on a lot of string sets than the others, and D'Addarios are especially bad (note their tension charts, just look at how high tension their .065 strings are).

For me the jury is still out on what I'd like better for the low strings, and it really depends on the bass I'm playing. What I know I don't like are "floppy" sounding or feeling strings, or strings that sound muddy or thuddy.

Tight, full, deep, that's what I want.

Anyway, rant over.