Balanced Tension . . . . . .

[JW56789]

I'm amazed that this far along I can still be quite surprised by something.

I'm in the local Sam Ash browsing, and decide I need a four-string set to go on the JJ Squier Jazz. I'd been reading about the GHS Balanced Nickels and was intrigued . . . . so naturally they didn't have any.

They DID have some XL D'Addarios, I bought the EXL170BT set, 'balanced tenstion', 45-107.

Now bear in mind, I've never used a 'balanced tension' set of strings, ever.

So I go home, remove the previous occupants, do my cleanup / oil-the-fingerboard routine and string it up. The neck immediately said, 'go get the truss rod allen, NOW', so I got out the feeler gauges and the steel rule and restored it to where I'm once again happy.

I'm dumbstruck.

I can look down and see the four different string sizes, and they are indeed different sizes just as listed. And I've played with some version of a 45-105 set forever. But when I play it, my hands are asking me, 'WHY did you string this up with four of the same strings?' I'm really starting to like it, wonder why I never thought of this before, but I still can't quite get over how it feels like all four strings are the same. I can wait to try this on the five-string.

Any one else have this reaction, or is it just me ( . . . . . . it usually is . . . . . . )? And, have you stayed with BT sets?

 

[Linnin]

They DID have some XL D'Addarios, I bought the EXL170BT set, 'balanced tenstion', 45-107.

That was my first foray into balanced tension. Yes, I liked them.

have you stayed with BT sets?

In a roundabout fashion, yes. I like GHS Balanced Nickels better. Their new roundcore Bass Boomers are using the balanced core to cover formula on the G & E strings. No need to change either the D or A. It will be interesting to compare and contrast the two sets.

 

[michael_t]

I'm dumbstruck.

I can look down and see the four different string sizes, and they are indeed different sizes just as listed. And I've played with some version of a 45-105 set forever. But when I play it, my hands are asking me, 'WHY did you string this up with four of the same strings?' I'm really starting to like it, wonder why I never thought of this before, but I still can't quite get over how it feels like all four strings are the same.

It's funny how you describe your first encounter with "balanced tension".

I was one of those people who were elated when D'Addario came out with the EXL170BT set. I said to myself, "It's about time someone caught on the idea of having all four strings at the same tension!" I always felt my whole life was unbalanced when the four strings on my bass were uneven in tension. Maybe a little too much influence from Mr. Miyagi...

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I liked the Ken Smith balanced tension set:

0.044" - 0.106"

 

[ixlramp]

I can wait to try this on the five-string.

D'Addario don't sell balanced 5 string sets so add their .145 (make sure it's taperwound) to the .045-.107 set for equal tensions.

I liked the Ken Smith balanced tension set:

.044 .063 .084 .106 .130 is not equal tensions, it's a common 'middle heavy plus loose B' set like .045 .065 .085 .105 .130.
If Ken Smith describe it as 'balanced tensions' they mean 'a nice combination' not 'equal tensions'
Many brands will use the word 'balanced' without it meaning equal tensions.

 

[baTassi]

I think I'll never try some balanced tension strings because I'm afraid I will love them... Here in Argentina we have very little variety and is hard to find that kind of thing, and if you do are usually very overpriced (I just checked I could only find D'Addario 0.40 for around $40 usd). I use Rotosound 0.45 and they are already hard to find here so... I think it's safer for me to never try them

 

[michael_t]

I think I'll never try some balanced tension strings because I'm afraid I will love them... Here in Argentina we have very little variety and is hard to find that kind of thing,

I'm a huge fan of GHS strings for their innovative design not only for balanced tension but also for balanced tone and playing feel. They hit a home run with the new Balanced Nickels and they will be coming out with Balanced Round Core Boomers very soon.

I'm based in Canada and happen to know a US-based dealer that offers very reasonable international shipping rates. If you're interested, you can PM me.

 

[HaphAsSard]

I think I'll never try some balanced tension strings because I'm afraid I will love them... Here in Argentina we have very little variety and is hard to find that kind of thing, and if you do are usually very overpriced (I just checked I could only find D'Addario 0.40 for around $40 usd). I use Rotosound 0.45 and they are already hard to find here so... I think it's safer for me to never try them

I *think* I once read you can order a custom set from Magma and have it delivered to a store that carries the brand. If you have a store near you, that is: outside BA there are pretty remote locations in Argentina, I guess... ^^'
EDIT - found the relevant quote:

Todas las cuerdas de nuestros sets, así como cientos de otras, están disponibles para incluirse en sets personalizados. Envasaremos las cuerdas individuales como un set para cualquier músico que lo requiera, todos los distribuidores de Magma pueden ordenar esto con las órdenes regulares. Aunque el comercio no tenga las cuerdas individuales que el músico requiere, podemos enviarla al local en el término de días.

Invalid Link Removed

 

[michael_t]

.044 .063 .084 .106 .130 is not equal tensions, it's a common 'middle heavy plus loose B' set like .045 .065 .085 .105 .130.
If Ken Smith describe it as 'balanced tensions' they mean 'a nice combination' not 'equal tensions'
Many brands will use the word 'balanced' without it meaning equal tensions.

Here's something I got off of the BSO website:

Ken Smith Custom Balanced bass strings offer the same great sound for all styles of modern music, but they are Custom Balanced for superior sustain and tonal accuracy. These strings have only 1 (ONE) winding over the bridge secion (except the G, D, & C strings). These super bright stainless steel round wounds are balanced for even string tension and tone.
​

Although the word "tension" is mentioned, their primary objective with these "Custom Balanced" sets is balanced tone and feel.

That being said, the GHS Super Steels M5000 set (44-63-84-106) would be the closest equivalent (not necessarily identical) to the Ken Smith 44-106 "custom balanced" set (also made my GHS). The actual tensions on the Super Steels are: 44.3 - 49.8 - 46.8 - 43.6 lbs. (not bad for a factory set)

 

[baTassi]

I *think* I once read you can order a custom set from Magma and have it delivered to a store that carries the brand. If you have a store near you, that is: outside BA there are pretty remote locations in Argentina, I guess... ^^'

Thanks! I'm from BA so, that should be a problem. I haven't tried Magma in a while, they were OK, but never really caught me.

That make think... for all of you out there, would you change brands only for the balanced tension feature? (always assuming the other brand is not crap)

 

[HaphAsSard]

That make think... for all of you out there, would you change brands only for the balanced tension feature? (always assuming the other brand is not crap)

Balanced tension is a nice feature to have, for me, and worth experimenting on if one's curious, but if I have a clear preference for a brand that doesn't offer a balanced set, or single strings to make my own, I'd rather make do with the least unbalanced set they make than settle for a different brand/type's balanced set that I like less.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

What bugs me is why balanced tension isn't a thing long before now.
Ernie Ball's string packs have "custom gauge" printed on the front of the packet & I alway think, "Customized to have wildly unbalanced tension!":

 

[Jim C]

Is there really that much difference with balanced tension?
The charts show only a slight difference and I've never had a problem with unbalanced (Sunbeams or XL's).
The again, I've not experimented. Curious as to how big a difference in feel.

 

[michael_t]

Is there really that much difference with balanced tension?

I used to live and die by the tension numbers, but I've since matured a bit to the point of realizing they're only a small part of the whole equation in determining what sounds and feels good in real life. Some sets are noticeably uneven, while others are not so obvious regardless of the numbers on paper. For example, I used to hate the D'Addario EXL170 set (45-65-80-100) for its uneven feel, while the GHS Round Core Boomers (45-65-85-105) that are on my J bass right now feel and sound very well-balanced even though the actual tension numbers indicate otherwise.

So, the answer to your question is, it all depends.

 

[Linnin]

The new GHS Balanced Nickels are an absolute delight, and I am looking forward to the newly reengineered roundcore Bass Boomers.

 

[markjazzbassist]

TI jazz flats were my first. they got me hooked. yes it does make a difference, the worst were chromes they had a bridge cable D and loose E A G it was bizarre. i'm glad to have balanced tension in my life.

 

[JW56789]

Is there really that much difference with balanced tension?
The charts show only a slight difference and I've never had a problem with unbalanced (Sunbeams or XL's).
The again, I've not experimented. Curious as to how big a difference in feel.

Jim C, I've been playing around for a long time. When I started out, worked in music stores with that big bin of GHS Boomer singles, and I concocted all kinds of sets to see what I like best. For a long time in fours, I liked a 50-65-80-100 set as I thought I'd like bigger D's and G's. Then when I converted to five-string in the 80's, I basically used different 45-135 sets, or something in that neighborhood. You really feel it in five-string sets where often the other 4 are in the 40+ lb range, and the B is in the 30's.

I recently bought a four string for the first time in 25 years and was using the off-the-rack 45-105 set, with the varying tensions in several brands. So when I tried this D'Ad set, all 4 are in the 30's within about a 4# spread, and yes, I can tell you, it's very different and I'm VERY surprised in the difference in feel to my fret hand. As I said above, my hands THINK I put four of the same size strings on that Jazz, and a bass that was easy to play is now far easier. These D'Ad XL's are hex core, but feel utterly slinky as if they had round cores, and sometimes I can feel the difference in those two types. This is a 'whole 'nother thing'.

As I said, I'm dumbstruck, and can't wait to repeat the 'experiment' on my five. For years, I've lived with the 'floppy B-string' and basically dismissed as the cost of doing business on a five. This has made me wonder if the B felt floppy due to the big difference in its' tension vs. the other four strings, and now I'm sure that's the case, and not that somehow a string that size is just like that. If all five felt as 'same' as this four-string set feels, it will truly be a revelation.

 

[ixlramp]

.044 .063 .084 .106 .130 is not equal tensions,

These super bright stainless steel round wounds are balanced for even string tension and tone.

I guess they are referring to the EADG strings, marketing text is often written for the 4 string set and they use it for the 5 string sets too.
They also may be using 'tension' to refer to perceived tension / feel, which is more relevant for a player than the scientific pull force.
Looking just at the EADG gauges they are a little closer to 'equal tensions' than .045 .065 .085 .105, and depending on the wrap formula they of course could get close to equal tensions even if the gauges don't look like it.

 

[ixlramp]

For years, I've lived with the 'floppy B-string' and basically dismissed as the cost of doing business on a five. This has made me wonder if the B felt floppy due to the big difference in its' tension vs. the other four strings, and now I'm sure that's the case, and not that somehow a string that size is just like that.

The lower tension of most Bs in sets increases floppiness yes, however also, larger gauge strings have more mass and momentum so are more prone to flop, they actually inherently need a little more tension than smaller gauges. Traditional bass sets of course are the opposite and have tension rising from low to high.

Equal tension EB pairs are roughly:
.090 .120
.095 .125
.100 .135
.105 .140
.110 .145

 

[3alfa3]

I like Strings to sound "the same". Balanced set would not help me.

I like them bright (very bright), so Daddario Prosteels was logical choice, they are not expensive and last long - triple win .

On Warwick Corvette: 0.40, 0.60, 0.80, 1.00, 1.25 Tapered (EPS 190 set + separately 1.25 Tapered B) is my prefered gauges. Only G is not optimal, but better than 0.45. If only there was 0,42 - perfect, but it does not exist. I did experimented with other gauges on that Bass, but this is as close as it gets in that regard.

On Sire V7, i'm happy with standard Daddario Prosteeels 170-5 set: 0.45, 0.65, 0.80, 1.00, 1.30 and would not change gauge for any String - i like how they work together.

So, it's "Bass dependent" in my Case.

As for tension feeling - I adapted so it's not an issue



Sorry for bad English