I've long wondered why bass strings are not just made to an equal tension, with gauges like say 40-55-75-95 or 45-60-80-105. Some people commented that a balanced tension does not always mean a balanced feel.
I've got a closer understanding of it when reading about cello strings for my girlfriend. Basically there were three schools of thought in the gut string era:
I've got a closer understanding of it when reading about cello strings for my girlfriend. Basically there were three schools of thought in the gut string era:
- Equal tension: each string has roughly the same pulling force. On a cello it would lead to an approximately 2:3 gauge ratio between adjacent strings, and on bass it would be 3:4.
- Equal feel: the stiffer strings get reduced gauge for less tension, so that all strings "feel" similar when fretted or plucked.
- Graduated tension: lower strings have less tension than higher strings, presumably for an even tone across all strings.
- The tension balanced sets from D'Addario and Stringjoy are probably designed with the "equal tension" mindset, as well as the Rickenbacker 45-55-75-105 set. Many flatwounds such as La Bella 760FL and Pyramid 640 also seem optimised that way.
- Most guitar strings OTOH seem designed for "equal feel". Wound strings can get more flexible for its tension (and also less tension for its gauge) cf. plain strings, and they get bumped up a bit in gauge. Classical guitars have relatively low tension G and B strings, presumably because the larger plain strings are stiffer than the smaller E string.
- Some old-school flatwounds seem "graduated tension", such as La Bella 52-110, 50-100, and GHS 45-95 and 55-105. This may help with tonal balance with a fatter G and less tubby E string.
