When tuned to standard EADG, what string brand/style/composition/etc will have the lowest tension/stress on a neck?
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Lowest pulling weight / neck tension strings
- Thread starter Slade N
- Start date
If you're talking about what's available in a factory set, the Rotosound Funkmaster set, 30-50-70-90, is one of the lowest in overall tension at 107.39 lbs.
In comparison, TI Jazz Rounds (43-51-68-89), one of the "most flexible" sets, weighs in at 122.34 lbs.
If you prefer nickel rounds, the GHS Boomers XL3045 set, 30-50-70-90, is very close to the Funkmaster at 109.1 lbs.
I would say they're similar in overall stiffness/flexibility. The main difference is the Boomers (nickel-plated steel) would be smoother in surface texture than the Funkmaster (stainless steel).
I don't know the exact tension in lbs, and it's a pretty distinct sound, but the tapewound LaBellas on my Hofner Beatle Bass are the lowest tension strings I think I've ever used (at least they feel that way).
slowburnaz
Commercial User
The Dogal Hellborg "perfect pitch" strings might be of interest:
Rotosound makes an even lighter set (SB66, 30-50-65-85, 103.99 lbs. in total). Other companies do as well.
No one prevents you from going even lighter. Try a 080 for your low E.
Attack will need adjustment, and at a (not easy to determine) certain point the pitch envelope will be erratic no matter what: such is the nature of solid, steel-core strings.
But yeah. Go lower in gauge - buying singles, or getting high-C 5-string sets, discarding the E and downtuning the rest - until you're satisfied.
No one prevents you from going even lighter. Try a 080 for your low E.
Attack will need adjustment, and at a (not easy to determine) certain point the pitch envelope will be erratic no matter what: such is the nature of solid, steel-core strings.
But yeah. Go lower in gauge - buying singles, or getting high-C 5-string sets, discarding the E and downtuning the rest - until you're satisfied.
Anything in a 30-90 set. Rounds, due to more space between windings, meaning less mass in the windings, will generally have less tension for a given gauge than flats. NPS will usually have less tension than, say, a pure nickel or solid alloy wrap, which will be more dense, therefore have more tension at pitch. A string with a larger core and lesser diameter windings will generally have more tension for a given overall gauge than a string with a smaller core and slightly larger diameter windings for the same reason. Caveat: be careful how light you go. Too light a gauge, meaning too little tension, and you will have tuning and intonation instability.
The shorter scale of the Hofner will affect that also.
That’s why Fender Tele guitar players tend to go with lighter gauges vs higher gauges on the shorter scaled Gibson to get a similar feel. For example, a lotta guys will go with 9’s on the Fender and 10’s on the Gibson.
I’ve used the Boomer xl3045, and really liked them. Very light and low tension. When I replaced them with TI jazz flats, the TI’s felt much stiffer.
The Boomers were super fun.
D’Addario xl come in a .035 set and are inexpensive.
I started experimenting with old sets of heavier strings, like sets that have .045 G strings, and used the A-G strings plus a single C string around .035. Strung up E-G. A single C costs less than $5. FretNation.com sells singles. I burned up all my old sets playing around with various gauges.
Eventually, you’ll overshoot the mark and it’ll be difficult to mute without fretting, and you are in touch bass territory. Once I had an idea of my limit for light and low, I ordered sets from FretNation or custom sets from Payson strings.
The Boomers were super fun.
D’Addario xl come in a .035 set and are inexpensive.
I started experimenting with old sets of heavier strings, like sets that have .045 G strings, and used the A-G strings plus a single C string around .035. Strung up E-G. A single C costs less than $5. FretNation.com sells singles. I burned up all my old sets playing around with various gauges.
Eventually, you’ll overshoot the mark and it’ll be difficult to mute without fretting, and you are in touch bass territory. Once I had an idea of my limit for light and low, I ordered sets from FretNation or custom sets from Payson strings.
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https://www.daddario.com/globalassets/pdfs/accessories/tension_chart_13934.pdf
For daddario.
Not all brands publish that info.
For daddario.
Not all brands publish that info.
Years ago GHS made a tapewound set that I tried and they were very flexible compared to Fender flats. I dont know if this set is still available.
Yes, they do make tapewounds just like they used to. But they're not the lightest in overall tension.
Keep in mind the OP is concerned about the actual tension as in weight of pull, not stiffness/flexibility.
Well, respectfully, no. Any light gauge 50-105 tape set, yes, because under the tape is @ 35-90. But, for example, the LaBella regular gauge tapes of 60-115 are about the same as a 45-100 set of regular round wounds. I have played just about every set of domestic tapes out there, and when they wore out, removed the nylon tape and measured the strings without the tape. Tape is @ 7 thou thick, so double that for being around the string and that gives the resultant gauges. The lightest of the domestic tapewounds are the Fender, which under the tape are @ 37-88. Yes, I measured them twice because I couldn't believe how light they were.
Interesting question but I'm curious as to why is low tension important? I can see the need if the truss rod is close to being maxed out or some other issue with the neck. Or are you just looking for the most flexible strings?
