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MOST TENSE ROUNDS and FLATS

#43
Doner Designs said:
could I safely do a super heavy set like 60, 80, 95, 115, 132?
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The question is how far are you willing to go in tensing up the strings and increasing the stress on the neck of your bass?

The .060 Chrome would weigh in at 80.6 lbs. when tuned to G, while the .095 would be 62.7 lbs. when tuned to A.

How tense is too tense? There has to be a breaking point somewhere.
 
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#44
michael_t said:
The question is how far are you willing to go in tensing up the strings and increasing the stress on the neck of your bass?

The .060 Chrome would weigh in at 80.6 lbs. when tuned to G, while the .095 would be 62.7 lbs. when tuned to A.

How tense is too tense? There has to be a breaking point somewhere.
Click to expand...

I usually use the LaBella Jamerson set as a benchmark on gauges so as not to kill a neck, but depending on the design of the string it may break.

How do you know the tension? Is there a secret formula for figuring that out?
 
#47
rogerbmiller said:
a nice broken in set of D'Addario chromes in a thick enough gauge will do the trick nicely.
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Here are the two custom balanced sets of the Chromes I put together based on the D'Addario Tension Guide:

Chromes Custom Heavy Set:

G 050 - 55.0 lbs.
D 065 - 52.0 lbs.
A 090 - 53.9 lbs.
E 110 - 51.8 lbs.

Total: 212.70 lbs.

Chromes Custom Extra-Heavy Set:

G 055 - 65.2 lbs.
D 070 - 60.2 lbs.
A 095 - 62.7 lbs.
E 132 - 63.8 lbs.

Total: 251.9 lbs.​
 
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#48
michael_t said:
Here are the two custom balanced sets of the Chromes I put together based on the D'Addario Tension Guide:

Chromes Custom Heavy Set:

G 050 - 55.0 lbs.
D 065 - 52.0 lbs.
A 090 - 53.9 lbs.
E 110 - 51.8 lbs.

Total: 212.70 lbs.

Chromes Custom Extra-Heavy Set:

G 055 - 65.2 lbs.
D 070 - 60.2 lbs.
A 095 - 62.7 lbs.
E 132 - 63.8 lbs.

Total: 251.9 lbs.​
Click to expand...

I couldn't find a tension guide scale that matched up with what I want to do but just now ordered the following Daddario Chromes BEAD set (single strings) :

D: 75 (was thinking about 80)
A: 95
E: 110
B: 132

The gauges I ordered are basically the same as the LaBella 1954's and Ernie Ball Group I except that the EB A string is 90 instead of 95. I didn't see any packaged sets from any brand that used an 80 for a D string, otherwise I would have gone for it.

I also ordered single Ernie Ball flats of the same gauges so I could compare. Basically I ordered a Group I gauges but am going to try the 95 A string vs the standard 90.

To the OP - not trying to hijack your thread - hopefully the questions and answers are helpful to you too.
 
Last edited:
#49
> the MOST TENSE string.

Why is it that on this forum, when someone asks for high tension stirngs, most of the replies don't mention gauge at all?
Tension and stiffness vary of course between brands, so you are recommending strings that are tense or stiff *for a certain gauge*,
but the gauge you choose has even more effect.

So my reply is this set tuned to EADG
Link Removed
There's a typo but the gauges are .266 .200 .150 .110
That will be tense!
 
#51
MasonMinor said:
Roto 66's are pretty taut as I remember. They growl. Hard. Be prepared to have your frets worn into nothing in a few years though.
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I have been using the Nickel Roto 66's and Rotobass, and I find the opposite true of both points(for nickel). They have less tension on the E than my same gauge SS Lo-Riders I used for years, and they are as smooth as Sunbeams.

I had the regular, 66's, and the E was of greater tension for some reason. No wanting to go with SS rotos, I've been looking around since the only thing I dislike about the Nickel Swingbass is the floppier E string. I might even give the SS Dunlop Super Brights a try. Does anyone know if they are round or hex core?(Hex, I hope)
 
#53
michael_t said:
They are hex-core; however, from what I've been reading, they're more flexible than most hex-core counterparts.
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Thanks. It seems they are a "little" stiffer than Hi-Beams, which is nice. I like the tension of my SS Lo-Riders, but preferred the more aggressive tone of the nickel Rotos by a long shot. It's just that low E on the nickels...I may wind up right back at them, though because they sound awesome.

I'll report back if I get the Dunlops.
 
#56
markjazzbassist said:
their 45 65 85 105 was considerable more tense than the labella 45 65 85 105 760FS set. i can only imagine what that other set is like. cheese cutters.

EDIT- yeah the tone is way more balanced, more thump all the way around. but still with a little of that hi mid nickel sound.
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I just put four different sets on four different basses last night. The Pyramids feel and sound different than I remember. Tone is more even but the thing that is a mystery to me is the feel - the B and E strings feel like they are coated and the other two strings don't. Any idea what's up with that? I got the heavy set via the link you sent.
 
#57
Doner Designs said:
I just put four different sets on four different basses last night. The Pyramids feel and sound different than I remember. Tone is more even but the thing that is a mystery to me is the feel - the B and E strings feel like they are coated and the other two strings don't. Any idea what's up with that? I got the heavy set via the link you sent.
Click to expand...

All the sets I had felt so smooth on all steings. Also there is a lot of graphite that comes off in the first week of playing them. Like a lot. That might be what you're feeling. Fingers will be covered in it.
 
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#58
markjazzbassist said:
All the sets I had felt so smooth on all steings. Also there is a lot of graphite that comes off in the first week of playing them. Like a lot. That might be what you're feeling. Fingers will be covered in it.
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They feel pretty smooth but it seems like they are coated with that plastic type stuff used on coated strings (at least the B and E, not sure about the A and D). Definitely seeing the crud come off. What would the graphite be used for?

I like them a lot so far. Nothing sounds like them. I suppose GHS come the closest.
 
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#59
Doner Designs said:
They feel pretty smooth but it seems like they are coated with that plastic type stuff used on coated strings (at least the B and E, not sure about the A and D). Definitely seeing the crud come off. What would the graphite be used for?

I like them a lot so far. Nothing sounds like them. I suppose GHS come the closest.
Click to expand...

They are smoothed and finished by hand and I think that substance is whatever they use to smooth them. Not sure if it's graphite or oil or something else. But I think I read on here or their website they are finished by hand.

Yeah they have a very strong bass and midrange, like very strong midrange. Very dense and thick sounding string. glad you're enjoying them. Due to price not a lot on here try them but between the TI and pyramid those 2 are my favorite.
 
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#60
markjazzbassist said:
They are smoothed and finished by hand and I think that substance is whatever they use to smooth them. Not sure if it's graphite or oil or something else. But I think I read on here or their website they are finished by hand.

Yeah they have a very strong bass and midrange, like very strong midrange. Very dense and thick sounding string. glad you're enjoying them. Due to price not a lot on here try them but between the TI and pyramid those 2 are my favorite.
Click to expand...

I should try TI's again sometime. I had a set for a long time that I used on several different basses. If they made a heavy set I would be all over it. I like high tension.
 

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