Roundwound strings for a "low tension" feel?

[mini-milli]

Sounds like they're the GHS Boomers. The funny thing is they're one of the stiffest rounds around. Nothing like the Sunbeams.

Or, they could be the Round Core Boomers, which are still stiffer than the Sunbeams.

I actually have GHS Boomers on another bass I'm trying to sell and they do look identical but don't really feel similar.
Either they improve a lot with age or they are round core.

 

[mini-milli]

 

[michael_t]

View attachment 4214619

How come the E is so much shorter than the rest?

If they're Round Core Boomers, they should all be roughly 37.25" from ball end to the start of the silk.

 

[mini-milli]

The body is string-through and one of the ball ends got stuck further down the hole than the others. I haven't fixed it because it doesn't seem to be causing problems.

 

[michael_t]

The body is string-through and one of the ball ends got stuck further down the hole than the others. I haven't fixed it because it doesn't seem to be causing problems.

That explains it! Just curious, that's all.

 

[LBS-bass]

Ernie Ball standard slinkies feel pretty floppy and low tension to me. But not in a bad way.

I played the light gauge Super Slinkies for a long time, they're nice and bendy and I liked them over most of the other round wounds I tried. I recently switched to GHS Pressure Wounds which are a slightly flattened hex-core round, also in the lightest gauge, and I vastly prefer them, tone wise. More expensive than the Ernie Ball strings, but well worth it, and not as expensive an experiment as the TI strings.

 

[mini-milli]

I played the light gauge Super Slinkies for a long time, they're nice and bendy and I liked them over most of the other round wounds I tried. I recently switched to GHS Pressure Wounds which are a slightly flattened hex-core round, also in the lightest gauge, and I vastly prefer them, tone wise. More expensive than the Ernie Ball strings, but well worth it, and not as expensive an experiment as the TI strings.

I've tried light gauge Super Slinkies before and they were too bright for my taste.

 

[LBS-bass]

I've tried light gauge Super Slinkies before and they were too bright for my taste.

Yes, that's what converted me to the GHS pressure wounds. Once I put those on, I was hooked. I recently put LaBella Flats on another bass and that took me another step away from my old ways, but since the OP wants rounds I didn't mention that. Also, flats have more tension. Hex cores do too, but the lightest gauges are acceptable to me in the floppiness department and still way more flexible than the standard gauge rounds I played for years

 

[mini-milli]

Yes, that's what converted me to the GHS pressure wounds. Once I put those on, I was hooked. I recently put LaBella Flats on another bass and that took me another step away from my old ways, but since the OP wants rounds I didn't mention that. Also, flats have more tension. Hex cores do too, but the lightest gauges are acceptable to me in the floppiness department and still way more flexible than the standard gauge rounds I played for years

So many options to try! So far on my list are:

Sunbeams
TI Jazz Rounds
GHS Pressure Wounds
GHS Roundcore Boomers

 

[michael_t]

So many options to try! So far on my list are:

Sunbeams
TI Jazz Rounds
GHS Pressure Wounds
GHS Roundcore Boomers

Let the journey begin!

 

[WestyBassBob]

I played the light gauge Super Slinkies for a long time, they're nice and bendy and I liked them over most of the other round wounds I tried. I recently switched to GHS Pressure Wounds which are a slightly flattened hex-core round, also in the lightest gauge, and I vastly prefer them, tone wise. More expensive than the Ernie Ball strings, but well worth it, and not as expensive an experiment as the TI strings.

I actually use DR High Beams. But I’d say the EBs were ever so slightly more comfortable

 

[WestyBassBob]

I've tried light gauge Super Slinkies before and they were too bright for my taste.

Try standard gauge. And don’t forget to give them a few weeks to settle in. To my ears DRs are brighter.

 

[mini-milli]

Ok, so I just put on some DR Sunbeams.

First impressions:
Still breaking in (obviously), but I'm optimistic about the sound. Much darker than the D'addario nickels I had on before.

The feel, though, is incredible! I found myself able to play a couple of songs I was really struggling with no problems. I feel like I could comfortably play for significantly longer with these, too.

I'm playing these on an Ibanez SR650 with an active/passive PJ config. I'm really liking the sound with the soloed P pickup on passive mode.

 

[g-dude]

Ok, so I just put on some DR Sunbeams.

First impressions:
Still breaking in (obviously), but I'm optimistic about the sound. Much darker than the D'addario nickels I had on before.

The feel, though, is incredible! I found myself able to play a couple of songs I was really struggling with no problems. I feel like I could comfortably play for significantly longer with these, too.

I'm playing these on an Ibanez SR650 with an active/passive PJ config. I'm really liking the sound with the soloed P pickup on passive mode.

Now, if you ever try the TI jazz rounds, you’ll find yourself being able to play even faster.

Low tension is where it’s at!

 

[mini-milli]

Now, if you ever try the TI jazz rounds, you’ll find yourself being able to play even faster.

Low tension is where it’s at!

Maybe I'll put some of those on my other 4-string...

 

[g-dude]

Maybe I'll put some of those on my other 4-string...

Just be sure to adjust your truss rod, and also spend some time dialing in the amount of power you’re using in your right hand. There’s really no comparable string on the market for some strange reason.

 

[mini-milli]

Just be sure to adjust your truss rod, and also spend some time dialing in the amount of power you’re using in your right hand. There’s really no comparable string on the market for some strange reason.

Will do. I'm letting the strings settle for a few days before I adjust the truss rod though.

 

[FFFH242]

I have GHS round core Bass Boomers on one of my jazz basses. .45-.105 I cant imagine wanting anything more bendy than that. They are super flexible. I have carpal tunnel and arthritis and still have to use a light touch.

 

[michael_t]

I have GHS round core Bass Boomers on one of my jazz basses. .45-.105 I cant imagine wanting anything more bendy than that. They are super flexible. I have carpal tunnel and arthritis and still have to use a light touch.

This is rather surprising...

I've tried both the DR Sunbeams 45-105 and the Round Core Boomers 45-105 on my J bass and found the RCBs to be noticeably firmer in feel, which I liked. The SBs were a little too loose for my taste.

 

[mrjim123]

I feel like I've discovered the low tension holy grail!

I'm 70, and I've been on a low tension string quest for years. Until very recently the lowest tension strings I've found are GHS Round Core Bass Boomers and TI Jazz Rounds ... until yesterday.

I just installed an even lower tension set on my G&L SB-2 (which had been wearing low tension TI Jazz Flats) and immediately had to loosen the truss rod. The new strings are the DR Pure Blues PB6-30 six string set. I use the lowest gauge 4 strings and discard the two highest tension strings. Seems wasteful, I know, but at $34.99 a set on Amazon they are still cheaper than buying any individual low tension strings, at least as far as I've found so far.

I was worried that the strings might sound thin, being thin themselves (30, 45, 65, 85), but they sound great and I LOVE the tension! The outer wrap is a nickel/stainless alloy, so they are somewhat bright without being overly zingy.