Rubber bands or bridge cables?...

[Claymore]

I was just curious what the TB community prefers in the way of string tension.
I already have my preferences but don't want to sway the vote. Do you like like low tension, high or in-between? Also, please specify if you are playing fingerstyle or with a pick.

 

[DWBass]

Low tension for me. I do a LOT of string bends. I play fingerstyle and thumpin' n pluckin'!

 

[CallMeAl]

45-100 DR sunbeams and Pure Blues have become my favorites. Always fingerstyle.

Haven’t tried all the strings out there but these were probably the most flexible I’ve come across. I like that I can play lightly, and these strings just do exactly what I want them to!

 

[LowWay]

I play finger style and slap and play 50-110 on my 34” Basses. I’m probably gonna up it to 55-115 this year.

 

[Arthur U. Poon]

I prefer higher tension.

 

[Inara]

Fingerstyle fretless, and I prefer very flexible strings (the flexible feel, which can vary between strings of similar tension).

 

[dave64o]

I voted bridge cables. I definitely prefer stiffer feeling strings.

 

[Claymore]

45-100 DR sunbeams and Pure Blues have become my favorites. Always fingerstyle.

Haven’t tried all the strings out there but these were probably the most flexible I’ve come across. I like that I can play lightly, and these strings just do exactly what I want them to!

These are my favorites as well... for exactly the same reason.

 

[Vinny_G]

It all depends on what you consider low, medium and high. There is no general agreement on these terms since each manufacturer has their own qualification. For most of them 45-105 is Medium, but look at Rotosound (the Swing Bass series): their Medium set is 40-95, then you have Hybrid which is 40-100, then Standard which is 45-105. 45-100 is considered Regular Light by D'Addario and 45-105 is Hybrid for Ernie Ball. All this obviously makes no sense.

Maybe we should set up a tension scale especially for TalkBass.

Anyway, sorry for that, I'll answer your question. I like the feel of flexible strings on my fretting hand but I mainly play with a pick, and I need firmness on that side to have some control, so the attack is quick and the string doesn't bounce too much (which excludes round-core strings, as far as I'm concerned). So I voted Medium, which for me is 45-105, with possible variations in the case of balanced tension strings, which I really like.

I could play with 40-100 without a problem, but 45-105 also allows me to have what I consider to be a Medium-Low action (2.25 to 2.00mm at the 17th fret) with a minimum of string rattle. 40-95 is too low for me, and I see no particular benefit in going beyond 50-110 in standard tuning. Voilà!

 

[80jazz]

Put me down for rubber bands, but I am a bassist who does not like to go past 40-95 for E standard tuning (35-90 or 40-95 for my basses, thanks).

 

[buldog5151bass]

Fingerstyle here. Generally hex core round wounds (Lo Riders or Roto Swing) medium gauge. I consider that medium.

 

[InhumanResource]

I was just curious what the TB community prefers in the way of string tension.
I already have my preferences but don't want to sway the vote. Do you like like low tension, high or in-between? Also, please specify if you are playing fingerstyle or with a pick.

Its just strings, brother. I like DR nickel lo riders and play with my fingers. But I used to get a different set every time I replaced them just to do it.

 

[michael_t]

I like the feel of flexible strings on my fretting hand but I mainly play with a pick, and I need firmness on that side to have some control, so the attack is quick and the string doesn't bounce too much (which excludes round-core strings, as far as I'm concerned).

I take a similar approach. I like my strings to be comfortable for fretting but still firm enough not to go all bouncy under the plucking fingers.

I used to swear by "balanced tension" 45-60-80-105, but now at age 63, I've been exploring the lighter side of life since earlier this year in an effort to be kinder and gentler to my battle-scarred hands and find the GHS Pressurewounds 40-54-76-96 to provide the optimal balance between "comfortable" and "still firm enough".

 

[Vinny_G]

I used to swear by "balanced tension" 45-60-80-105, but now at age 63, I've been exploring the lighter side of life since earlier this year in an effort to be kinder and gentler to my battle-scarred hands and find the GHS Pressurewounds 40-54-76-96 to provide the optimal balance between "comfortable" and "still firm enough".

With a plectrum I need a little more than that (the strings move more), but if I played mainly with my fingers I would probably do like you.

 

[BOOG]

I marked low tension and I usually play finger style with a dynamic input. If I want it aggressive I dig in and adjust amp as needed. If I want clean I lay off a bit and adjust amp as needed.

 

[S-Bigbottom]

Medium tension.
What about these bridge cables?

Yes, this is a real bridge swaying. Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1940) - Wikipedia

 

[Claymore]

Medium tension.
What about these bridge cables?


View attachment 4022384

View attachment 4022385

Yes, this is a real bridge swaying. Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1940) - Wikipedia

 

[micguy]

Yes, this is a real bridge swaying.

We studied that film in Physics class. The bridge had sufficient tension on the cables - no problem there. What it needed was damping.

As to basses, I have had wrist issues, in the past, so rubber bands for me. 35-50-70-95-130 are my typical gauges. Yes, 130 for a B string is low tension (it matches a 95 E well) - if you want decent tension for a B string, you need to be at least that big. if You're a 105 person for an E string you should be looking at 140's. the "floppy string" problem on 5 strings is not a bass problem, it's a string problem.

 

[JRA]

String Tension and Compliance

per the OP: i voted "rubber bands" but i can get along with most strings if they're rounds! i have TI jazz rounds on all but one ax currently --- they're lighter gauge and highly compliant. light gauge + compliance + fretless = love.

 

[kesslari]

I honestly have no idea. I use strings that sound good to me, and "heavy medium" gauge is usually my sweet spot. But I've never really compared the feel of "low tension" and "high tension" strings.