Rubber bands or bridge cables?...

[thisheregiraffe]

I voted for medium tension. I specifically like DR's medium (45-105) round core sets best. Sunbeams, Fat Beams, Hi Beams, Pure Blues. Haven't played a set I didn't like yet.

 

[Stewie]

Never thought about it, 45-105 GHS flats. Don't know what anything else feels like

 

[Pdaddy1978]

Loose enough to bend,.....tight enough to keep from floppin....
So..... medium?

 

[Drifter8230]

I've been out of the bass game for about 10 years before coming back recently, but I've always thought (maybe incorrectly???) that scale length determines tension...as in: There really isn't too much else I can do to adjust the string tension. Is that correct? I prefer a 35" scale.

In any event, I prefer Medium-Light 45-105 Dean Markley strings because I like to do bends and they are the best feeling string for me. Hence my vote was medium tension

 

[David Jayne]

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.

Really? My understanding is that it was an aerodynamic problem. Hmm.

 

[Killing Floor]

A little lighter rounds on the bass I slap with more often. DR Hi-Beams, not super loose but a pretty easy medium.
Softer flats on a fretted P, usually LB, I like them.
Bridge cables (Dad XL Chromes) on a fretless with maple board, they add some life to a very mellow sound.

 

[micguy]

Really? My understanding is that it was an aerodynamic problem. Hmm.

Aerodynamics can, if designed right, be part of the damping, or part of the problem. Most accidents/failures are the result of multiple factors. What we were told is the bridge was low on damping, had pronounced vibration modes, it did have a cross section that, once it started vibrating, the wind would, from certain directions, reinforce the vibration, and.. it was located in an often very windy spot.

The thing was in use for a while, and had a reputation for “galloping”. The film is cool - yes, it gave way. But the interesting part is how long it lasted - it was flexing a LOT for quite a while before it finally gave way. And theres also an idiot that tried to drive across when anyone with any common sense would have seen the roadway twisting horribly and stayed on one side.

 

[JimmyM]

Low tension for me, please. Not rubber bands but maybe wires that aren't very taut.

 

[Pings Bass]

rotosounds on BG (finger style) and spirocores on DB (arco and pizz), whatever tension those are, that's what I like

 

[thabassmon]

Low tension for me. On both Flats and Rounds.

 

[onda'bass]

A solid medium here, dabbling in heavy
On occasion.

 

[two fingers]

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

They might be swinging. But they're still freaking tight with tons of weight on them.

 

[Jackcrow]

I’ve always been a low tension guy but recently I’ve been experimenting with very low tension. I currently have some DR Hi Beam 30-90’s on a P Bass and they are very low tension. I think those are probably slightly lower tension than I want to go but I’ll probably end up going to just a little bigger than that.

BTW I play pretty much exclusively fingerstyle.

 

[Gyver]

Roto Funkmasters (30 - 90) on the fretless, Roto 66s (45 - 105) on the Jazz and Ric, TI Jazz Flats on the P Bass.

So very light to medium depending on the bass, although I do not mind bridge cables either, just haven't used them lately.

 

[dedpool1052]

I’ve always been a low tension guy but recently I’ve been experimenting with very low tension. I currently have some DR Hi Beam 30-90’s on a P Bass and they are very low tension. I think those are probably slightly lower tension than I want to go but I’ll probably end up going to just a little bigger than that.

BTW I play pretty much exclusively fingerstyle.

I played those DRs for a while, but settled on GHS Boomers 40-95.

I liked the DRs for the most part, but personally felt the G was too light, compared to the rest of the set. A 35 would've been a better fit, IMO.
The boomers are the tone I prefer, but if the DR set was better balanced, I would have kept them on a bass or two.

 

[dedpool1052]

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

Same for me.
Low tension/Low action.
Comfort and good tone.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

I like bridge cables because I feel like I can get a lot of nuanced tones with minimal work. I play with a lighter touch than most (I'm guessing) so I need the tension.

 

[dedpool1052]

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.

Agreed.
100%

 

[ToneMonkey]

Whatever Super Slinkys are, that’s what I like.

 

[Bryan R. Tyler]

Both, unfortunately. My favorite strings are DR Lo Riders which are high tension and Dunlop Super Brights which are low tension. There’s aspects of both I like a lot and unfortunately there’s no way to get both in the same string.