Rubber bands or bridge cables?...

[PennyroyalWe]

I like medium tension. Currently running 45-100 Fender flats and 40-100 Chromes, played almost exclusively finger style. Tried some tapes before, but they were too flubby for me, meanwhile high tension strings hurt under my fretting hand. Its like having a rock in my shoe, but for bass.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

I see a lot of mentions of string gauge preference, which can definitely affect tension, but the poll was only about string tension. Considering different manufacturers use different core wire shape, different core wire diameter, various metal alloys, and various under-winding material, you can come up with low, medium, & high tension string sets that are all the same gauge. Example of two different .045-.105 sets below. Same gauge, different tension, and these two sets are from the same manufacturer!

 

[Chrisk-K]

I use 40-100 DR and Dunlop strings. I wish they would offer 35-95.

 

[micguy]

I see a lot of mentions of string gauge preference, which can definitely affect tension, but the poll was only about string tension. Considering different manufacturers use different core wire shape, different core wire diameter, various metal alloys, and various under-winding material, you can come up with low, medium, & high tension string sets that are all the same gauge. Example of two different .045-.105 sets below. Same gauge, different tension, and these two sets are from the same manufacturer!

Those two sets are actually pretty close in tension - a few pounds difference.

 

[r931]

4 string fretted basses I use Rotosound BS66 tuned to drop C

5 string fretless I use La Bela 760N-B standard tuning

6 string fretted has some set I found in a clearance bin at local music shop. I don't play it much. Maybe 5 minutes a year or so. Im not a fan of the 35-inch scale.

7 string fretted I use Snakeskins SS18135 tuned A standard

 

[David Jayne]

I prefer low to moderate tension. Always have.

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Those two sets are actually pretty close in tension - a few pounds difference.

Two round wound sets by the same manufacturer still have over 7% difference in tension of the same gauge string (D & A of the sets listed). Comparing tension of a large diameter hex core set to a small diameter round core set will yield a much greater difference in tension of the same gauge strings, possibly as much as 20% difference.

Dunlop Super brights would probably be toward the low end of the tension scale for a given gauge. I’m not sure what would be at the high end of the tension scale of the same gauge; maybe a Rotosound set of some kind. The point was to explain that string gauge (outside diameter of the string) does not necessarily indicate tension, especially when comparing strings made by different manufacturers using different component characteristics.

 

[Yahboy]

Low to medium tension , I prefer balance stiffness , comfort playing/fretting feel , balance string to string tone and ofcause ..... Great tone!!

Ti JF344 , EB flat Group III 45-100 / 45-130, EB Cobalt flat 45-100/45-130, Fender 9050L , Fender Pre2010 7150XL, DR Hibeam 45-100/45-125, Shadowsky Blk flat 45-100 and Labella LTF4A.

 

[r931]

I like low to medium tension. Probably why i prefer to play the lower dropped tuning and nylon flats for standard. I mostly play slap and finger style. I use a pick when I bust my hands up at work.

 

[SS904]

Tension wise, I like the 45-105 range. flexibility wise, hex core or stiffer strings and lower action are my preference. Recently discovered i actually like stainless steel strings and active basses. Was a diehard passive bass with flats or nickel rounds. Started that journey with DR Hi Beams. OK, but just switched to Lo Riders. Perfect. Passive basses get GHS Boomers and pressure wounds. Also include the required P bass with flats, LaBellas that would certainly qualify as bridge cables in my case!

 

[DJ Bebop]

Hard to say for me. Like most of us, I have more than one bass, and each one I purposely set up with different strings and gauges and string heights. I play and like them all. Right now, I've really been diggin' this P bass with La Bella 1954s 52-110s flats on it I have a headless Cort bass with 35-95s rounds on it and all point in between so, it just depends on the mood for me

 

[2F/2F]

Bridge cables. Can't stand "floppy" strings. I need .105 flats at a minimum, and most of my basses have .110s. With rounds (the few sets I do have), I try to get .110s or .111s. Even those feel a little loose to me, so I run them extra high.

That said, I have one set of .100 rounds, on a short scale bass, no less. LaBella Beatle Bass strings on my American Performer Mustang Bass. This set uses thicker high strings than normal, in relation to the low strings, so they're OK. I like the imbalanced feel (tight high strings and loose low strings) on this particular bass. Has a little bit of the "slack key" Bass VI feel on the low end (dirty "WHAP" sound), while staying more traditional sounding up high (clean "PLUNK" sound). Really good with a pick, and for parts that use a lot of split high/low, with quick, punchy "octavey" elements over a bass part that is mostly played on the low strings with a sizable amount of fret slap.

 

[mattj1stc]

I have a heavy touch, so I prefer bridge cables. I pay finger style. I tend to use gauges and tensions that are similar to the feel of an upright on my bass guitar.

 

[juancaminos]

Um...I don't know.

 

[PWRL]

I go through phases, though have preferred light gauge for the last decade or so. I tried Rotosound Funkmasters for a while, but after picking up a bass that had them on it which I hadn't touched in a long time, all of a sudden they felt like hair after playing the 105s that came on my G&L JB Tribute.
I love the thicker girth but lower tension of D'Addario tapes. They're smooth and boingy, the bass equivalent of jumping on a trampoline.

 

[int]

I pluck / pick / slap pretty hard so like a tight B through A, that can handle my style. Sometimes a tight D is better for the audience but a loose D can be effective. Feedback is important so I listen and adjust accordingly. Loose G strings for bending, vibrating, and well-placed pulls that hit at just the right tension, at the right moments. Tight Gs tend to make everyone cranky. My hands also tend to get pretty wet when I'm in my element, so protection (gloves, elixirs, etc) are sometimes handy. Otherwise, I just go where I find the flow.

 

[cableguy]

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

I still to this day remember this video every time I drive over this bridge. I couldn't imagine this happening. It's a long way down.........

 

[cableguy]

I use 43/45 to 105/110 rotos depending on the set I get. Probably right in the middle tension wise.

 

[jamro217]

I like strings that can be bent without taking my arm off. Light gauge. Usually round, but TI flats are great, too. Not having too much resistance makes it easier for me to play with subtlety. A slight bend before a note can act as as emphasis and give your bass a more middle eastern sound. The same bend at the end of a note gives it a bit of a questioning sound. Some people speak with accents, others play with them. Difficult to do with bridge cables.

 

[Resonance129]

Kind of depends on the instrument they're on for me, but I do like some tension in my strings.
Voted for bridge cables, but could probably vibe with any string after a little time. I'm adaptable