Rubber bands or bridge cables?...

[Deleted member 271037]

I voted "depends on the strings/bass".

I like to have a nice selection of basses available. But it's really more about having a nice selection of STRINGS. I could easily get all the sounds I would EVER need if I only had a selection of 100% identical passive P-basses but set up with different strings.

Bridge cables or rubber bands? I'll have both, thank you very much!

 

[ChrisCassisi]

I play in drop C on a 4 string bass and use a 130 top string. Pretty much the low 4 strings of a 5 set. I like my string tension pretty tight. I play mainly stoner/doom/sludge metal so a lot of sustain with a heavy fuzz makes up about 95% of my sound.

 

[Reiska]

It escapes me how 40-55-75-90 or 45-60-etc is called balanced tension. The treble side will allways feel tense and low side floppy for me on these sets, no matter if they`re rounds or flats. I have D`addario XL nickels on 34" jazz, 45-65-85-105 gauges with medium - medium+ action, fingerstyle only. Feels and sounds balanced.

 

[Mili]

On the fence!
Fretting hand likes low tension and flexible.
Plucking hand likes higher tension specially for fast 1/16 notes and pick style.

 

[Valvehead]

I have a question to add. I use DR Low-riders 45-105 on all my basses. 125 for the low B strings.

All my basses are 34" scale.

However: On the NYC Empire 5 the tension FEELS lower then it does on the Warwick Dolphin and Zon Sonus. The Fodera is much more resonant then the other two, too.

How come? I can't brain on this one as it makes no sense?

 

[NortyFiner]

EB Hybrid Slinky 45-105, in both rounds and Cobalt flats, whatever tension you call those.

 

[mrjim123]

I've always liked lower tension strings, and now that I'm 69 even more so. My current faves are GHS Round Core Bass Boomers and TI Jazz Rounds.

 

[G On Bass]

I play with picks and fingers and prefer light gauge/lower-tension.

 

[39-Bassist]

45-105's for me.
Not too sloppy and not too stiff.
I play 80 percent finger and 20 percent pick though.

 

[bassically_eli]

Gauge and flexibility are two different things. It's possible to have relatively thick strings that are also flexible. For example, the La Bella's I've used always seem surprisingly flexible for their size, where as D'addarios feel pretty stiff to me. There are a lot of factors: materials, core shape, winding method.... Of course, within a given line of strings, thicker does also mean higher tension and more stiffness.

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

This is also my preference for my fretless and anytime I play fingerstyle near the bridge for that matter. I think stiffer/heavier strings are maybe better for fingerstyle and picking near the neck (not slap, though)? Here's my question, what's the best for that raspy P-Bass sound?

 

[Vinny_G]

I think stiffer/heavier strings are maybe better for fingerstyle and picking near the neck (not slap, though)? Here's my question, what's the best for that raspy P-Bass sound?

Yes, absolutely. Raspy a la John Entwistle? Hex-core, round-wound stainless steel strings.

 

[dedpool1052]

It escapes me how 40-55-75-90 or 45-60-etc is called balanced tension. The treble side will allways feel tense and low side floppy for me on these sets, no matter if they`re rounds or flats. I have D`addario XL nickels on 34" jazz, 45-65-85-105 gauges with medium - medium+ action, fingerstyle only. Feels and sounds balanced.

It comes down to the difference between actual tension, and perceived tension.
You noticed it yourself, and prefer the feel of standard sets, and there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[Vinny_G]

I have a question to add. I use DR Low-riders 45-105 on all my basses. 125 for the low B strings.

All my basses are 34" scale.

However: On the NYC Empire 5 the tension FEELS lower then it does on the Warwick Dolphin and Zon Sonus. The Fodera is much more resonant then the other two, too.

How come? I can't brain on this one as it makes no sense?

The perceived string tension can vary depending on the setup of the instrument, in my experience. The relief, the action, as well as the use of a thru-body bridge all play a part in how I perceive the tension of the strings.

I may be wrong, but the only explanation I can see for this phenomenon, and which is common to the three elements mentioned above, is the break angle at the bridge saddles.

@Turnaround wrote an absolutely fascinating post about it: String Tension and Compliance

 

[DCCat]

@Turnaround wrote an absolutely fascinating post about it: String Tension and Compliance

Holy crap, I had no idea that the Pro Bench sub-forum even existed until now. It's like you just handed me a treasure map.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

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.

It doesn’t much matter to me. I play with both a pick and pluck with my fingers. It’s a matter of becoming accustomed to whatever.

I’ve been finger picking guitars almost 60 years. At this point, it just doesn’t make much of a difference. But I’ll bet most bassist prefer a stiffer string.

 

[220_Hz]

DR Hi beams all the way for rounds. 45-105 round core, low tension

I usually use D'addario Chrome flats but want to switch over to TI flats

 

[Wheezerbass]

Standard tuning EADG - 4 string Precision bass homebuild
Strings picked from a 5 string & 4 string set: E (135) A (100) D (75) G (55)
The set is clear and defined - no sloppy E string wobbling

Action is quite low ( not buzz-low ) and gets a tight good feel combined with my Roasted Maple neck.

It was an experiment - but it´s quite a good setup - so I´ve been using it live.

It calls for minor adjustments of your technique

 

[MYLOWFREQ]

I voted 'medium' but have no idea if that's true.. What do you call the orange ernie ball hybrid slinky 45-105 nickel round set? I guess medium.. I play fingerstyle mostly and I slap.

 

[80jazz]

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.

I do find it most humorous when tension is used to describe stiffness.

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

Me too. I called them once and asked about a .055 gauge string. I was told no dice.

Too bad, as I would probably use 35-90 DR singles exclusively if I could get 35-55-70-90. As it stands for that gauge, Rotosound and SIT are my choices.

 

[fishdude101101]

Usually low tension. If the action is super low I handle a higher tension.