So many think you can adjust tension at the bridge

With a locking nut you would then have to do critical tuning at the bridge, but in that case the bridge has the fine-tuning adjustments on it from the factory! I had one from Yamaha at one time... the purpose is the keep better tune when using a trem.

However... personally, I've never seen that setup on a bass guitar before!!! If there is such an animal, I'd like someone to show it to me!

Now regarding this "tension adjustment" as you have described, it ain't happening without messing with intonation, just as you said.

 

Are you referring to changing the break angle over the saddles?

- John

 

This is quite literally the first time I’ve ever heard of this (false) concept. Aside from a Floyd Rose type of guitar bridge or a headless bass setup, this has never been a thing.

 

I have to guess that by "tension" they mean the amount of finger pressure required to fret the string, which is certainly related to the string height above the frets. Otherwise, I've no idea what they mean.

 

I think the original Fender Elites have fine tuning at the bridge. No whammy bar on them.

 

Well...... Technically, you can change the tension for a given open pitch. Move the saddle closer to the nut and the required tension will be reduced. Move the saddle away from the nut and the required tension will be increased. However, as you know, that screws up the intonation.

- John

 

I think this is in reference to string height. You can increase the perceived tension by cranking up the string height because it causes you to push down more on the string, thus increasing the reciprocating force of the string. I personally dont think this is the way to go about it because that reciprocating force tends to not increase much as you increase height within normal limits.

 

With the amount of travel on a typical bass bridge, the decrease in tension for a given pitch will be so little as to be almost immeasurable. And as mentioned, you would have to ignore the intonation issues created.

 

Well beside lowering the the saddles to bring your string action down closer to the fretboard, which will in fact decrease the perceived tension as it will require less power from your fingers to fret the strings, I don't see how that could in any way be possible otherwise.

 

Higher action increases tension on the neck itself.

And that can lead to a bit more sustain and better tone depending on the individual instrument. Up to a point of course.

That's where the bridge comes in.

 

A specific string tuned to pitch and properly intonated will have a specific tension. That tension cannot be changed without changing the tuning, or with very little effect as @Turnaround stated, the intonation.

 

I dunno, but there's a dozen jokes and several good songs that could launch right there.

 

Even a drastic change in string height will be in the neighbourhood of a degree or less. If you run the math, the change in tension is almost zero, certainly not significant for you or your bass.

 

From being dumb and not understanding they physics of how strings work.

I've seen people swear that having more string past the nut or bridge saddle (left handed Fender headstocks, trapeze bridges, etc) increases string tension as well. Just as wrong.

 

I've sufficed with not worrying about the lack of grasp on Physics other folks have, unless they're working on my instrument.