Standard string gauges for balanced tension in standard tuning

[Shak_2112]

Hi all,

I was wondering whether there is a standard set of string gauges to achieve balanced tension most suitable for standard tuning?

I have always played D'Addario EXL170 (45-65-80-100) but have been reading a lot about balanced tension sets as I find my E is too floppy and D and G are too loud in comparison to my E and A bit feel much better to play.

I am thinking of trying the D'Addario EXL170BT (45-60-80-107) set - does anyone know if these are suitable for standard tuning or are they used more for lower tunings?

Not sure if 107 is a bit thick for an E in standard tuning? But if it gives a much better tension I may actually my prefer it. Thanks.

 

[Jon Moody]

There are players that won't use anything lower than a .115 as an E string in standard, so the aforementioned set (with the .107) will be just fine. The other option is to go with the EXL220BT set, that is 40-55-70-95 if the .107 is a concern.

Or, put together a set like 45-60-80-105 or 40-55-75-100 from the singles of any brand, and you'll get close. Or, closer than a non-balanced packaged set.

 

[OOD]

If you like the way the E & A sound and feel just go smaller on the D & G.

what I like to do is balance a set of strings around a D string I like. I also like enough tension in the E to not be floppy, so I might get a bigger D than I would like with that in mind. But they don't need to be perfectly balanced to sound and feel good IMO. Plenty of non-balanced sets feel good to me. Others swear by getting sets as balanced as possible.

 

[Lo-E]

For years I have preferred 45-65-80-105 but I use an 85 A string if that's what the set comes with.

Like you, I was curious about D'Addario's balanced tension sets so I tried them. To me, it was an improvement but only a subtle one. Since the prices are comparable with their normal sets I'll probably keep using them but I also use other brands which don't offer balanced sets and, in those cases, I either just deal with it or I try to build custom sets.

IME, 100 is a pretty light E string unless I'm looking for a particularly light action.

from your original post, I also wonder if your pickups are adjusted correctly. Make sure your set-up is good before trying to ascertain any differences the strings might be making. Otherwise you might end up chasing your tail.

Lastly, keep in mind that there is more to perceived string tension than meets the eye (hand?). How the string is constructed and how flexible the string is can fool the player into thinking the tension is higher or lower than it really is…. but now I'm starting to step outside of what your original question is really about so I'll shut up.

 

[michael_t]

I have always played D'Addario EXL170 (45-65-80-100) but have been reading a lot about balanced tension sets as I find my E is too floppy and D and G are too loud in comparison to my E and A bit feel much better to play.

I am thinking of trying the D'Addario EXL170BT (45-60-80-107) set - does anyone know if these are suitable for standard tuning or are they used more for lower tunings?

EXL170BT is fine for EADG tuning as they're closed to (or even slightly less than) EXL170 in terms of total tension, except they're better balanced.

G 045 - 42.52 lbs.
D 060 - 40.86
A 080 - 40.05
E 107 - 39.45 (162.88)

G 045 - 42.52 lbs.
D 065 - 48.35
A 080 - 40.05
E 100 - 34.72 (165.64)

 

[Shak_2112]

Thanks for the replies. I did make adjustments to my pickups recently - hadn't realised measurements were stated based on fretting final fret before! so managed to get a much better pickup height now I know that.

Those measurements of tension are super helpful and I'll bear in mind comments re: construction and flexibility.

Going from a 65 to 60 D string seems to affect the tension quite a bit.

I think I'll invest in a set to try them out as I need to restring following a bridge and tuner upgrade so it's a good opportunity!

Thanks again all.

 

[michael_t]

Those measurements of tension are super helpful and I'll bear in mind comments re: construction and flexibility.

Going from a 65 to 60 D string seems to affect the tension quite a bit.

As a former "balanced tension enthusiast", I used to swear by 45-60-80-105. But I eventually learned two important things: 1) "Balanced tension" does not always guarantee "balanced tone" depending on the bass and how it's set up, and 2) A set of strings don't necessarily need to be perfectly balanced in tension in order to sound balanced or feel balanced.

Having said that, I do like using strings that are relatively even across all four strings. My go-to gauges these days are 40-55-75-95 for the sake of being kind and gentle to my battle-scarred hands.

65D vs. 60D... The day I switched from EXL170 to EXL170BT was the day my whole life became more balanced.

 

[Shak_2112]

It's a good point about even tone. That's my only concern.

Would a 107 E usually require a nut filing adjustment?

 

[michael_t]

Would a 107 E usually require a nut filing adjustment?

Not on my Fender Jazz. I think most basses can take up to .110.

 

[Lo-E]

Not on my Fender Jazz. I think most basses can take up to .110.

I agree. I've never met a factory nut that was too tight for a .105" E string and those extra .002" aren't going to make a difference.

 

[iiipopes]

Hi all,

I was wondering whether there is a standard set of string gauges to achieve balanced tension most suitable for standard tuning?

I have always played D'Addario EXL170 (45-65-80-100) but have been reading a lot about balanced tension sets as I find my E is too floppy and D and G are too loud in comparison to my E and A bit feel much better to play.

I am thinking of trying the D'Addario EXL170BT (45-60-80-107) set - does anyone know if these are suitable for standard tuning or are they used more for lower tunings?

Not sure if 107 is a bit thick for an E in standard tuning? But if it gives a much better tension I may actually my prefer it. Thanks.

The D'A EXL170BT set is my primary gigging set, and has been since it came out. I have been a fan of balanced tension since the early 90's, when all you could get were 45-60-80-105/6 in Progressives singles special order. Considering your observations of how the regular EXL170 feels to you, you will really enjoy the EXL170BT. I tend to "dig in," so the larger E string does tend to die a little quicker the way I play, and I have a spare E string at the ready when it does. Two details: 1) you don't need a new nut; 2) the BT set works better on a bass with a relatively flat fingerboard so the distance from the top of a flat pickup, like a J or a soapbar, is more constant.

 

[JW56789]

I 'guinea pigged' myself trying GHS Balanced Nickels and a Balanced D'Ad set on a 4-string Jazz (I knew better than to try it on the five-strings . . . ).

Two things were funny at first: My right hand kept looking at me like 'I see 4 different size strings, but WHY do they all feel kinda like the same string in all four places?', and then second, I did not realize after all these years that the muscle memory was used to a real tight G and D, the other two not so much. Hmmmmm . . . .

So it wasn't worth it for me, and went back to Boomers and XL's and called it a day, the evergreen 45-105 sets.

I'd also add that properly adjusting your pickups is often way overlooked as a way to balance output.

ALWAYS only do that with brand new strings: Strings with some miles on them will inevitably give you false results. I always begin with the published spec which usually involves them being equidistant for most from the E(or b) across to the G (or C). IF you hear some strings favored over the others, adjust lower to suit, or raise for the ones that aren't as loud, you'll just have to decide which way you prefer. And as you note, always do this pressing the string down at the last fret at the pickup end of the fingerboard.

 

[silky smoove]

Definitely give GHS Balanced Nickels a look in addition to the D'Addarios. They're really nice strings that sit a little different tonally than the D'Addarios. One is probably more your speed than the other.

 

[matante]

Thanks for the replies. I did make adjustments to my pickups recently - hadn't realised measurements were stated based on fretting final fret before! so managed to get a much better pickup height now I know that.

Those measurements of tension are super helpful and I'll bear in mind comments re: construction and flexibility.

Going from a 65 to 60 D string seems to affect the tension quite a bit.

I think I'll invest in a set to try them out as I need to restring following a bridge and tuner upgrade so it's a good opportunity!

Thanks again all.

The "BT" in EXL170BT stands for balanced tension. The whole point of that set is to give you balanced tension with standard tuning.

As a former "balanced tension enthusiast", I used to swear by 45-60-80-105. But I eventually learned two important things: 1) "Balanced tension" does not always guarantee "balanced tone" depending on the bass and how it's set up, and 2) A set of strings don't necessarily need to be perfectly balanced in tension in order to sound balanced or feel balanced.

And some of us were trying to explain this during the whole balanced tension craze on Talkbass (and we were met with harsh resistance).

 

[iiipopes]

Definitely give GHS Balanced Nickels a look in addition to the D'Addarios. They're really nice strings that sit a little different tonally than the D'Addarios. One is probably more your speed than the other.

Indeed. The only caveat is that with the wrap being pure nickel, instead of nickel plated steel, the windings are more dense, which translates to more tension on the set. If you use the same gauges, you will have to tweak your truss rod to handle the greater tension of the GHS BPN's.