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Stiff vs floppy- where do you feel it? How does it matter to you?

#21
I like the feel of my strings to be just a little to the stiff side of noon (jesus murphy that sounds terrible lol). Depending on the tone I'm looking for, I'll move my right hand up and down the strings to get what I want feel-wise.
 
#22
Well this thread wasn’t at all what was suggested by the title!
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#23
My favorite two strings are DR Lo Riders and Dunlop Super Brights. One is very high tension, one is very low tension- there’s a lot of benefit to both, and I can never decide which I like more. I tend to go on a high tension kick for a little bit followed by a low tension one.
 
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#24
Only two things this makes me think about:

Aside from some roundcore DR's, most of them feel roughly the same to me. Never thought about it.

I have some 'balanced tension' D'Ad's on the Jazz Bass right now, and I do think I won't do that again. After all these years, it just feels a bit strange that all four of them feel the same, despite what my eyes tell me when I look at them.

Usually this 'floppy' business comes up about low B's on multi-string axes, a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth, really brings out the sack cloth and ashes in some guys. Get over it, it's just the way it is. As the Reverend Willie G says, just grab a handful and spank the plank.

( well, that may be the wrong quote considering the title of this-here post . . . . . )
 
#25
Bryan R. Taylor - we have very similar taste in strings.
My BB300 sports Lo Riders, recently purchased SBMM Ray25CA is sporting Dunlop Super Brights (DSB), the Rick and other Yamaha 5string sport Marcus Miller Dunlop Super Brights (MM DSB). I love both sets of DSBs, the tone on the Marcus Miller is similar (IMHO) to Rotosounds with a similar tension which just makes that bass come alive (same with Yamaha 5string). As the SBMM is newer, I've been playing it way more than all the others and miss the tension of the MM DSBs especially when having to dig in on harder passages. I've made the error(?) of buying 2 sets of regular DSBs as I'm curious to see if the MM DSBs might be what I really want on the SBMM. Aaargh! In response to the original post, for myself, the plucking hand makes the call on what's best for my playability.
 
#26
i have arthritis - both my hands need more supple strings, although maybe my fretting hand moreso. since stiffer strings cause swelling and pain, it's not optional for me. before i had arthritis , i still used extra light rounds on my basses. i was able to play longer with them than i could with heavier strings or flats. i do sometimes use stiffer strings, and for some music i really enjoy them, but i can't play them for very long.
 
#27
MVE said:
+1
Im in the same mind as Funkhead.

But I just wanted to add that if you are “dead set on anchoring your thumb in the exact same spot” and keeping your right hand in the exact same position, YOU ARE PLAYING BASS WRONG!!!
I know, that’s harsh, but honestly, moving your plucking hand between the neck and the bridge does more for the dynamics of your tone than any knob on your eq/amp.
Click to expand...

I guess I'm safe :). I don't anchor my thumb at all. I let the side of it rest against the strings that aren't being played. I suppose you call it a "floating thumb". I also find sometimes I want to pluck near the bridge, but sometimes near the neck. I just came into this approach naturally and should probably consider myself lucky that I haven't developed any terminal habits.... at least I think not. So far I haven't been able to detect whether strings are stiff or not. With DR Sunbeams, Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats and D'Addarion NYXL's, and a few LaBellas sets all 45-105-130ish I'm not aware of any stiffness/floppiness issues. FWIW, the first sets I had on my Jazz 4 were D'Addario 170BT (balanced tension) and was unaware of how BT may have helped. I got them at the time because they were cheap at $16. I guess I have to progress more as a player to be more finicky about the feel. Right now, for me, it's mostly about the sound and the texture.
 
#28
vindibona1 said:
So far I haven't been able to detect whether strings are stiff or not. With DR Sunbeams, Ernie Ball Cobalt Flats and D'Addarion NYXL's, and a few LaBellas sets all 45-105-130ish I'm not aware of any stiffness/floppiness issues...

...I guess I have to progress more as a player to be more finicky about the feel. Right now, for me, it's mostly about the sound and the texture.
Click to expand...

If the variation in stiffness/flexibility among different strings hasn't affected your overall playing technique, consider it a blessing. No need to get "more finicky" about it. ;)
 
#29
As long as the bass is set up correctly for the strings I like both floppy and stiff strings. I love TI Jazz Rounds which are probably the floppiest I've tried. I love high tension flats too. I haven't tried the Labella Jamerson sets though, I expect those could be a bit too much for me.

The only thing I find a bit uncomfortable is then the strings feel stiff but are actually low tension. Like the Roto 88s. I find them fatiguing in a weird way when playing fingerstyle. They can be very fun with a pick though.
 
#30
michael_t said:
If the variation in stiffness/flexibility among different strings hasn't affected your overall playing technique, consider it a blessing. No need to get "more finicky" about it. ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks. I have a LONG way to go before I can consider myself a good bass player. Right now I'd only describe myself as "adequate", largely because I can read and have enough music theory under my belt that I can string together basic bass lines.
 
#31
I prefer lighter tension. round core, nickel wrap. my go to strings are Thomastik Jazz Bass, honorable mention to GHS balanced nickel which are really great and also GHS Roundcore boomers. LaBella BassRX feel good but I don't find the tone as pleasing as Thomastik and GHS.

I have always preferred light tension because my first Fender was a 66 P Bass with a stripped truss rod so I would build a light set of strings from singles to keep the neck from bowing.
 
#32
michael_t said:
My left hand likes something comfortable (not too stiff) to play on for fretting action, but my right hand likes something firm enough not to go all bouncy under the plucking fingers. So, it's a matter of finding the balance between the two through trials and errors.
Click to expand...
I found that playing (with my fingers) close to the bridge gives me the firm string feeling I like.
 
#35
punchdrunk said:
I dunno, ask your sister....

Okay kidding aside... Strings are of the utmost importance. I’m of the school of thought that you shouldn’t necessarily need to fight your instrument, so you want to find the optimal set up (this is very much related to the strings, as that’s the primary point of contact) to facilitate the conveyance of your musical thoughts/impulses without impediment. For me that means Labella Flats on my 1970 P, and heavy gauge Sunbeams on my 77 PJ.
Click to expand...

Totally agree!
The more comfortable and enjoyable your playing experience is...the more you’ll play. And the more you play the better you get. I goes hand and hand.
Strings are big deal. Make sure you’re happy with them. If not...there’s plenty to experience out there! Changing strings is much cheaper than buying a new bass. :)
 
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#36
Element Zero said:
I prefer the feel of stiffer strings per my plucking hand. I enjoy TI Jazz Flats though and they are QUITE floppier than what I typically run. However, LaBella Tapewounds (especially the grape ape set and other white nylons) are the most flexible limp noodle strings I ever tried. LOVED the texture and sound, but utterly unplayable for me.
Click to expand...
Could it be because the witness points haven't been defined yet? I put a set on 9 or 10 days ago and forgot how bad the break in period is...
It takes me a week or more to stiffen them enough for me to play without struggling and I've been playing them for a couple years. After a few dozen hrs. I think they feal very similar to TI flats
 
#40
I need flexibility or I can’t get in the pocket. If strings are too stiff my fingers “studder.” I like light gauge rounds (40-100 or so) and I love TI Jazz flats, which do not feel at all “floppy” to me as some describe.

Ironically, I just picked up a bass with 1954 Jamerson flats which are like bridge cables, and I love the sound and feel so they’re staying.

I can’t swing at all with Chromes, Rotosounds, and many sets 45-105 or above. I just can’t get the bass to play the things my brain tells my fingers to do.
 

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