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String tension info

J

jns

Jan 11, 2015
8
0
36
#1
So I'm really frustrated by the lack of string tension info provided by manufacturers. I can find a chart by daddario and ghs and that's it.

I currently have a balanced set (.145 .105 .080 .060 .045) of ghs boomers on my 5-string 34" scale bass. And they are just fine in the normal BEADG tuning. The problem is, my band plays in ADGCF tuning, and neither ghs nor daddario make thicker strings (well ghs has a .175 but thats a little too thick for A I guess).

I also would like steel strings, but they seem to have even less tension.

I wonder why no other company provides such important information? Am I just supposed to buy every single string to find the ones i like?

Can anyone give me any info about for example Rotosound or DR strings tension? What about the .175 boomer?
 
#2
D'Addario .160 .165 .170 [This invalid link has been removed]
I recommend the .160 for A, then add this balanced set [This invalid link has been removed] or whatever singles you prefer. A .160 A is equal tension to a .120 D so .160 .120 .90 .067 .050 will be balanced.

Kalium Strings have the most complete tension information, with a chart calculated from scale length, chromatic from subsonic to guitar pitches and from .266 to .008 Link Removed
They have balanced tension steel sets with big strings Link Removed
 
#5
jns said:
One more question, where have you found the tension of the .160 daddario?
The chart I have found only goes up to .145
Click to expand...
The tension of a D'Addario .160 is not stated anywhere, but it can be derived from physics that for 2 strings tuned a fourth apart at equal tension the gauges will be roughly in the ratio 4:3 as in 160:120.
You can see this in your gauges .145 .105 .080 .060 .045, all are very close to the ratio 4:3.
 
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#6
ixlramp said:
The tension of a D'Addario .160 is not stated anywhere, but it can be derived from physics that for 2 strings tuned a fourth apart at equal tension the gauges will be roughly in the ratio 4:3 as in 160:120.
You can see this in your gauges .145 .105 .080 .060 .045, all are very close to the ratio 4:3.
Click to expand...
^ This. Also (to the OP, not ixlramp, who knows this stuff inside and out):
a string has about the same tension as one (with same, just scaled, or similar construction, and materials) with half the gauge and tuned to a note an octave up. Ergo, a .160 tuned to A0 will have about the same tension as a .080 tuned to A1.

The same result can be arrived at by splitting the octave into a fourth and a fifth, in either order, and applying the 4:3 ratio plus the 3:2 one (a fifth). I.e., between the A and an equal tension D (.160:.120) or E (.160:.106.66), and between the D - or the E - and the A above (respectively, .120:.080 and .106.66:.080). QED.


Since I'm at it, to whom it may concern, here's a tip for when one is wading through a tension chart with no sharps/flats and wonders about the tension of, say, a .110" tuned to C#. Tension doubles or halves with any half-octave (tritone) increase or drop. In other words, look for the tension of that string at G and divide (or multiply, depending on which G appears in the chart) by two: here's your tension at C#.
 
#7
Yes this ratio rule is 3:2 for a fifth, 2:1 for an octave, the gauge ratio is actually equal to the frequency ratio.
The frequency ratios of fourths and fifths in 12 Tone Equal Temperament are not exactly 4:3 and 3:2 but are extremely close.
In 12TET the frequency ratio between two notes 's' semitones apart is 2 ^ (s / 12).
 
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#9
Hi. I have general question about tension of th strings. I have 4 string Musicman StingRay bass tuned standard (EADG). What tention should be on every string ? I mean in lbs or kg ? Are there any specs which make a "sweet spot" for not being sloppy but not stiff as a wire for particular tuned string ? I used to use Thomastik Infeld Jazz Flats and although those are great strings but the tension is not what I expect. It's ok but I think that a little bit stiffer strings would give me a better tone, playability and action (I had to raise it higher than with my "medium gauge" ones before - still ok but that's not the solution imo). Any info about that ? The standard strings for Musicmans are Ernie Ball Slinky 45-100 but that's not my favourite ones (especially when they lost their highs and crisp the tone became very nasty in high mids which I don't like) and there's no info what tension those strings are.
 
#10
jb90 said:
Are there any specs which make a "sweet spot" for not being sloppy but not stiff as a wire for particular tuned string ?
Click to expand...

First, it's important to distinguish between "tension" (as in pulling weight) and "stiffness/flexibility" (as in playing feel). Scientific tension figures are only a small part of the equation in determining how a set of strings "feel"; there are too many other factors involved to rely solely on the tension info.

Secondly, there are only a few companies that publish tension figures, so for the most part, finding what works for you is a process of trials and errors.

A tension chart can be a useful tool, but it should only be used as a general guide as it doesn't tell the whole story.

You can spend some time browsing through THIS to get a general idea as to what kind of numbers we're deal with when it comes to bass strings.
 

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