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Such low tension on the low E / B strings

TheArchitect

TheArchitect

Aug 4, 2009
2,216
3,076
#1
I have adapted like most of us to the string packs we are presented to choose from. As we know, the tension on most sets for the low E and especially B are comically out of balance with the rest of the set. The low E is manageable, the low B takes some work to adapt to. After all this time, why have mfg's not adopted something more in line?

45 / 65 / 80 / 100 / 130
or
45 / 65 / 85/ / 105 / 135 - This is at least available from D'Addario XL165-5

while this set is +/- 2 lbs of tension difference across the strings and is still around 200lbs total
45/60/80/110/145

I am about due for strings on the 5'er. Its time for a change. Time to bump up gauge!
 
#2
Based on my experience through many experiments, I've learned the low B that's lighter in tension actually balances better tonally with the rest - at least on a 34" scale. Increasing the gauges for E and B does not guarantee improvements in tonal quality.

The whole idea behind the multi-scale concept is to increase the tension on E and B without going thicker in gauges.
 
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#4
I did the balanced tension thing for a while. D'Addario offers (or offered) a balanced tension set of XLs that run 45-60-80-107. I used them with the 145 B.

I ended up selling the bass I had set up for balanced tension, and when I got a new fiver with a "regular" tension set, it just felt familiar to me. The difference in tension didn't bother me at all, even after playing the balanced set for a couple of years. It's been five years since I went back to a regular 45-130 set and I'm still content with them.

Try the balanced set. It's a fun, easy and relatively cheap experiment. You will probably need to widen the nut slot for the B string. If you don't like them, a new set and set up can get you back to where you started.
 
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#5
TheArchitect said:
I have adapted like most of us to the string packs we are presented to choose from. As we know, the tension on most sets for the low E and especially B are comically out of balance with the rest of the set. The low E is manageable, the low B takes some work to adapt to. After all this time, why have mfg's not adopted something more in line?

45 / 65 / 80 / 100 / 130
or
45 / 65 / 85/ / 105 / 135 - This is at least available from D'Addario XL165-5

while this set is +/- 2 lbs of tension difference across the strings and is still around 200lbs total
45/60/80/110/145

I am about due for strings on the 5'er. Its time for a change. Time to bump up gauge!
Click to expand...
Those floopy E and B string also depend on string factory design/winding etc.....

The B and E on Sadowsky black label 40-125T , Elixir Nano 45-130T , EB Cobalt flat 2816 and 2810 has no unbalance tension and floopy issue at all on my hand.
 
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#7
Isn't the number of wraps the string has at certain thickness one of the reasons for looser B strings?
I have 135 low B it has three wraps and it sounds considerably duller than my 105 E string (all that at 35 inch scale length).
So while the tension is alright, next time I'll get 125 or 130, I guess.
 
#13
I still consider myself to be experimenting with this. I find that a good portion of "balance" relates also to instrument setup. Per-string action (height) and pickup heights.

My point being that it's key to tweak the setup and spend time-enough for the instrument adjustments to settle and to get used to what feels or sounds a little different to see what you like or don't like. The gauges are still a factor, but the set up makes a huge difference, ranging from awesome to aweful.

At one point I was surprised that .130 is where the options end for a lot of brands/type of B string. More recently I wonder why there aren't more in-between options for the G and maybe D, +/-
 
#14
W_R said:
I still consider myself to be experimenting with this. I find that a good portion of "balance" relates also to instrument setup. Per-string action (height) and pickup heights.

My point being that it's key to tweak the setup and spend time-enough for the instrument adjustments to settle and to get used to what feels or sounds a little different to see what you like or don't like. The gauges are still a factor, but the set up makes a huge difference, ranging from awesome to aweful.

At one point I was surprised that .130 is where the options end for a lot of brands/type of B string. More recently I wonder why there aren't more in-between options for the G and maybe D, +/-
Click to expand...
I am going to have to disagree with you. What setup change do you propose that will make the B string less floppy?
 
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#15
Scale length makes the most difference with that B string feel, and I get by just fine with light gauge rounds on my 35" Laklands strung thru-body. DR Sunbeams - 40-60-80-100-120. OR - Lakland Custom Wound nickel lights which are 40-60-80-100-128. No issues or complaints with tone or feel for me, and the Lakland custom wounds are hex core which naturally feel a little tighter than the round core DRs.

I played a friend's 34" scale StingRay the other day and right there, even with medium gauge strings, that floppy B-string was present, despite having a great setup and not too low string height. It's why I haven't owned a 34" scale 5'er in 20 years.
 
#16
TheArchitect said:
I am going to just bump from the EXL170's to the EXL165's and see what I get. I'll keep working on my touch as always but its silly not to adjust the gear also if there is a viable option to do so
Click to expand...
That's what I do on my custom 5 strings bass, use EXL165-5.
I dislike most E strings thinner than .105, and most B strings thinner than .135, so this is one of the rare common sets that fits me.
 
#18
JazznFunk said:
Scale length makes the most difference with that B string feel, and I get by just fine with light gauge rounds on my 35" Laklands strung thru-body. DR Sunbeams - 40-60-80-100-120. OR - Lakland Custom Wound nickel lights which are 40-60-80-100-128. No issues or complaints with tone or feel for me, and the Lakland custom wounds are hex core which naturally feel a little tighter than the round core DRs.

I played a friend's 34" scale StingRay the other day and right there, even with medium gauge strings, that floppy B-string was present, despite having a great setup and not too low string height. It's why I haven't owned a 34" scale 5'er in 20 years.
Click to expand...
Scale length does matter. I tried making baritone guitars out of 25.5" scale instruments 2-3 times and the low B was always awful. I opted to get a 7 string instead with a 26.5 scale and it was fine.

That said, I have what I have and so I move forward. Its starting out at a better spot than the baritone conversions ever did
 
#19
I'm of the opinion that I shouldn't have to play individual strings differently from the others within a set on the same bass. To that end, most 5 string sets are trash. Thicker cores help make up for perceived different tension, but B strings seldom get that treatment. If I'm a string manufacturer, bass is a small market segment and bass with a B string is a small subset of that. They just don't care enough to do anything about it. 35" scale is 6% more tension than 34", which is quite noticeable and helpful, but then most manufacturers are so fender-centric that many sets give you silk at the nut. It's not an easy problem.
 
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