What strings have the lowest tension?

[bearfoot]

For my mileage, I can honestly say that I can go a LOT lighter in actual string gauge and not experience them as "floppy" , with the caveat that I balanced the actual (scientific) tension - so a .130 B string matches perfectly with a .95 or so E string, in D'Addario world.

In most cases, to feel like less tension, you need a lighter D and G. Almost all sets make those strings higher tension. I don't know why.

 

[maturanesa]

Any roundcore with the same gauge would have a noticiable lighter feel

 

[Jon Moody]

Any roundcore with the same gauge would have a noticiable lighter feel

Not compared to the Dunlop Super Brights, they wouldn't. Those are made with a very small hex core, which is more tactile than a round core string of the same gauge.

Also, "any" isn't a good qualifier, as any round core string from GHS has a slightly larger core diameter, which would definitely not be comparable to the Dunlop Super Brights.

 

[maturanesa]

Not compared to the Dunlop Super Brights, they wouldn't. Those are made with a very small hex core, which is more tactile than a round core string of the same gauge.

Also, "any" isn't a good qualifier, as any round core string from GHS has a slightly larger core diameter, which would definitely not be comparable to the Dunlop Super Brights.

I tried DSB and they were less flexible than Sunbeams of the same gauge. The only hexcores that have the same feel as Sunbeams, in my experience, are lighter gauge hexcores.

 

[michael_t]

Any roundcore with the same gauge would have a noticiable lighter feel

= Over-generalization.

For example...

Comparing the Dunlop Super Bright Nickels 45-105 (hex core) to the GHS Round Core Boomers 45-105 (round core), the DSB's are noticeably looser-feeling than the RCB's. Switching from a hex core to a round core doesn't automatically guarantee you end up with a more flexible feel.

Based on my experience, the round core strings by DR are much looser-feeling than the ones by GHS of similar gauges.

 

[wesonbass]

Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Rounds or Jazz Flats are lower tension strings but quite pricey.

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exactly. ..last forever tho, making them a great value. Several years on my Coronado and sound better than ever

 

[wesonbass]

The guy who would know is @SLaPiNFuNK

that's exactly where I get mine.

 

[pjowsky]

I'm learning so much from all of ur comments thank you. Talkbass is so awesome. I wasn't aware that round core means more flexible. Makes sense that the difference won't be much but i'll try some and if it's still too stiff i'll know i need a lower guage. Main reason I don't wanna go lower is I don't like very thin G and D strings but if it comes down to that being the only solution to solving the pain and allowing me to keep this bass then I'll learn to live with it! Lots to experiment with now thanks again.

 

[mrjim123]

My 2 cents - I also like low tension strings, and the lowest tension I've played recently are GHS Round Core Bass Boomers.

 

[Burwabit]

OP, are you sure string tension is the cause of your discomfort and not the new bass / technique? Is it plucking hand (based on your description)?

 

[mmbongo]

My 2 cents - I also like low tension strings, and the lowest tension I've played recently are GHS Round Core Bass Boomers.

What have you compared them to? As Jon from GHS explained, those might not be the best choice for a low tension string as there are other strings much lower.

 

[Krisfield]

DR Hi Beams are round core. They have a springy, flexible feel about them. I like how the open E string vibrates on the fretboard.

 

[twinjet]

Hi I bought a NYC sadowsky pj 5 a couple of months back and love the sound but have been been getting some hand pain due to the stiffness of the strings (I like to dig in and get that raspy sound quite a bit) The gauge is the same I'm used to 45-125 but the strings were new to me stainless steel blue label sadowsky. Been liking the stainless steel so I checked online recommendations for some low tension ones (I want to keep the same gauge) So got it set up, action is now low as possible and it's wearing Dunlop super brights 45-125. Much less stiffness for my plucking hand to fight against but strings are still not as loose as I want. Bar switching to a lower gauge could u guys recommend any strings that would have lower tension than Dunlop super brights? Been reading about dr hi beams wud they be better for what I'm after? Also, are stainless steel strings just stiffer in general? Any help wud be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats. Like playing gd ramen noodles.

 

[Krisfield]

You make your Bass touch sensitive by adding a clean boost preamp pedal, so you can play loud with a light touch without putting in much effort.

 

[pcake]

I'm learning so much from all of ur comments thank you. Talkbass is so awesome. I wasn't aware that round core means more flexible. Makes sense that the difference won't be much but i'll try some and if it's still too stiff i'll know i need a lower guage. Main reason I don't wanna go lower is I don't like very thin G and D strings but if it comes down to that being the only solution to solving the pain and allowing me to keep this bass then I'll learn to live with it! Lots to experiment with now thanks again.

why not buy individual strings rather than sets? that way you could have extra light E and A but standard light G and D.

behold, bassstringsonline has a variety of brands/types of single strings so you can create your own sets!
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btw, i find the difference between round and hex core is greater than you might think.

 

[lowplaces]

Thomastik-Infeld Jazz Flats. Like playing gd ramen noodles.

They are soft for sure. Their short scale set's winding length required me to wrap some of the exposed winding on my E and A tuner on my Mustang PJ. When I saw I was going to have to do that I was dreading doing it. But they wrapped around the posts as easily as the silk did. That's how soft they are.



That's a .106 E

 

[JW56789]

We're fortunate to have GHS' Jon Moody in the conversation, Thanks Jon !

Here's a Bass String Guide from his day job at GHS:

www.ghsrep.net/uploads/2/2/2/5/22258814/ghs_bass_string_guide.pdf

. . . . . and read the little paragraph at the bottom right of the Introduction, page two, regarding the difference in 'feel' (UNrelated to string tension), where it talks about 'String Geometry'. The rest of the pages are the tensions for every bass string in the GHS Product Range. Good stuff !

But Jon: How do we know which products are 'small ratio' and 'large ratio' ?

 

[interp]

Try some DR Pure Blues in the lightest gauge, the Victor Wooten sig set.

Bassstringsonline.com is the source for all this string info, best prices and awesome service. Plus more cool stuff, too.

TI jazz flats are famously soft feeling, low tension, strings with a beautiful voice. Sure they cost a bit more, but you might put them on and that’s it for the next ten years. I always have a broken in set for each bass. They take months to really break in.

I say it so much I get tired of saying it, but it’s true: on a cost-per-use basis TI Flats are the cheapest string you can buy.

 

[mrjim123]

What have you compared them to? As Jon from GHS explained, those might not be the best choice for a low tension string as there are other strings much lower.

I've compared them to TI Jazz Flats, LaBella Low Tension Flats, GHS Balanced Nickels, GHS Pressurewounds, and two unknown brands that came on basses I bought.

 

[Bassbeater]

What strings have the lowest tension?
...the spares in the case