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What strings have the lowest tension?

#62
number six said:
I went from Sadowsky flats light gauge to Thomastik flats (only gauge) and love them.
I understand the 'playing noodles' references and I like that.

I want the same thing for my nickel roundwounds and I have Sadowsky lights (40-60-80-100) on at the moment.
So the question is what would you recommend for roundwound 'noodles'?

I have some unopened DR Sunbeams just arrived (45-65-80-100) which have the round core.

I also understand that in the US you can buy strings for $20 a set and have the luxury to try many sets just for fun.
Not so in Australia where I have few to choose from and often have to import from the US anyway. $50 a set of 4 strings.
What do you reckon? Round nickel noodles.
Click to expand...

TI Jazz Rounds (42 to 93)
GHS Round Core Bass Boomers (40 to 95)

I use both for their low tension. The TI's are slightly mellower sounding and smoother in texture.
 
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#63
Dunlop Super Brigths have a light feel and real low tension for a hex core.
Roundcores, like DR Sunbeams for example, have even lighter feel but the tension is actually the same or higher (they are just more flexible because the core shape).
If you are searching for the lightest feel and you dont care about how much weight our bass neck is dealing with, you definitely have to choose roundcores...
 
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#64
Thanks people.
I'll try the 45-100 4 string set of Sunbeams next string change.
I've ordered a 5-string set of Sunbeams too but it's a bit of a gamble.
The Sadowsky 125 'B' strings are excellent and blend with the other strings (40-100) perfectly.
The Sunbeam 'B' I have no idea about.
The set I could find are 40 60 80 100 120 so I'm wondering about that 120.
DRs are new to me here in Australia.
 
#65
number six said:
I understand the 'playing noodles' references and I like that.
I want the same thing for my nickel roundwounds and I have Sadowsky lights (40-60-80-100) on at the moment.
So the question is what would you recommend for roundwound 'noodles'?
Click to expand...
Tension is determined by the gauges, so you almost certainly want smaller gauges, in any brand/string line. But if you have a brand/string line you already like there's no need to do anything other than stay with that and just reduce the gauges.
Try 30-90 for a significant drop in tension, if too light you'll then know 35-95 is the one.
michael_t said:
DR Sunbeams 40-100.
Dunlop Super Bright Nickels 40-100.
Click to expand...
Why suggest the same gauges when lower tension is wanted? I know that these are more flexible, so will 'feel' looser, but flexibility can only get you so far, it's much more effective to reduce the gauges to reduce the actual tension.
maturanesa said:
If you are searching for the lightest feel and you dont care about how much weight our bass neck is dealing with, you definitely have to choose roundcores...
Click to expand...
No, if you reduce the gauges (and therefore tension) far enough you can make hex cores or even flatwounds feel looser than round cores in larger gauges.
number six said:
The set I could find are 40 60 80 100 120 so I'm wondering about that 120.
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Even if that set is more flexible, the same gauges mean that it cannot be very much looser, you should reduce gauges too.
 
#69
JamAdd85 said:
This is off topic, but does anyone know why Thomastik-Infeld strings cost so much? I read so much from people who love them, but frankly I am very reluctant to spend that much money on strings without knowing if I like them.
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Don't do it....they are like playing rubber bands. I put them on and took them off every bass I have owned hoping to recover the cost. Nope.
 
#71
it's intriguing to me, as I generally like low tension-loose feeling strings. But what justifies the cost? They aren't gold plated or anything. Is there some sort of specialized construction technique or something? DR strings are more expensive than most and they say they are made by hand or whatever, I can see how that justifies a few extra dollars a set. TI Jazz Bass round wounds start at $85.95 for a four string set (on juststrings.com right now). What could possibly justify that cost? And at that price, there are many people here who rave about them. I'm just curious.
 
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#72
JamAdd85 said:
it's intriguing to me, as I generally like low tension-loose feeling strings. But what justifies the cost? They aren't gold plated or anything. Is there some sort of specialized construction technique or something? DR strings are more expensive than most and they say they are made by hand or whatever, I can see how that justifies a few extra dollars a set. TI Jazz Bass round wounds start at $85.95 for a four string set (on juststrings.com right now). What could possibly justify that cost? And at that price, there are many people here who rave about them. I'm just curious.
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They are made in Austria to high quality standards and special manufacturing methods. For me, Superalloys are €28, Powerbass €37 and Jazz Flats €48.

In Europe it is very difficult to find GHS Super Steels. If I have to import them from the USA it doubles or even triples their price. I love them, but I have to fall back on other brands.
 
#73
I figured it probably came down to the cost of importing them. Maybe I will try one of their less expensive sets, like the Infeld Superalloys. I just found those on Sweetwater for the bargain price of $47.95.
I just can't see myself ever spending $85.95 on a set of strings, regardless of how good they are.
 
#75
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#77
FWIW I have a set of Dunlop Super Brights 40-120 right now and they are the most flexible feeling set I have used. String bends are a breeze. However they have more fret buzz than anything else I have used. I have the action higher than I would like and I still have to play very lightly to keep the buzz to a manageable level. I like their tone and feel but I will go with something that allows for lower action next time.
 
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#78
JamAdd85 said:
FWIW I have a set of Dunlop Super Brights 40-120 right now and they are the most flexible feeling set I have used. String bends are a breeze. However they have more fret buzz than anything else I have used. I have the action higher than I would like and I still have to play very lightly to keep the buzz to a manageable level. I like their tone and feel but I will go with something that allows for lower action next time.
Click to expand...

I currently use Dunlop Nickel Super Brights 40-100 on all my basses. BUT, when I put 40-120 on a Fender Elite 5, I experienced exactly what you described. Once I put the same brand 45-125 on that bass, it was back to perfect low action with no buzz, and still flexible. I can't explain it, but at least I learned something.
 
#79
Hello,

So I started out with Ernie Ball flats, good but was also curious about TI and Labella. I tried the Labella low tension flats but for me they were higher tension. I am putting them on a 90 Fender P MIJ. The TI Infeld flats have lower tension then the Labella but more that Erine Ball flats. This is all based on the amount of relief or curve of the neck after installation. Not sue if this is conclusive but I might be going back to EB flats. These were all light gauge.

Not fun spending money or the wasting time, should have been practicing.
:(

Thanks for listening
R
 
#80
pjowsky said:
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
Click to expand...
Well...
Depends what you mean by "tension". Do you mean actual tension - as in pounds of pull needed to bring the string to pitch? Or do you mean "Stiffness" - as in, how flexible the strings are. Because they are not the same thing. If you're looking for round wounds? Sorry; I can't be much help, since I quit using them many years ago (nerve damaged/frostbitten fingers). Out of 27 basses, only one wears rounds now; TIJR 324 Jazz Rounds, on a '95 Gretsch Broadkaster. However... they are very flexible; and like the TI Jazz Flats? Among the lowest actual tension, too.
As for flats? The lowest tension ones I'm aware of, are Dogal's "Jaco" CarbonSteel Flats; followed by La Bella LTF-4A Low Tension Flexible Flats; then the TI Jazz Flats. Flexibility-wise? The TI's; then the La Bellas; then the Dogals - although, IMO there's not much to choose between the last two. Dogal also makes "Jaco" CarbonSteel Rounds; which, IIRC, are equally low tension, and might be a little more flexible than the flats...
When judging flexibility, I usually do it by taking a string set's heaviest string, and holding it straight out, about 18" from the ball end. The further the string droops? The more flexible it is... Not terribly scientific, but it does give you a good idea which string is the most flexible out of the strings you're "testing"... :whistle:
 

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