Double Bass Which ones have the lowest tension?

[SteSte]

Assuming that three factors can affect the frequency and assuming that the frequency of a open string is predetermined (for example A is 440Hz) to obtain lower tension you need to have lower mass.
More mass you add per the same length of the string more tension you need to put to obtain the same frequency.
Plain gut is the lower mass string , any wrapped strings (with copper, chrome, steel, any metal) will load more mass so more tension to put to have the same frequency.
I don't know if nylon have a specific weight more or less like gut.

 

[Don Hergert]

I think sbw and gutalike are probably similar,

I'm not familiar with Gutalike, but they may be very similar.

...
So you are using super silvers. ... The silver slaps would be a different story though..

To be clear, I'm using Innovation SilverSlaps E and A. Innovation SuperSilvers are supposed to be of the same construction but higher tension.

 

[Trivolis]

I'm not familiar with Gutalike, but they may be very similar.



To be clear, I'm using Innovation SilverSlaps E and A. Innovation SuperSilvers are supposed to be of the same construction but higher tension.

Oops, I don't know why I misread what you wrote. I'm sorry, thanks a lot for all the information.
Since, you're using the Silver Slaps afterall: I've read somewhere here in TB (though it's impossible to remember who wrote it or what the thread was) that the Silver Slaps are hard to intonate, that they produce some sort of weird overtones that make hearing the pitch center harder. Have you had problems like that with your E and A strings? Is the fundamental clear from half position to TP on these two strings?
Also, are these strings generally dark?Do they amplify well?
Thanks a lot.

 

[DoubleMIDI]

Silver Slaps A and E have 22 and 24.5 kp, the higher strings less: 18-19 kp.
Date due to my own string tension measurements because Innovation had no device to measure string tension.

 

[Don Hergert]

Silver Slaps A and E have 22 and 24.5 kp, the higher strings less: 18-19 kp.
Date due to my own string tension measurements because Innovation had no device to measure string tension.

Thank you, I was looking for that data at the GHS/Innovation site and found none. Very helpful!

 

[Don Hergert]

I've read ... that the Silver Slaps are hard to intonate, that they produce some sort of weird overtones that make hearing the pitch center harder. Have you had problems like that with your E and A strings? Is the fundamental clear from half position to TP on these two strings?
Also, are these strings generally dark?Do they amplify well?

When my SilverSlaps E and A were new they had what some here have described as a "plastic" tone characteristic that contributed to a very nice general "growl" sound; to my ears the pitch center is and has been extremely clear and the fundamental is and has been clear up and down the fingerboard. And actually I don't hear that "plastic" tone anymore, although the growl is still very much present. This is 18 months down the road so I'm guessing that it's because the strings have become broken in.

Edit: Sorry, I forgot to answer your tone and amp questions. I would describe the tone as growly while being loud and clear enough to hear notes clearly in a 4-piece acoustic string band... The bass notes carry very well outside and are distinct but thumpy at a distance. These strings also amplify and DI to FOH very well.

Important to note though, SilverSlaps are usually described as being not easy to bow... My E and A took a couple of weeks of consistent bow practice with generous rosin, a tight bow and some slightly modified arco technique to get them to start responding more easily for the limited bowing that I do. I like them a lot under the bow, but I would probably not recommend them to someone who plays arco most or especially all of the time.

The other thing that I should mention is that I play an Alcoa aluminum double bass that among other things has been treated to reduce its metallic tone. One of the reasons that I'm also specifically using this SilverSlaps/SBW string mix is because I also want less metallic tone from my strings. Other strings might also accomplish this for me, but for this time and situation the SilverSlaps/SBW mix has been excellent...

That said, any strings can sound different from one bass to the next, and it's always wise to keep that in mind when shopping for strings.

 

[james condino]

Lowest tension in a laboratory or lowest tension in hand that still functions as a great working string? Eudoxa are pretty low on the scale and incredibly smooth in hand...

 

[Trivolis]

Silver Slaps A and E have 22 and 24.5 kp, the higher strings less: 18-19 kp.
Date due to my own string tension measurements because Innovation had no device to measure string tension.

Thank you very much!!So they are heavier than evah pirazzi E and A.

 

[Trivolis]

Lowest tension in a laboratory or lowest tension in hand that still functions as a great working string? Eudoxa are pretty low on the scale and incredibly smooth in hand...

They are very expensive!! and to be honest if I had a 600e set of strings on my bass I would worry all the time about the windings coming loose or what have you.. That's just me though

 

[Trivolis]

When my SilverSlaps E and A were new they had what some here have described as a "plastic" tone characteristic that contributed to a very nice general "growl" sound; to my ears the pitch center is and has been extremely clear and the fundamental is and has been clear up and down the fingerboard. And actually I don't hear that "plastic" tone anymore, although the growl is still very much present. This is 18 months down the road so I'm guessing that it's because the strings have become broken in.

Edit: Sorry, I forgot to answer your tone and amp questions. I would describe the tone as growly while being loud and clear enough to hear notes clearly in a 4-piece acoustic string band... The bass notes carry very well outside and are distinct but thumpy at a distance. These strings also amplify and DI to FOH very well.

Important to note though, SilverSlaps are usually described as being not easy to bow... My E and A took a couple of weeks of consistent bow practice with generous rosin, a tight bow and some slightly modified arco technique to get them to start responding more easily for the limited bowing that I do. I like them a lot under the bow, but I would probably not recommend them to someone who plays arco most or especially all of the time.

The other thing that I should mention is that I play an Alcoa aluminum double bass that among other things has been treated to reduce its metallic tone. One of the reasons that I'm also specifically using this SilverSlaps/SBW string mix is because I also want less metallic tone from my strings. Other strings might also accomplish this for me, but for this time and situation the SilverSlaps/SBW mix has been excellent...

That said, any strings can sound different from one bass to the next, and it's always wise to keep that in mind when shopping for strings.

Thanks for all the info, much appreciated! I don't practice with the bow anymore so it's not something that worries me. I feel that it's going to be either these or the evah pirazzi slaps for the E and A. Again thanks for all the help.

 

[Ludwig]

I have now tried Hepcat D and G with both the E /A from Swingmaster and Jargar Dolce. The hepcat strings are much too loose for my taste ==> I would not use the gut-a-like hepcat myself, but would use the whole set, if I like very loose strings.
The thicker gut-a-like are much better for me and much better with arco playing then the SBW/Slap happy strings. The plastic strings with kevlar core I would only recommend for slaping, maybe pizz, but never for arco.
My choice is still the gut-a-like Swingmaster set for strings not too expensive and closer to real gut in combination with mostly pizzicato play and some arco.

 

[Trivolis]

I have now tried Hepcat D and G with both the E /A from Swingmaster and Jargar Dolce. The hepcat strings are much too loose for my taste ==> I would not use the gut-a-like hepcat myself, but would use the whole set, if I like very loose strings.
The thicker gut-a-like are much better for me and much better with arco playing then the SBW/Slap happy strings. The plastic strings with kevlar core I would only recommend for slaping, maybe pizz, but never for arco.
My choice is still the gut-a-like Swingmaster set for strings not too expensive and closer to real gut in combination with mostly pizzicato play and some arco.

I ended up using E and A evah slaps, hepcat D and swinfmaster G which for me is really
an excellent combination.. The E and A match the gut-a-like perfectly in terms of sound/projection and tension, I use the D from the hepcat set because the gauge and tension is just right, it probably has less tension than the swingmaster G which serves me just fine.

 

[Francois Blais]

Did you raise the action a lot?

 

[Trivolis]

Did you raise the action a lot?

No, it's quite low actually 5-9 mm.. But it's a tight bass so it's working out.

 

[Francois Blais]

Interesting, thanks!

 

[Rodi Aravena]

Hey,
Sorry to bump the thread but I have a question that I've been meaning to ask, and it's something that I've seen written and talked about a lot but I'm still not really sure what it means or how it works.
Could somebody please explain to me the concept of buying a string and using it 'tuned down' on your bass?
If I'm buying an A string, what could I tune it down to or what could I use it as (other than an A string)...?
Can any string (E, A, D & G) be used tuned down...?
Thank you in advance for your responses.
Rodi

 

[Don Hergert]

Most of the time this kind of reference is made about "Solo" tension string sets, which are actually made to be tuned a half step higher than orchestral EADG, so really they're made to be tuned to F A# D# G#. Many people will tune "Solo" string sets to orchestral EADG tuning in order to achieve lower tension than "light" or "weich" tension strings.

 

[Rodi Aravena]

Most of the time this kind of reference is made about "Solo" tension string sets, which are actually made to be tuned a half step higher than orchestral EADG, so really they're made to be tuned to F A# D# G#. Many people will tune "Solo" string sets to orchestral EADG tuning in order to achieve lower tension than "light" or "weich" tension strings.

Thanks very much. Much appreciated

 

[Francois Blais]

Most of the time this kind of reference is made about "Solo" tension string sets, which are actually made to be tuned a half step higher than orchestral EADG, so really they're made to be tuned to F A# D# G#.

Actually, it's a whole step higher, so F# B E A, not a half step.

 

[Don Hergert]

OH! Thank you very much!