Tension

[Calvin Marks]

I currently have Pirastro Flat-Chromesteel (loaner set) on one of my basses, sounds good but I find the tension too high. Does anyone know if Permanent or Flex '92 or Belcanto is lower tension? Basically, for steel what is the lowest tension/soft on the left hand string for bowing?

Thanks a lot!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Charles Stark

I currently have Pirastro Flat-Chromesteel (loaner set) on one of my basses, sounds good but I find the tension too high. Does anyone know if Permanent or Flex '92 or Belcanto is lower tension? Basically, for steel what is the lowest tension/soft on the left hand string for bowing?

Thanks a lot!

Flat-Chromesteel or Original Flat Chrome? White/Blue ends at the TP or white/red?

Flex 92 I think is lower than OFC but FC I think is thin and low tension as well. The red/wt ones are thin. I think all the ones you list are higher tension. Does this bass have a c-extension? Most Ext e/c string are higher tension/thicker gauge than regular Es.

If your bass fingerboard has next to zero camber (1mm or less per octave) then most of these are soft feeling with 5mm g-height to 9mm e-height at the end of the fingerboard. Some bass set-ups make even solo strings feel tight. I have used all of the sets listed above and do not think any of the top strings are high tension at all. The Flex 92 reg E and the regular Bel E are softest. The Perm E and A are tightest. If FC/red these are like weichs to me. If OFC, the E is soft on some basses and the G might feel tight. These are in between the 92s and Orig flex in size and feel.

I hope this helps but let me know the type of FCs you have, red or blue stripe at the bottom

[Adrian Juras]

You can get the Flexocore('92) in Weich or Thin gauge as well. Or you could buy a set of Belcanto Solo and tune them down to Orch. pitch.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Adrian Juras

You can get the Flexocore('92) in Weich or Thin gauge as well. Or you could buy a set of Belcanto Solo and tune them down to Orch. pitch.

On the Bel solo's since the regular Bel E is soft within the set would you advise mixing the regular E with the Solo G-D-A tuned to Orchestra pitch or is the Solo E tight enough to work tuned down by itself?

The regular Es in many sets feel softer than the rest of the set. Also, the E usually has the least amount of bridge height off of the Top while might also be why the are softer. Testing tension on a machine without the normal bridge curve assumes the E is pulled as tight as the D or A which I think it is Not. What I do often is put the E on the upper post and switch the A lower to te E post. This added afterlength I think helps the tension or softer Es in general.

[Adrian Juras]

I am not sure how that set would balance(Reg E with Solo A D G). Only one way to find out I guess... In my experience the Thomastik Solo strings do feel great tuned to Orch pitch, and aren't too loose.

[Calvin Marks]

Ken, these are the Pirastro FLAT-CHROMESTEELS, not Original Flat-Chrome. They are Ruby windings...