#1
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Tension
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! |
#2
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Flat-Chromesteel?
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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 |
#3
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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.
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#4
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Bel solo...
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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. |
#5
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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.
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#6
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Ken, these are the Pirastro FLAT-CHROMESTEELS, not Original Flat-Chrome. They are Ruby windings...
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#7
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ok
I don't know why they feel tight then. These are lighter strings than the other Pirastros. Maybe your bass needs some adjusting. What is the neck camber like from nut to end of neck root? Is the neck under the fingerboard perfectly straight or bowed under the fingerboard along with it? These things will make any bass feel tight.
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#8
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#9
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ok..
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Make a trip to Pa and see me. You will return a different person in half a days visit. |
#10
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Hey Ken, thanks for the taking the time to reply. Sorry for the inconvenience about this issue but it seems to be a bit of a learning curve for me.
So, are you saying that in half position if I press down on the E string, that the under part of the string should have the same string height (distance between board to under part of string) all the way up the board? Ie. Once the string is pressed down in half position, the note a or b etc on the same string should almost be flat to the board? On my bass there are several mm's in string height between the note A while the string is pressed in half pos. |
#11
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several mm's?
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#12
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#13
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Thanks again to Ken for all the helpful information. It seems that this bass needs to have the fingerboard plained and re-profiled. It's a wonderful sounding instrument, it really anchors the section but the fingerboard is a bit off in design.
I've had to raise the adjusters up to 9mm on each side just so the G string gets 5mm of string height. It's a bit strange...The G and D string has virtually no "scoop" (perhaps the incorrect term), it's very flat... G (5mm), D (6mm)...But then the A is (10 mm) and E (11mm). So, there is a massive dip between the D and A strings. This means that the E and A strings are under a heck of a lot more tension than the D and G. That's why the bass feels so tight on the bottom two strings. Basically, I need the G string side of the fingerboard to be lower (rounded), or perhaps the fingerboard has warped or sunken on the bass side. Last edited by Calvin Marks; 01-27-2010 at 09:52 AM. |
#14
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ok, but...
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#15
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Took it to my repairguy, the fingerboard is warped, not sure how this happened. Luckily I have enough board for it to be re-planed.
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