Tension Head

[Samingo]

(I warn ahead of time I'm listening to some good ol' Simon and Garf so this may be a groovy post )

Hey boys, this is sort of a setup question but I never really see any sort of direct question like this so I'm just posting a thread.

Now I'm curious if there's anyway I can lower the tension in my string without detuning. The action is fine, the intonation is fine, the pickup height is fine, all I want is for my strings to be a bit looser to the touch so those strings really move when I pluck 'em.

Now I'm pretty sure that I can do this with some lower tension strings(TI's come to mind) but I've felt this loose tension using Super Slinky's (which all of my basses are strung with) so if there's any way you boys can think of to lower that tension I'd really appreciate it. Thanks guys.

Now I'm off, to look for America...

 

[bovinehost]

I think the only option you have is to go for a lower tension string.

 

[Samingo]

Oy, thanks anyway, Jack.

 

[bovinehost]

I personally think that some basses feel different (as far as tension goes) even with the same strings. LaBellas on a Jazz feel completely different than they do on my Bongo, for instance.

And I have a Bongo 5 strung with TI Flats and a Lakland Scheff 5 strung with TI Flats and THOSE strings feel different, too.

"Feel" is of course a very subjective thing.

But tension is tension, I suspect, even though I'm not an engineer, and if you want a looser string, why not try the TIs? I hear a lot of people yap about how they feel like rubber bands, but I imagine many of those people think Roto 66s or Fender 9010s are the standards by which all strings should be judged.

On the other hand - not a thing wrong with Super Slinkys, especially when they start to go dead!

 

[Samingo]

Agreed there Jack! I've always loved my Slinky's since first I tried them I was in love. I only worry that the TI's will not be as easy to obtain or as midy and full as the Slinky's but I will definately give it a shot. I can get used to the idea of new strings, it's getting used to the idea of those string not being EB made that'll take time.

EB's strings have always been the best I've gotten my hands on. They're thin enough to play plucked in a very precise way and yet, well, I don't know what it is that gives them such a fullness but I've found that even on my non MM basses that I"ve had slinky's on they're sound is full and round(and much better after a bit of wear and tear, I agree there) and not empty and ugly like oh so many Fender strings I've played on.

We have the same General idea of tone, it should be big and full and yet rough around the edges enough to scare off smaller tones. Not lanky and empty and pathetic like some of the tones I've heard produced from other strings.

Hmmm, I did very much enjoy the tone of your Bongo on that cowpilot vid you posted a while back. Actually it was that tone stuck in my head that really helped push me towards picking up my stealth Bonger. So I will give the TI's a test as soon as I can get around to it. Hell, I'll even put some flats on one of the basses, I didn't think flats could growl untill I heard them on your Bongo.

thanks again Jack