High tension strings suggestions?...

Claymore

Claymore

Nov 10, 2019
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Rhode Island
#1
...besides DR Lo-Riders. ;) I have this theme going where each one of my basses has a different kind of strings and I already have one with Lo-Riders so I don't wanna mess with that. The one I'm trying to find a new set for has Dunlop Super Brights and although I dig the sound, they are way too wiggly and floppy, causing me to raise the action higher than I would like. I'm looking for a good higher-tension set (preferably with tone similar to the Dunlops) that will allow me to set my action lower without buzzing. Thanks in advance! :D
 
#2
Standard D'Addario XL Nickels. Done. I've been using then for years. When some huge sale on Dunlop Super Bright strings came along a few years ago, I bought several sets.

I out them in my main player. They were in for a few minutes. I gave the rest if the sets away.

My initial impression? They sound like my XL nickels only floppy.

Plus, many here say they can't take XL Nickels because of the high tension. So there ya go.

A cheap solution that you can (literally) find in some Walmart stores. XL nickels are everywhere.
 
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#3
two fingers said:
Standard D'Addario XL Nickels. Done. I've been using then for years. When some huge sale on Dunlop Super Bright strings came along a few years ago, I bought several sets.

I out them in my main player. They were in for a few minutes. I gave the rest if the sets away.

My initial impression? They sound like my XL nickels only floppy.

Plus, many here say they can't take XL Nickels because of the high tension. So there ya go.

A cheap solution that you can (literally) find in some Walmart stores. XL nickels are everywhere.
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That should be the Dunlop marketing slogan. "Like XL Nickels... only floppy" :roflmao:
 
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#5
Claymore said:
...besides DR Lo-Riders. ;) I have this theme going where each one of my basses has a different kind of strings and I already have one with Lo-Riders so I don't wanna mess with that. The one I'm trying to find a new set for has Dunlop Super Brights and although I dig the sound, they are way too wiggly and floppy, causing me to raise the action higher than I would like. I'm looking for a good higher-tension set (preferably with tone similar to the Dunlops) that will allow me to set my action lower without buzzing. Thanks in advance! :D
Click to expand...

Tension is how hard you have to pull with the tuner to get to pitch. It is a product of thickness. So if you want the same tone with more tension get a thicker set of the Dunlops.

Unless you aren't talking about tension at all and instead you mean flexibility.
 
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#6
If we're talking strictly roundwounds, then GHS Boomers. Those strings definitely feel stiffer than comparable brands' NPS strings in the same gauges. a 45-105 set of Boomers will feel stiffer than a 45-105 set of XLs. I think this is because Boomers use a thicker core than XLs.

Boomers are very much a love it/hate it string. I love that they break in quickly and hold that yummy broken in tone forever. Others feel the opposite that "they sound good for a couple days then die super quick."

Otherwise, pressurewounds (e.g. GHS Pressurewounds), groundwounds (e.g. GHS Brite Flats), or flatwounds (e.g. GHS Precision Flats) feel much stiffer than rounds.
 
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#7
Claymore said:
The one I'm trying to find a new set for has Dunlop Super Brights and although I dig the sound, they are way too wiggly and floppy, causing me to raise the action higher than I would like. I'm looking for a good higher-tension set (preferably with tone similar to the Dunlops) that will allow me to set my action lower without buzzing.
Click to expand...

The context of your post tells me you're more concerned about stiffness/flexibility than the actual "tension" as in pulling weight.

Dunlop Super Brights are probably the most flexible of all hex-core strings due to the thin core wire used, so any other hex-core strings would be stiffer, although the degree of stiffness varies depending on the brand and the model.

The main challenge here is finding a set of strings that are stiffer than the Super Brights but still SOUND like them. By the way, are you talking about Super Bright Stainless Steels or Super Bright Nickels?
 
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#8
lz4005 said:
Tension is how hard you have to pull with the tuner to get to pitch. It is a product of thickness. So if you want the same tone with more tension get a thicker set of the Dunlops.

Unless you aren't talking about tension at all and instead you mean flexibility.
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Yes, perhaps that was poor wording... It is a flexibility issue. I'm looking for stiffer strings.
 
#9
In fact, if I recall correctly, @JimmyM was a long-time D'Addario user who switched to the Dunlop SB when they went on sale because he liked the lower tension? Correct me if I got the story wrong, Jimmy.
 
#10
michael_t said:
The context of your post tells me you're more concerned about stiffness/flexibility than the actual "tension" as in pulling weight.

Dunlop Super Brights are probably the most flexible of all hex-core strings due to the thin core wire used, so any other hex-core strings would be stiffer, although the degree of stiffness varies depending on the brand and the model.

The main challenge here is finding a set of strings that are stiffer than the Super Brights but still SOUND like them. By the way, are you talking about Super Bright Stainless Steels or Super Bright Nickels?
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They are Stainless Steel 45/105. These would be stiffer than the Nickels, right?
 
#14
lz4005 said:
Tension is how hard you have to pull with the tuner to get to pitch. It is a product of thickness. So if you want the same tone with more tension get a thicker set of the Dunlops.

Unless you aren't talking about tension at all and instead you mean flexibility.
Click to expand...

exactly... for the OP, I think you are talking stiffness, not tension.

DR low riders are quite stiff - and if that is what you like, then you should look for stiffer designs. Hex core is stiffer than round core. And there are some materials that are stiffer than others.
 
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#16
Claymore said:
...besides DR Lo-Riders. ;) I have this theme going where each one of my basses has a different kind of strings and I already have one with Lo-Riders so I don't wanna mess with that. The one I'm trying to find a new set for has Dunlop Super Brights and although I dig the sound, they are way too wiggly and floppy, causing me to raise the action higher than I would like. I'm looking for a good higher-tension set (preferably with tone similar to the Dunlops) that will allow me to set my action lower without buzzing. Thanks in advance! :D
Click to expand...

As long as you're a DR kinda guy ... try a set of 105 - 45 DR Fat Beams like these ...

https://www.musiciansfriend.com/acc...ess-steel-medium-4-string-bass-strings-45-105

They're not SUPER high tension, but are higher tension than many roundwound offerings of the same 105 - 45 gauge set. They also have great tone ... lotsa roundwound sizzle, but with a thicker than average bottom end response.
 
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#17
michael_t said:
The context of your post tells me you're more concerned about stiffness/flexibility than the actual "tension" as in pulling weight.

Dunlop Super Brights are probably the most flexible of all hex-core strings due to the thin core wire used, so any other hex-core strings would be stiffer, although the degree of stiffness varies depending on the brand and the model.

The main challenge here is finding a set of strings that are stiffer than the Super Brights but still SOUND like them. By the way, are you talking about Super Bright Stainless Steels or Super Bright Nickels?
Click to expand...

This is pretty much correct. It's very easy to find a string that's stiffer than Super Brights.

But finding a stiffer string that SOUNDS like Super Brights is another story, one that has not had an ending written yet :)
 
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#18
mmbongo said:
This is pretty much correct. It's very easy to find a string that's stiffer than Super Brights.

But finding a stiffer string that SOUNDS like Super Brights is another story, one that has not had an ending written yet :)
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They do sound very nice. No complaints there. If they were just a WEE bit stiffer like DR Pure Blues or Sunbeams I'd probably like them better. Maybe I'll just keep them and use a lighter attack when I play that particular bass.
 
#19
Dincrest said:
If we're talking strictly roundwounds, then GHS Boomers. Those strings definitely feel stiffer than comparable brands' NPS strings in the same gauges. a 45-105 set of Boomers will feel stiffer than a 45-105 set of XLs. I think this is because Boomers use a thicker core than XLs.

Boomers are very much a love it/hate it string. I love that they break in quickly and hold that yummy broken in tone forever. Others feel the opposite that "they sound good for a couple days then die super quick."

Otherwise, pressurewounds (e.g. GHS Pressurewounds), groundwounds (e.g. GHS Brite Flats), or flatwounds (e.g. GHS Precision Flats) feel much stiffer than rounds.
Click to expand...
I haven't had Boomers on a bass in a long time but I do want to give them a try sometime. But it might be a while because I like rounds when they are well broken in and my only set of rounds are brand new and my other basses are all wearing flats right now.

Those new rounds just happen to be GHS Pressurewounds, and this is the second time I've had them on my Stingray 5 (first time was at micahel_t's suggestion). I do like the way they sound and, while I won't say they're a loose feeling string, they definitely don't feel as stiff to me as DR Lo Riders do (Lo Riders are my favorite string overall, love the sound and the long string live and especially the stiff feel!). But I still the Pressurewounds they're a good suggestion, unless the OP is actually looking for a string that's as least as stiff as the Lo Riders.

Flats are also a good suggestion if the OP is open to them. I've had Chromes on several basses and they felt great to me (nice and stiff! :D) but also had a tone that was closer to the sound I like than other flats I've tried. They're also the only flat I've tried that I loved the sound of on every bass I've put them on (Precision V, Stingray 5, L-2500, and a parts bass Jazz).
 
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