Balanced Tension String Sets

[Supernaut]

Can anyone offer some real world experience? Curious how they would compare to a traditional set. Cheers. 

[BigRedX]

I know you want real-world experience which I don't have, but AFAICS to me it looks like a marketing gimmick.

 

Firstly based on those brands that actually show the tension figures, "balanced" tension IS NOT equal tension (it's not even close), and anyway IMO what feels "balanced" is entirely subjective.

 

The only way I think that balanced tension could be made to work is if they also take compliance into account so all the strings feel about equally "stiff". However compliance depends on the construction and stringing method of the instrument as much as it does on the construction of the string itself. That means while the strings may feel balanced on one type of bass they won't necessarily feel balanced on others.

 

I suspect that if you have a Fender style, 4-string, 34" scale bass, without using through-body stringing and favour standard string gauges, a balanced tension set may feel more "even" compared with a standard set, but even then it's going to be subjective, and after years of playing using sets where the A and E strings are noticeably lower in tension than the D do you really want strings that feel closer to the same stiffness?

 

You are also limited to a few string brands that offer balanced tension, mainly D'Addario, so you may not like the choices available. It's one of the reasons I haven't tried them myself because whilst all my guitars are strung with D'Addario strings I haven't liked the sound or feel of any of their bass strings that I have used.

[dave_bass5]

I use the D’Addario 45-107BT and for me they make a difference over the standard XL’s. it sounds strange but to my fingers it makes them all feel as if they are one. no big jumps between sting thickness, tension, although obviously there is. I was worried 107 would be too thick, but it feels natural next to the other strings in this set. 

Could be a placebo effect, but the end result is i find my basses more of a pleasure to play, so job done in my book. 

Not the be all and end all, but given a choice ill stick with the BT set. 

[Lozz196]

I might well give those a try, am really liking the XLs I’ve just put on my Sandberg Lionel so might try a set of the BTs on my Precision.

[Delberthot]

1 hour ago, dave_bass5 said:

I use the D’Addario 45-107BT and for me they make a difference over the standard XL’s. it sounds strange but to my fingers it makes them all feel as if they are one. no big jumps between sting thickness, tension, although obviously there is. I was worried 107 would be too thick, but it feels natural next to the other strings in this set. 

Could be a placebo effect, but the end result is i find my basses more of a pleasure to play, so job done in my book. 

Not the be all and end all, but given a choice ill stick with the BT set. 

 

I made myself a custom set of Chromes similar to this except I used a 110 E string as I dropped to D quite often. I still have them and use them from time to time. That was back in the day when you could order 4 single strings for about the same cost as a full set