Comparative tension of flatwound strings

[franzbassist]

Hello all

Can anyone tell me how Status, Overwater, Lakland (GHS?) and Sadowsky flats in 45/65/85/105 gauge compare to the equivalent La Bella set?

Cheers

Gareth

[drTStingray]

Not sure.

However I have found that Ernie Ball Group 3s have roughly the same tension as rounds and have them on an SR4 fretless - and I did once string my SR5 with flats of a make that I won't mention (not in your list) and they had such tension that the bass became a chore to play (I didn't actually adjust truss rod or anything - just swapped the strings out for rounds again after a couple of weeks).

[alstocko]

I use Laklands, they're very well balanced with a medium tension

[franzbassist]

I tried some Status 45-105s. Great tension but the E and A strings were completely dead, all thud and no tone at all, whereas the D and G sounded lovely.

I've ordered some Laklands to see how they go.

[One Drop]

IIRC Lakland (GHS) are more supple than labellas and Sadowskys, which are roughly the same, and Status are the stiffest. Whether this translates to actual tension or not I can't really say, not having directly swapped one for the other on a bass.

[franzbassist]

Interesting. I feel the Status were lower tension that the equivalent La Bella set. My Lakland strings arrived yesterday and are going on the bass tonight, so will report back later.

Edited November 20, 2012 by walbassist

[4 Strings]

If you dig about on the La Bella site they have the tension of all their strings. Not sure if other manufacturers do this but its the only real way to find out.

Newtone produce specifically 'balanced' sets of strings but flats are in the planning stages only, at the moment, I understand

[iiipopes]

Labella and D'Addario publish tension specs. Not many, if any, of the others do. CircleK only makes rounds at this point.

[ikay]

String tensions for Thomastik flats (and rounds) are listed here if that's of any interest - http://www.thomastik-infeld.com/guitars/levels/products/stringfamilies/out/jeb.htm