bass string diameters and tensions

Bass String Diameters and TensionsLast Updated:1/26/2007

Diameter (inches) Tension (lbs) Diameter (mm)Manufacturer and String Composition G D A E Reference G D A E Reference G

Corelli 370M Nickel (G) and Tungsten (D,A,E) flat wire wound on steel core

0.046 0.052 0.064 0.0832 53.5 51.4 53.6 54.02

Corelli 370FNickel (G) and Tungsten (D,A,E) flat wire wound on steel core

0.045 0.055 0.068 0.0872 59.5 57.8 58.4 58.02

Corelli 370TXNickel (G) and Tungsten (D,A,E) flat wire wound on steel core

0.045 0.056 0.072 0.0982 57.1 60.2 63.1 61.72

Corelli 380TX Nickel 0.045 0.057 0.078 0.102 19 D'Addario Helicore Hybrids Light

nickle flat wire wound on carbon steel rope core

58.2 61.3 63.0 64.06

D'Addario Helicore Hybrids Medium


62.0 65.9 67.0 68.06

D'Addario Helicore Hybrids Heavy


64.0 68.4 70.0 71.06

D'Addario Helicore Orchestral Light


58.2 61.3 62.5 64.16

D'Addario Helicore Orchestral Medium


0.045 0.050 0.070 0.09015 62.0 65.9 69.0 70.06

D'Addario Helicore Orchestral Heavy


0.075 0.10015 64.0 68.4 73.0 74.86

D'Addario Helicore Pizzicato Light


58.2 61.0 63.0 64.06

D'Addario Helicore Pizzicato Medium


62.0 66.0 67.0 68.06

D'Addario Helicore Pizzicato nickle flat wire wound on 64.0 69.0 70.0 71.06

Heavy carbon steel rope core

Eurosonic Ultra Lightwhite nylon tape wound on steel rope

0.065 0.089 0.100 0.130

Eurosonic Lightwhite nylon tape wound on steel rope

0.069 0.094 0.110 0.142

Eurosonic Mediumwhite nylon tape wound on steel rope

0.075 0.098 0.122 0.150

Innovation 140H HoneysSolid hybrid polymer core with flat steel outer windings burnished to a chrome finish.

Innovation 140B BraidedSynthetic braided core with flat steel outer winding burnished to a chrome finish.

Innovation 140B RockabillySynthetic braided core with outer winding of black nylon tape (smooth finish)

Innovation 140SS Super Silvers

Synthetic braided core with clear nylon outer winding allowing the silver finish to show through. This set is the same tension as the 140B

Innovation 140SLP Silver Slaps

Synthetic braided core with clear nylon outer winding. The 2 top strings have a 'Gut like' finish and the bottom 2 strings have a silver finish. These are a lighter tension than the 140B and 140SS

Innovation 140UB Synthetic braided core with black nylon outer windings these strings are not color coded the silk is black. These are a higher tension set that

suits jazz players.

Jargar DolceFine twisted wire core wound with thin threads of aluminum, copper, or alloy metals

Jargar MediumFine twisted wire core wound with thin threads of aluminum, copper, or alloy metals

0.048 0.064 0.081 0.111

Jargar ForteFine twisted wire core wound with thin threads of aluminum, copper, or alloy metals

0.048 0.060 0.080 0.11019

La Bella Black Nylon Woundblack nylon tape wound, metal rope core

0.063 0.079 0.104 0.13418

LaBella SuperNilG - D Nylon Wnd on Nylon, A - E Silver Plated Wnd on Nylon

0.090 0.117 0.100 0.1221

La Bella GutG - D Plain Gut, A - E Silver Plated Wnd on Gut

0.086 0.107 0.114 0.13516

Lenzner Gut Strings Plain gut 0.083 0.109 0.144 0.1821 Lenzner Gut Strings Plain gut 0.083 0.108 0.142 3 Lenzner Wound Gut Strings Round silver wound gut 0.097 0.1361 Lenzner Wound Gut Strings Round silver wound gut 0.098 0.1383

Lenzner Quintonchromesteel flat wire wound on steel core

0.052 0.078 0.079 0.11213 64.0 67.5 76.3 81.813

Piastro ChordaNo winding for G & D although has some kind of varnish. Silver for A&E

0.080 0.110 0.100 0.14015

Pirastro Eudoxa Silver wrapped gut 0.071 0.079 0.090 0.10816 63.3 62.6 61.1 62.2Piastro Flat Chromesteel Rope core steel string 0.048 0.056 0.074 0.09816

Pirastro Flexocoreflatsteel wire wound on ropecore

0.050 0.061 0.076 0.1008 64.2 63.3 69.0 62.6

Pirastro Jazzer Rope core steel string 0.051 0.069 0.083 0.11116

Pirastro Obligato Soloflatsteel wire wound on synthetic fibre

0.058 0.063 0.080 0.1061

Pirastro Obligato Orchestra flatsteel wire wound on 0.060 0.069 0.088 0.1111 62.6 62.0 62.4 61.3

synthetic fibre

Pirastro Olivflat chromsteel wire wound on gut

0.070 0.085 0.095 0.13515 - G, D, A; 21 - E

60.4 58.0 56.4 57.3

Piastro Original 0.050 0.062 0.088 0.10916

Pirastro Permanentflat wire wound on carbon ropecore

0.053 0.064 0.080 0.10616 63.5 62.4 61.5 60.2

Pirastro Pizzacato Silver plated copper on gut 0.060 0.070 0.085 0.10015 Presto medium nylon tape wound on steel rope 0.075 0.098 0.122 0.150 50.7 57.3 62.8 78.3Presto light nylon tape wound on steel rope 0.069 0.094 0.110 0.142 47.4 51.8 56.2 61.7Presto ultralight nylon tape wound on steel rope 0.065 0.089 0.100 0.130 44.1 44.1 46.3 51.8

Pyramid Aluminum #195round aluminium wire, polished

64.6 49.6 52.5 66.2

Pyramid Gold #198nickel flat wire wound on steel core

55.8 58.4 68.4 67.5

Pyramid Superior #201pure nickel flat wire wound on steel core

55.8 58.4 68.4 67.5

Pyramid Ultraflex #204nickel flat wire wound on cabled steel core

59.5 57.3 62.8 68.4

Pyramid Soloflex #207nickel flat wire wound on a woven steel cable core.

59.5 57.3 62.8 68.4

Pyramid Nylon #217G, D, & A plain nylon, E silver-wrapped nylon

0.098 0.138 0.157 0.173

Pyramid Nylon #218G & D plain nylon, A & E silver-wrapped nylon

0.098 0.138 0.118 0.173

Pyramid Gut #213G, D, & A Plain gut E silver-plated wire wrapped gut

0.083 0.106 0.142 0.154 48.5 48.5 44.1 68.4

Pyramid Gut #214G & D plain gut, A & E Silver-plated wire on plain gut

0.083 0.106 0.114 0.154 48.5 48.5 55.1 68.4

Thomstik-Infield Belcantotwisted steel rope core and chromium winding

0.050 0.062 0.080 0.10410 62.2 63.3 64.4 63.39

Thomstik-Infield Dominant Solo 197

flatsteel wire wound on nylon (monofil)

Thomstik-Infield Dominant flatsteel wire wound on nylon 0.055 0.065 0.085 0.11316 63.9 63.9 66.1 66.17

196 (monofil)Thomstik-Infield Spirocore Solo (tuned down to orchestra pitch) 3886

flatsteel wire wound on steel spiral core

0.044 0.061 0.076 0.10316 56.0 57.8 57.8 57.8

Thomstik-Infield Spirocore Soft (Weich) 3885


0.046 0.063 0.079 0.10716 60.6 61.7 63.9 66.17

Thomstik-Infield Spirocore Medium (Mittel) 3885


0.052 0.070 0.085 0.11116 67.2 68.3 70.5 72.87

Thomstik-Infield Spirocore Solo (tuned down to orchestra pitch) S43


0.044 0.061 0.076 0.10316

Thomstik-Infield Spirocore Soft (Weich) S42


0.046 0.063 0.079 0.10716 56.9 61.1 63.1 65.3

Thomstik-Infield Spirocore Medium (Mittel) S42


0.052 0.070 0.085 0.11116 63.1 67.3 71.7 71.7

Thomstik-Infield Spirocore Heavy (Stark) S42


0.054 0.065 0.090 0.11716 75.9 75.9 77.8 80.0

Thomstik-Infield Superflex solo S43

flatsteel wire wound on steel ropecore

Thomstik-Infield Superflex Orchestra S42


0.052 0.074 0.079 0.10716 67.3 67.3 71.7 71.7

Thomstik-Infield Superflex 2887


0.052 0.074 0.079 0.10716 62.8 66.1 68.3 70.67

Velvet Garbo

polished polyamid wound on silk (G), polished polyamid/copper round wire wound on silk (D), polished copper round wire (A+E) wound on silk

0.092 0.093 0.097 0.11120

Velvet Animapolished round wire wound on silk

0.078 0.081 0.095 0.11016

Velvet Compas 360polished round wire wound on synthetic/mineral fibres

0.065 0.072 0.086 0.10916

Velvet Compas 180polished round wire wound on synthetic/mineral fibres

0.050 0.060 0.070 0.09015

NOTE: Reference number appears next to the original data. Converted data are not referenced directly but should be referred back to the original data. 25.4 mm per inch and 2.205 lb per kg

1. From Bob Gollihur's web site - his measurements2. From Bob Gollihur's web site - Corelli values (scale length not reported)3. From Bob Gollihur's web site - Lenzner values4. J.R. Music Supply5. Jordan Kirkness6. D'addario7. Thomastik-infeld8. www.talkbass.com9. Southwest Strings10. www.talkbass.com11. Jargar strings12. Presto strings (scale length not reported)13. Lenzner strings14. Pyramid-saiten Strings15. Adrian Cho16. www.talkbass.com17. Values calculated by taking string diameter and tension data and determing the effective density of each string; then entered the new pitch or string length in the calculator and determined the new string tension.18. www.talkbass.com19. www.talkbass.com20. www.talkbass.com21. www.talkbass.com

bass string diameters and tensions

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