What is the ideal string tension of a bass guitar?
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African or European?
(Sorry, it is just how the parlance of meaning of reading your inquiry came across.)
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I don’t know that there is an ideal string tension. Almost all string manufacturers list the tension of their strings on their packaging and on their websites.
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There’s a lot of variables. What kind of core does the string have? Hex core will be inherently stuffer than a round core string. Flats have more tension then rounds. Heavier gauge strings have more tension than lighter gauge when tuned to the same pitch. Short scale basses have less tension than long scale.
Play what’s comfortable. Stevie Ray Vaughn played heavy gauge strings with high action. BB King thought that was too much work and played light gauge strings.
No right or wrong answer but a lot of choices
LaBella Deep Talking Flats are fairly high tension but sound great, they make a Low Tension flat by switching from hex to round core and making them lighter gauge but you get more mid tone harmonics. Choices
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Depending on the bass and genres, and most importantly my the mood I’m in, 
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Unicorn hair or Dragon heartstring?
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When it’s in tune = just right.
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Which tuning? Eb, drop D, C?
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Which ever tuning the music requires, I copy other peoples songs, so what they wrote it in, what else would one need to know?
String tension = why would it matter?
Focus on playing the bass is the important aspect for your attention.
Tune it up and get busy playing.
If you don’t know by now, perhaps getting some more time under your fingers will show you
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Yeah so I don’t know jack shit about string tension other than what I like.
But one thing I do know is that I’m not going to try to tell someone that a factor like string tension that clearly does matter (and can change the feel of an instrument quite a bit) doesn’t really matter.
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Maybe I’ll eat every chicken in the place.
Hahaha, now go play some bass… 
What’s your three favored songs you have played today?
I’m always looking for new material.
Thanks for the answers everybody.
- Kabalaean.
Not as if you had anything to do with the bass topic. - Since I restringed the guitar I find the strings extremely tight. I hardly can push them down. It worked fine with my previous set up. I use Rotosound 65-115 black strings. I might made a mistake with that?
- I cannot tune the thick E string in any of my basses. I changed the cables, changed the tuners, and I was tampering with the combo, but nothing. It won’t display anything for E string whatever I am doing with it. Suddenly it started with F but when I carry on, then nothing. Empty screen. I have never met this before. Any idea? Thank you very much the chat for everyone. From Kabala-Mamba.
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Did you use the same gauge? That’s a pretty heavy gauge. It’s like my light 5 string gauge. Not only it would effect the tension, larger gauge than previous set may requires another setup to the nut slot and definitely neck relief.
Is it important? Yes
Tension affects the way you play. Too low/ light gives out the trampoline effects and requires lighter touch for wild volume swing as the string oscillates more but it easy to bend. I have this on several of my basses because I like the ability to feel my way through the songs. Most short scales give you the light tension by default. That’s why it’s so much fund playing in many genres from funk to R&B on a short scale. Same goes for medium scale 32” 45-105 because it’s often share the same standard length as the regular string, unless you are getting a specific medium scale string set, which is pretty rare.
Tight tensions in the nutshell are great for pickers and harder pluggers they offer great feedback and appropriate articulation for the style. Tighter tension also favor by people who drop tuning so it’s retain proper tension, needless to say if you are doing alternate tuning it’s a must I actually have the 65-115 on my B E A D tuning bass. It’s my light tuning.
Specialty bass designs like MultiScale offers pretty awesome and proper tension specific to each string as the low string are longer than the high string by as much as 2 inches. You also get much better tone on a low B.
Of course the more you play the more sensitive you are to tension. We’re creatures of habits and we want the way we want. String heights and tensions are the first gateway to the wonderful world of OCDs, Wait til you get obsessed with the string spacing 
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Argh. Thank you. I was not sure about it. I wanted to use a coal core string because that is easier to play. I am going to restring to a Daddario EXL165 45-105, then I will see what is the result.
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