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String Tension
06/18/2009

Q: How come the same brand, gauge, and type of strings feel stiffer or less stiff on different guitars?

A: There are a number of factors that determine the tension of the strings and how they feel on a given guitar or bass:

  • String gauge

  • String materials

  • The ratio between string core and wrap

  • Scale length

  • The break angle of the string at the nut and the bridge

  • Amount of neck relief

  • Action

Our friends at D'Addario have a very useful chart on their site that covers the tensions for a wide array of strings of various types. It's a big help if you want to maintain the same tension when using alternate tunings, for example.



Other Techtips from June 2009:
June 30 - Fast PT Window Switching
June 26 - Using Returns and Inserts
June 25 - Multiple Limiters
June 24 - Happy New Amp Day!
June 23 - In the Loop
June 22 - When Mismatched Speakers Make a Perfect Pair
June 19 - Use the Room
June 18 - String Tension
June 17 - StealthPedal Drivers
June 16 - Setting Tremolo Angle
June 15 - No Crack Guitar Drilling
June 12 - Hanging Foam
June 11 - Non-exact Doubles
June 10 - Body Sizes
June 09 - Save It All
June 08 - Cool Tool Alert
June 05 - Guitar Weight
June 04 - Creating a PDF of a Sibelius Score
June 03 - Staying Alive While Modding Amplifiers
June 02 - MIDI Connections
June 01 - APC and Ableton
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