¡Obtenga asesoría en español!  Llámenos hoy a (800) 222-4701
(800) 222-4700 Talk to an expert!
Loading Cart
Your Cart Is Empty

See what's new at Sweetwater.

My Cart this.cartQty
Recording Guitar Bass Keyboard Drums Live Sound DJ Band & Orchestra Content Creators Worship

String Tension Factors

Q: I have two guitars that seem pretty similar — same scale length and basic design. But one feels way stiffer than the other. What could cause this?

A: A number of factors can influence guitar or bass string tension, including:

  • Scale length: the longer the scale, the stiffer the strings will feel.
  • String break angle: the strings break at some angle across the bridge and the nut. This angle will influence the tension. With a Tune-o-matic bridge, the tailpiece can often be raised or lowered to change the tension a bit.
  • String gauge: it’s probably obvious, but heavier strings feel tighter than lighter strings.
  • Bridge type: A vibrato tailpiece will have a different tension than a fixed bridge. And a floating bridge will have a different feel than one that is locked down.
  • Fret size: larger frets often make heavier strings feel lighter.
  • Brand and type of strings: strings from different manufacturers feature different constructions and compositions and can feel noticeably different.
  • Neck thickness: the same strings may feel different on a thin neck than on a thick one, because of the way in which your hand grips around the neck and strings.

Offer applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases. Select manufacturers may require that only the manufacturer’s products qualify towards the minimum purchase amount needed to be eligible for promotional financing. Otherwise, an invoice that meets the minimum purchase amount and contains at least one qualifying manufacturer product is eligible for promotional financing. No interest will be charged on promo purchase balance, and equal monthly payments are required on promo purchase until it is paid in full. The payments equal the amount financed divided by the number of months in the promo period, rounded up to the next whole dollar. These payments may be higher than the payments that would be required if this purchase was a non-promo purchase. During the last month(s) of the promo period the required monthly payment may be reduced due to the prior months’ rounding. Regular account terms apply to non-promo purchases. New Accounts as of 07/31/2025: Purchase APR is 34.99%. Penalty APR is 39.99%. Min Interest Charge is $2. Existing cardholders: See your credit card agreement terms. Subject to credit approval.

Offer applies only to single-receipt qualifying purchases. No interest will be charged on the promo balance if you pay it off, in full, within the promo period. If you do not, interest will be charged on the promo balance from the purchase date. The required minimum monthly payments may or may not pay off the promo balance before the end of the promo period, depending on purchase amount, promo length and payment allocation. Regular account terms apply to non-promo purchases and, after promo period ends, to the promo balance. New Accounts as of 07/31/2025: Purchase APR is 34.99%. Penalty APR is 39.99%. Min Interest Charge is $2. Existing cardholders: See your credit card agreement terms. Subject to credit approval.

The estimated required monthly payment shown which excludes taxes and delivery equals the amount financed divided by the number of months in the promo period, rounded up to the next cent. During the last month(s) of the promo period the required monthly payment may be reduced due to this rounding. These payments apply only with the financing offer shown. If you make these payments by the due date each month, you should pay off this amount financed within the promo period, if it is the only balance you are paying off. If you have other balances on your account, this payment will be added to any other minimum monthly payments.

Applies only to select items from this manufacturer. Ask your Sweetwater Sales Engineer for more details.