String tension - what's the goal?

JB Bobbitt · From: California, USA

I get using string tensions to calculate the total tension on the neck, and to balance the signal strengths across the strings, &tc., and that personal preference is a big part of it.

In general, should the tensions be kept very similar across the neck (+/- 2-3 lbs)? Or are tensions adjusted for different strings (plain vs. wound, bass vs. treble, root vs. 3rd, 5th, &tc.)? If so, what's a reasonable variation in string tensions across a neck (3 lbs, 10 lbs)?

Thanks a heap,
-jbb
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Fred Treece · From: California, USA

**No expert on this subject**
The tension variations are not much across a set of strings, within 3-4 lb limit you mention. That’s as important to the way they feel when playing as it is to structural balance, signal strength, tone, intonation, etc. Wound strings with the same tension as plain strings can feel a little loose and floppy, harder to play in tune. String gauges across a set would be very difficult to make so the tension was perfectly balanced (say, 12# per string), especially given different tunings, and scale lengths.

Jeff Highland · From: New South Wales, Australia

Well first considerations would be not getting too heavy for

-string breakage
-neck, bridge etc damage on an acoustic instrument.
-too hard to turn or damage to tuners.
-inability to do behind the bar pulls (if that is part of your technique)

Reasons for not getting too light would include

-volume balance
-poor volume on an acoustic instrument
-the warbly tone you get with a string that's too loose
-the way a loose string bounces on the bar and buzzes, particularly if other strings are tight.
-right hand feel

I don't think there is any absolute right answer for string guage, just a range that works for most people.
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Brian Evans · From: Nova Scotia, Canada

My rule of thumb is 25 to 30 lbs per string. What I'm implying by saying that is that 20 lbs is probably too light, and 35 lbs is probably too heavy. For me, it's probably more about feel under the bar, can I create tone (particularly on the bass strings) and do they intonate OK when I play bar-across chords. I've had situations where a bar across at the 12th fret or higher was just plain out of tune, and I put that down to the strings. But in the light of hindsight, could well have been a combo of just temperament and inharmonicity, and old strings, and learn how to play better. So the tension thing is to get you into a ballpark where things won't be silly.

One of the big advantages of playing tunings like open E, low bass G with an E on the bottom, maybe open D, is that any set of mediums is gonna work just fine. You might want to change the high string to a .015 or .016, but you can play what's in the package.

If you need to tune higher or lower than what the set was designed for I find you can usually get away with one tone up or down (E to D, A to G, A to B, D to E are common changes from regular spanish guitar tuning to vestopol or low bass G or whatever). If you need to tune from E to C (5 notes higher, for a C6 tuning)you really need a different set of strings.

Noah Miller · From: Rocky Hill, CT

When trying out strings for a new tuning, I try to get as even as possible; I've always been able to get less than 2 lbs variation across all the strings.

But this is always just a starting point. On an acoustic steel I will adjust string gauges slightly to even out volume. On acoustic and electric, I frequently find myself going for a heavier gauge string on the bottom regardless of tuning to help keep the bar level. My goal, ultimately, is a mix between comfort in playing and evenness in tone/volume. Your goals may be different.

Joe A. Roberts · From: Seoul, South Korea

On electric instruments at least, I think it doesn’t matter as much as some may think. Consider that in the early days you couldn't buy such a wide variety of string gauges. The strings were almost never gauged and were mostly just bought in complete packs of 6.
Jerry Byrd’s original course recommended tuning the top 3 strings of C6th with the same, standard guitar B string!
Those late 40s Jerry Byrd records on the Mercury label sure don’t sound like theres a lack of string balance or he’s struggling with uneven feel with those 3 B strings Wink

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

What gauge strings did Jerry Byrd suggest using when a wider variety became more available?

We all know he could have used shoelaces on his guitars and made them sound good. But he probably used the best and most balanced strings he could get his hands on.

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