Stalefish Posted March 31, 2004 Report Share Posted March 31, 2004 Helloo.. Here's a question that's been nagging me since the first day I started playing the guitar (well, almost the first day).. Why is it that on 2 guitars with in perfect tune, having the same scale length and exactly the same (type) strings, the apparent tension in the strings feel a lot different (ie one's easier to bend and feels 'slacker' than the other)?? This has been bugging the heck out of me for a long time so I really look forward to knowing why.. Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teknohippy Posted March 31, 2004 Report Share Posted March 31, 2004 Exactly the same bridge type, fingerboard radius and frets as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted March 31, 2004 Report Share Posted March 31, 2004 ya, trem's tend to have a little "give" to them where as hardtail's or tune-o's would seem a bit "harder"... action is also a big factor.... lowering your strings barely a 32nd can have a huge impact on the feel like tek said.. frets make certain styles of playing easier.. radius, is more of a personal pref, maybe one was 12" and the other was 16" and your hands just like the 16" more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john Posted March 31, 2004 Report Share Posted March 31, 2004 im not 100% sure on this one but i think the length between nut and tuner has a impact on tension. by this reasoning, the 1st 2nd and 3rd string should be easier to bend on a 3x3 headstock than on a 6 inline headstock. but im not sure... i think someone mentioned something about it before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teknohippy Posted March 31, 2004 Report Share Posted March 31, 2004 There are so many variables I guess, other than just string mass and scale length. Too many variables I'd say to come up with one overall "clean and tidy" answer to the question. <grins> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darren wilson Posted March 31, 2004 Report Share Posted March 31, 2004 Without knowing more about your guitars, it's hard to come up with a definitive answer. A locking nut (or just high string tension across a standard nut) will make the "feel" when bending appear a bit stiffer, because the strings can't glide across the nut... you're just stretching the string, as opposed to stretching and pulling some of the slack from behind the nut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diehardcrew Posted March 31, 2004 Report Share Posted March 31, 2004 From what I understand the ONLY things that affect string tension are: scale length string gauge tuning (D vs. E, etc.) of course will also change it, but that's more obvious than technical. That's it. Although it's agreed that several other factors can influence the feel and ease of bending, etc. I believe they were all mentioned; string action, locking nut, tremelo system or not, fret sizes/height and fingerboard radius. I suppose on a non-locking nut guitar, the length behind the nut may add or subtract the amount of "give" on the strings when bending, but it doesn not affect string tension whatsoever. Even with a locking nut the string tension is not affected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stalefish Posted April 1, 2004 Author Report Share Posted April 1, 2004 Thanks for the replies, guys.. That was more or less what I was looking for.. Wasn't talking about a guitar in particular.. Just kinda in general.. Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slaughthammer Posted April 1, 2004 Report Share Posted April 1, 2004 but with the same strings and scale you'll need the same tension to bend the same pich, only the way too achieve the tension may vary Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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