Simviation Forum - Guitar string tension question

	Search the archive:

Simviation Main Site | Site Search | Upload Images

Simviation Forum › General › Music, Arts & Entertainment › Guitar string tension question

(Moderators: Mitch., Fly2e, ozzy72, beaky, Clipper, JBaymore, Bob70, BigTruck)

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

Pages: 1

Guitar string tension question (Read 1047 times)

Mar 10^th, 2011 at 3:33pm

Apex Offline
Colonel
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Posts: 732

OK, any takers on this one? It's not a music-related question, just simple physics or whatever.

> Given the exact same set of strings gauge-wise on two different guitar scale lengths, for example, short (24.00") and long (25.5"), both tuned to A=440, which set has the higher string tension?

I oughta know this one, I've played all sorts of guitars, but don't have a clue.

IP Logged

Reply #1 - Mar 10^th, 2011 at 3:49pm

Steve M Offline
Colonel
Cambridge On.

Gender:
Posts: 4097

I would have thought they would be equal when tuned to 440Hz but the longer neck would have more stress on it?

Flying with twins is a lot of fun..

IP Logged

Reply #2 - Mar 10^th, 2011 at 7:46pm

patchz Offline
Colonel
What, me worry?
IN THE FUNNY PAPERS

Gender:
Posts: 10589

I agree with Steve, the longer neck should have more tension. But I'm much better at playing guitar than I am at physics. Roll Eyes

If God intended aircraft engines to have horizontally opposed engines, Pratt and Whitney would have made them that way.

IP Logged

Reply #3 - Mar 11^th, 2011 at 1:16pm

Apex Offline
Colonel
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Posts: 732

Well, I needed a fun brain teaser. Logically the long scale should have the higher tension, but we seem to not be sure about that.

My ex-drummer, who is a math super-whiz and now plays guitar and knows a lot about guitar necks etc., did not know this one.

IP Logged

Reply #4 - Mar 13^th, 2011 at 12:58pm

Groundbound1 Offline
Colonel
No, I don't work for Mythbusters...
Michigan, USA

Gender:
Posts: 1745

If you're getting the same notes out of both, the sting tension should be the same I'd think. Higher tension, results in higher pitch.

Specs: Asus Crosshair nForce 590 SLI,
AMD Athlon X2 6400+ w/ZeroTherm BTF90,
4GB G.Skill PI Series DDR2-800,
Sapphire HD4870 512MB,
PC P&C 750 Quad, in a CoolerMaster HAF932

IP Logged

Reply #5 - Mar 13^th, 2011 at 5:40pm

Apex Offline
Colonel
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Posts: 732

www.mcdonaldstrings.com/stringxxiii.html

Looks like given a constant pitch, the longer the scale, the higher the tension.

Some scale length stuff:
Gibson is typically 24.75", Les Pauls, SG's, etc.
Fender Jaguar = 24.00, Strats & Jazzmasters 25.5.
PRS = 25 1/8 I think, maybe some variations.

Your typical or standard classical guitar length scale is 650mm.

I once had an Ovation electric nylon string acoustic with a 670mm scale, the longest scale I've ever played. That particular guitar was a real tear-jerker: Even with that long scale, the playability, at least in my hands, was incredible, the best neck I've ever played anywhere. Unfortunately, it just didn't sound good and I eventually traded it off.

The reason this all came up, outside of the brain teaser thing, is that my ex-drummer, who now plays guitar, re-fitted his Strat with a custom Warmoth neck, 24.75" scale, and I have been recalling my years-ago past search for the ideal neck for myself (It turned out to be my Jackson SLSMG (Strat shape, sorta), but I re-fitted the nut to get extra string spacing, and touche, what a neck.

OK, well, so much for that. Thanks y'awl!

IP Logged

Reply #6 - Mar 13^th, 2011 at 6:26pm

Steve M Offline
Colonel
Cambridge On.

Gender:
Posts: 4097

I would still argue that the tension of the string between the bridge and the nut need to be equal because we measure string tuning tension in Hz. The footpounds (or kilograms) of tension only would incorporate the neck and bridge from the body to the tuning pegs. The bits under the strings. I am likely wrong again. Roll Eyes

I do think a longer string will resonate for a longer time.

Flying with twins is a lot of fun..

IP Logged

Reply #7 - Mar 18^th, 2011 at 5:22am

BigTruck Offline
Global Moderator
Former Sergeant of Marines
Tuscaloosa, AL

Gender:
Posts: 7161

I say forget the strings and go straight Peter Frampton with the voice thingy
Cool

IP Logged

Reply #8 - Mar 18^th, 2011 at 9:53pm

patchz Offline
Colonel
What, me worry?
IN THE FUNNY PAPERS

Gender:
Posts: 10589

BigTruck wrote on Mar 18^th, 2011 at 5:22am:

I say forget the strings and go straight Peter Frampton with the voice thingy
Cool

It's not as easy as you might think, especially when trying to match it to the riff you are playing on the guitar, trust me. Roll Eyes

If God intended aircraft engines to have horizontally opposed engines, Pratt and Whitney would have made them that way.

IP Logged

Pages: 1

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

« Home

‹ Board

Top of this page