Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: Low tension strings

  1. #1
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Devon, UK
    Posts
    21

    Default Low tension strings

    are there any brands of strings that are low tension along the lines of silk and steel or newtone heritage guitar strings?

  2. #2
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    S.W. Wisconsin
    Posts
    7,507

    Default Re: Low tension strings

    GHS makes silk and steel, but their silk and bronze sound much better.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  3. The following members say thank you to pops1 for this post:


  4. #3
    Registered User Tom Wright's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Rockville, MD
    Posts
    1,919
    Blog Entries
    7

    Default Re: Low tension strings

    You can always buy strings of your chosen gauge by purchasing separate strings. For example, Juststrings.com sells D'Addario phosphor-bronze loop end strings in gauges from .018 up to .092, mostly in increments of .002". (Don't look in "mandolin-family", where they only offer a few sizes---just look in "loop end strings".) It does cost rather more than buying pre-selected sets.

    I buy D'Addario plain steel for my unwound, and their phosphor bronze (in ball-end). Simply look at the gauges listed for a familiar set like EJ74, and reduce the number by a couple thousandths on each string. Or, you can go to Graham McDonald's string tension calculator to try various gauges at your scale length. Plug in the standard ones, and try some other values to see how the tension is lowered.

    I use rather lower tension than most players, preferring a .010 or .009 for the E, and .034 or so for the G.
    Bandcamp -- https://tomwright1.bandcamp.com/
    Videos--YouTube
    Sound Clips--SoundCloud
    The viola is proof that man is not rational

  5. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Tom Wright For This Useful Post:


  6. #4
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Monterey CA
    Posts
    132

    Default Re: Low tension strings

    There is confusion here between string gauges and string tension. String technology is changing fast, I haven't seen a set of low tension Mando strings yet but I bet I could assemble for Mando. A set of proper tensioned strings puts proper even pressure on the top, it's really an amazing thing. You can google this, much info out there...two manufactures in the guitar world are SCGC and Straight up

  7. #5
    Registered User Tom Wright's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Rockville, MD
    Posts
    1,919
    Blog Entries
    7

    Default Re: Low tension strings

    As long as one uses steel-wire-core strings the tension per string will follow expected values as predicted by Graham's calculator. When the core is different, or the string is lower mass for a given gauge, tension will be different, but so will tone. A fiber-core classical guitar string is very low tension at the same gauge as a bronze-wound steel-core string.

    The thing about Straight-Up Strings distributing load across the top is not well-supported engineering, more like belief as far as I can see. The main thing is which particular string at which position sounds good on your particular instrument. The sets of strings are chosen to work for a broad collection of familiar instrument styles, so it's fine to start there, but it's not expensive to try the plain strings to see which gauge you prefer for your A and E courses. Bronze wound strings are usually a bit over $2 each, so you do pony up more to experiment. A small cost compared to the instrument, and well worth exploring.
    Bandcamp -- https://tomwright1.bandcamp.com/
    Videos--YouTube
    Sound Clips--SoundCloud
    The viola is proof that man is not rational

  8. The following members say thank you to Tom Wright for this post:


  9. #6
    Mangler of Tunes OneChordTrick's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2017
    Location
    Oxfordshire, England
    Posts
    656

    Default Re: Low tension strings

    Why not drop Newtone an e-mail? They were very helpful when I contacted them.

  10. #7
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Devon, UK
    Posts
    21

    Default Re: Low tension strings

    Quote Originally Posted by OneChordTrick View Post
    Why not drop Newtone an e-mail? They were very helpful when I contacted them.
    that never occurred to me, I will do just that.

  11. #8
    Registered User mandobassman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Delran, NJ
    Posts
    2,921

    Default Re: Low tension strings

    Quote Originally Posted by pops1 View Post
    GHS makes silk and steel, but their silk and bronze sound much better.
    But I would not at all consider them low tension.
    Larry Hunsberger

    2013 J Bovier A5 Special w/ToneGard
    D'Addario FW-74 flatwound strings
    1909 Weymann&Sons bowlback
    1919 Weymann&Sons mandolute
    Ibanez PF5
    1993 Oriente HO-20 hybrid double bass
    3/4 guitar converted to octave mandolin

  12. #9
    Registered User
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    S.W. Wisconsin
    Posts
    7,507

    Default Re: Low tension strings

    Quote Originally Posted by mandobassman View Post
    But I would not at all consider them low tension.
    The OP ask about silk and steel. Either is lower tension than regular Phosphor bronze in the same gauge, and tension would definitely depend on gauge.
    THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE JUST FOR YOUR SMILE!

  13. #10
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2002
    Location
    Outer Spiral Arm, of Galaxy, NW Oregon.
    Posts
    17,103

    Default Re: Low tension strings

    A thinner string reaches pitch at a lower tension.. It's Physics ..

    measure, go by the numbers rather than brand,
    since music wire steel is consistent, across the many companies ,
    they do the winding of the lower strings and packaging..

    Core wire carries the tension, winding wire adds mass so it will vibrate at a lower pitch,
    on your D & G.


    IMHO ..
    writing about music
    is like dancing,
    about architecture

  14. The following members say thank you to mandroid for this post:


Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •