String Tension

It wasn't me!

Short of heavier strings, what can I do to increase my string tension? I have a seven-string currently packing 11's, which ideally I'd like to change to 10's, but also don't like how loose the strings are as is, so want to increase the tension. Is there any way I can use lower guage strings and have higher tension?

deaddonkey

It wasn't me! wrote:

I have a seven-string currently packing 11's, which ideally I'd like to change to 10's, but also don't like how loose the strings are as is, so want to increase the tension.

just... why? i can't comprehend why you'd think to go down a gauge and up tension? it's close to the most ridiculous thing i've ever heard.

unless you tune way up, no, it is not possible. 90% of the point of changing gauge is to change the tension, they go hand in hand together, it's a mathematical formula.

heavier strings = higher tension to acheive same pitch

you can't change gauge without changing tension at the same pitch, just doesn't happen, not physically possible. end of.

feylya

No. 3 things affect tension - pitch, length and thickness of the string. Decrease one and the tension decreases.

It wasn't me!

So I'll have to go to 12s for any decent tension?

feylya

Or tune up or get a longer scale, yes. That said, there is a difference between string manufacturers. I've found Blue Steels to be very tight

Dord

what do you tune to?

It wasn't me!

I'd be looking to tune to standard BEADGBe.

david

Does the wrap around tailpiece thing ala zakk wylde apparantly inc sustain or tension?

It wasn't me!

string-thru body.

Doctor J

No. Pitch and tension are determined by what happens between the nut and the bridge, not outside of them.

Voodu Child

freakonaleashx wrote:

Does the wrap around tailpiece thing ala zakk wylde apparantly inc sustain or tension?

You wont increase tension without changing
a) The vibrating length of the string (ie nut to saddle)
b) Pitch
c) Mass/unit length (ie guage)

Its a common misconception that a reverse headstock will change string tension (or hendrix style stringing). It won't.

It wasn't me!

voodoo_child wrote:

Its a common misconception that a reverse headstock will change string tension (or hendrix style stringing). It won't.

I had never heard that. There any logic behind it? I was afraid of this, looks like I'll have to go up to 12's so. Not much room for bending...

Doctor J

But if you want to bend, why do you want higher tension? Higher tension means harder to bend

Voodu Child

It wasn't me! wrote:

I had never heard that. There any logic behind it? I was afraid of this, looks like I'll have to go up to 12's so. Not much room for bending...

Its a pretty common thing to hear. Hendrix nuts used to go on about it being part of the 'mythical' Hendrix tone - ie the low E had a higher tension because he was stringing it backwards.

It changes the way a string feels (a longer string has more stretch in it),but so long as those 3 things above don't change, the actual tension is fixed.

It wasn't me!

Doctor J wrote:

But if you want to bend, why do you want higher tension? Higher tension means harder to bend

I want higher tension in the low end, bottom just feels a little loose for my style, but find it fine in the higher strings.

feylya

Then get a set of strings with thicker bass strings... That's the way I have my guitars set up.

Doctor J

What he said. Different string sets have different guage strings from string to string. Not all sets of 10's have the same gauges for the heavier strings.

Karl Hungus

Try a set of GHS Boomers for 7 Strings: http://www.thomann.de/ie/ghs_gb7lm_boomers_egitarrensaiten.htm

I think that'll be exactly what you're looking for. The low B string is bigger than most sets, so as far as 10's go:

GHS 10 - 60
Ernie Ball 10 - 56

Even on Ernie Ball 11's, the low B is a 58, so you should have much more tension there, relatively speaking. So that my friend, is how you'll get a lighter guage, but have a higher tension for your B.

Johnny Storm

It might be worth checking out these guy's "Drop D" strings:-
http://www.newtonestrings.com/electric_page.htm

They supposedly use thicker core wire on the 6th string to allow higher tension at low tunings.
I've never used them but I have read good things about their double ball-end strings.
They mention on their site that wound strings with hexagonal core wire has a higher tension than the same gauge string with round core wire :eek:

Karl Hungus

Johnny Storm wrote:

It might be worth checking out these guy's "Drop D" strings:-
http://www.newtonestrings.com/electric_page.htm

They supposedly use thicker core wire on the 6th string to allow higher tension at low tunings.
I've never used them but I have read good things about their double ball-end strings.
They mention on their site that wound strings with hexagonal core wire has a higher tension than the same gauge string with round core wire :eek:

None of those strings are for 7 String guitars though.

Johnny Storm

Good point!

I'm totally grasping at straws here but I have read Newtone will make you custom strings as long as you buy a minimum of 5 or 10 sets. So if all else fails it could be an option.

It wasn't me!

Karl Hungus wrote:

Try a set of GHS Boomers for 7 Strings: http://www.thomann.de/ie/ghs_gb7lm_boomers_egitarrensaiten.htm

I think that'll be exactly what you're looking for. The low B string is bigger than most sets, so as far as 10's go:

GHS 10 - 60
Ernie Ball 10 - 56

Even on Ernie Ball 11's, the low B is a 58, so you should have much more tension there, relatively speaking. So that my friend, is how you'll get a lighter guage, but have a higher tension for your B.

Actually ordered a few sets of Seven String Power Slinky's last night from Thomann, couldn't find any on eBay, so I shall see how they feel when they get here anyway.