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String Tension: Wound vs Unwound.

Posted by Tom T on April 3, 2017 at 9:56am in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

I know there are plenty of online string tension calculators, but they usually specify wound or unwound as part of the calculation. A 0.026" string tuned to G2 (the G on a six string at standard tuning) is about 35 lbs and specified as "wound". Now, I can get 0.026 unwound strings and would like to swap out the wound 26 for an unwound 26.The question is "what is the string tension of an unwound string tuned to G2 on a 25" scale?

Since the inner wire of a wound string is smaller that 0.026" I assume it would reach tune at a lower tension than a larger wire (0.026 unwound". Problem is, I haven't found any information on this.

Anyone know how this would be calculated?

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Replies

  • Paul Craig April 3, 2017 at 4:40pm

    http://www.daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf

    I found this. You might find what your looking for in all that.

    • Tom T > Paul Craig April 3, 2017 at 5:06pm

      Thanks, Paul.

      I had found that chart, but it is a bear to read. Maybe my screen just can handle it.

      I think the String Tension Pro web site is close to what I need.

      • Paul Craig > Tom T April 3, 2017 at 5:47pm

        Information overload. It was a bit much. LOL

  • Tom T April 3, 2017 at 3:18pm

    Thanks ChickenBone, Wayfinder.

    I was thinking of the plain string mainly for slide playing.

    I was able to go over to www.StringTensionPro.com and play around with strings. I started with the A'ddario Phospor Bronze acoustic light set which has a 0.024" wound G string. At a scale of 25.5 it is listed to have 30.06 lbs of tension. Using their on line app, I was able to swap out the wound 0.024 for a High Carbon Steel 0.024 plain string. The tension calculation for this was 33.04 lbs. that's about a 10% increase in tension going from the wound to the plain. I don't think that gets into the "scary" tight range, so I may give it a test to see how it sounds and how it affects slide noise.

    I'll pass along the findings when I get some strings.

    Thanks for the help.

    BTW, that StringTensionPro web site is amazing for doing "What if" kind of things.

  • ChickenboneJohn April 3, 2017 at 10:32am

    My personal observation is that plains of the same gauge as a wound, at the same note, feel quite a lot stiffer. I also find that heavy plains under lot of tension sound quite dead, and don't seem to sustain as well as the equivalent wound string. Maybe that's just my perception, but there's no arguing with the physics of the actual tensions exerted.  From the  d'Addario tension charts (I use d'Addarios a lot, but not exclusively) the figures are 32.8 lbs for a wound .026 , and 38.7 lbs  for a plain .026. These figures are for a 25 1/2 inch scale, nickel wounds.

    This is nearly 20% more tension for a plain string, so you can expect to feel that difference quite clearly..which may be a good or bad thing, depending on what you are looking for.

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