The Truth about Guitar Strings
The truth is that there are only a few factors that make a difference in the science of guitar strings. So what makes them different? With the exception of coatings, mostly Metal Alloy quality and Marketing. Guitar strings are made from metal alloys. Metal alloy is a combination of a metal with at least one other metal or nonmetal material. The combination must be part of a solid solution with another metal or nonmetal in order for it to be considered an alloy. The percentage of nickel that the metal guitar strings are made from and the other additives can differ in quality which can produce different vibrations, therefore, sounding different and lasting for different periods of time. StringTheoryClub strings are made with a very high percentage of USA top grade nickel. That allows us to deliver top quality for less compared to the popular name brand strings and pass the savings on to you!
The Difference is, we bring them right to your doorstep for much less. No driving to the store, no forgetting to get new strings before the gig or rehearsal. Always have a set or two available whenever you need them! Top Quality, Made in the USA, Delivered directly to you for Less!
The Science– As a guitar string vibrates, it sets surrounding air molecules into vibrational motion. The frequency at which these air molecules vibrate is equal to the frequency of vibration of the guitar string. The back and forth vibrations of the surrounding air molecules create a pressure wave that travels outward from its source. This pressure wave consists of compressions and rarefactions. The compressions are regions of high pressure, where the air molecules are compressed into a small region of space. The rarefactions are regions of low pressure, where the air molecules are spread apart. This alternating pattern of compressions and rarefactions is known as a sound wave.
A guitar string vibrating by itself does not produce a very loud sound. The string itself disturbs very little air since its small surface area makes very little contact with surrounding air molecules. However, if the guitar string is attached to a larger object, such as a wooden soundbox, then more air is disturbed. The guitar string forces the soundbox to begin vibrating at the same frequency as the string. The soundbox in turn forces surrounding air molecules into vibrational motion. Because of the large surface area of the soundbox, more air molecules are set into vibrational motion, this produces a more audible sound. (http://www.physicsclassroom.com)
The Construction- A guitar string is the single most important factor affecting guitar performance. Different construction and treatment techniques of guitar strings can have a significant effect on the tone and feel of strings. Here are some of the most common and popular components and techniques used to manufacture electric and acoustic strings.
All electric guitar strings are made using steel, nickel, or other magnetically conductive metal alloys since they’re essential for transmitting string vibrations to the magnetic pickups. The type of plating or coating applied to the steel alloy has a significant impact on the strings’ sound. Here are some general tonal characteristics of the most common types of strings:
- Nickel-Plated Steel: Balanced brightness and warmth with more attack
- Pure Nickel: Less bright than nickel-plated steel with added warmth
- Stainless Steel: Bright, crisp, “edgy” tone with sustain and corrosion resistance. Less prone to finger squeaks.
- Chrome: Warmth with less resonance; often chosen by jazz and blues guitarists
- Titanium: Fairly bright tone with excellent strength
- Cobalt: Wide dynamic range with notable brightness and pickup response
- Polymer-coated: Less sustain than equivalent uncoated strings; corrosion-resistant
- Color-coated: Some coatings have added colorants for visual appeal; tonality varies
Types of String Winding – High E, B, and sometimes G strings are unwound. The other strings have a winding wire wrapped tightly around their cores. The method used to wrap the strings affects both tone and playability as noted below:
- Roundwound: The most popular winding method by far, they have a noticeable ridged texture and produce more sustain, attack, and “bite.” They tend to produce more finger noise and fretboard wear.
- Halfround: (also called groundround): Smoother texture with darker tone and less attack than roundwounds.
- Flatwound: Very smooth touch with flat, dark tone that’s less responsive to picking dynamics. Popular with jazz and blues guitarists.
And there it is! The truth… Try StringTheoryclub.com today!
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