Question about string stiffness.

[Magic Ownz]

So here is my question;

I've read around here (I can't find the thread), that nickel-plated strings are less stiff/more flexible than stainless steel ones given that the strings have the same gauge and same kind of core. The reason was that nickel-plated strings had 3% more mass than the SS ones but that is confusing since the more mass a string has, the more tension they have in the neck.

Can anyone confirm or dismiss the first statement?

[Double Agent]

Based on my experience, string stiffness has little, or nothing, to do with whether the string is nickel or stainless. The biggest factor in determining string stiffness is the gauge of the string, followed by whether it is a hex-core (usually tighter feeling) or a round-core (usually looser feeling).

In other words, if you have two sets of strings that are the same gauge, the hex core will usually feel tighter when tuned to pitch than the round core will. But, if you are using a heavier gauge of round-core strings, they can be tighter than a lower gauged hex-core string.

An example of this would be DR strings...Hi-Beams (stainless) and Sunbeams (nickel) are both round-core and have a looser feel, where Lo-Riders and Lo-Rider Nickels are both hex-core and feel tighter at the same gauge.

[knuckle_head]

There will be a slight difference in tension between full-nickle and stainless, but very little between plated and stainless. We're talking microns of nickel here.

Hex core makes a bit of difference as it has 15 to 18% more material/mass than round core - hex is measured on the flat sides and the six apexes carry that much more material.

The more wraps the stiffer the string.

Another big contributing factor to stiffness is the tension under which the string is made and the tension under which the string is played. The more tension there is in the string's making the more rigid it will be, and if the string at pitch does not exceed the tension the string was made with it will feel even a bit more stiff.