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Does string thru system makes tonal differences and string tension?
- Thread starter bramhc
- Start date
No and if tension changes, you wouldn't be in tune.
Increased break angle over the saddles can be a benefit in some cases. Some people report changes in string feel and describe it as tension change but it would better to be described as pliability. Some report tighter feel and some looser. There is no consensus. At least that's my observation of opinions brought forward in these discussions here on TB.
Increased break angle over the saddles can be a benefit in some cases. Some people report changes in string feel and describe it as tension change but it would better to be described as pliability. Some report tighter feel and some looser. There is no consensus. At least that's my observation of opinions brought forward in these discussions here on TB.
- Feb 8, 2005
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It changes the location of the witness point, relative to the ball end. This might make a difference, I think it does.
It changes the direction of the force that the string exerts to a more perpendicular angle than does top load. This might make a difference. I doubt it makes much difference, but it's possible I suppose.
As stated, it cannot affect tension. If it did, it would also affect tuning since for a given speaking length (and that is staying constant), increasing one will increase the other and vice versa.
It changes the direction of the force that the string exerts to a more perpendicular angle than does top load. This might make a difference. I doubt it makes much difference, but it's possible I suppose.
As stated, it cannot affect tension. If it did, it would also affect tuning since for a given speaking length (and that is staying constant), increasing one will increase the other and vice versa.
Always an interesting topic. I believe the term is "compliance" and relates to the degree of string movement per X amount of force whether it be the fretting or plucking hand. This ties in with string "afterlength" which does not fall within the string's vibrating path.
Riis
Yep. Compliance. The longer length to the ball frees up more core length and therefore the string can stretch further for the same given force.
Trouble is some people describe the exact opposite effect.
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Turnaround
Commercial User
That is an interesting phenomenon - that some describe the opposite. I have gone to the trouble of actually measuring the "compliance" on a variety of strings with thru-body and thru-bridge configurations, and with varying after lengths at the nut end. And the more string there is past the nut and/or bridge, the more compliant the string is.
I know and your experiments prove to me what I suspected all along. Proof vs. anecdote.
I'm sorry if I am a noob at all of this science thing. Is string tensions gonna be more tight if I add a string tree at, says "E-string" nut?
I may be wrong about this, and someone please correct me if i'm wrong, but if you want tauter strings you should try thicker gauge strings. Thicker gauge strings require more tension, right? Reason being that since they are of larger mass, they need to be tighter to bring them up to pitch. After doing so, you will probably need to adjust intonation.
Turnaround-
"That is an interesting phenomenon - that some describe the opposite. I have gone to the trouble of actually measuring the "compliance" on a variety of strings with thru-body and thru-bridge configurations, and with varying after lengths at the nut end. And the more string there is past the nut and/or bridge, the more compliant the string is."
That's the way to get the right answer..
But how much add'l length (thru-body, inline tuners, etc) is needed to get a 'noticeable' difference?
"That is an interesting phenomenon - that some describe the opposite. I have gone to the trouble of actually measuring the "compliance" on a variety of strings with thru-body and thru-bridge configurations, and with varying after lengths at the nut end. And the more string there is past the nut and/or bridge, the more compliant the string is."
That's the way to get the right answer..
But how much add'l length (thru-body, inline tuners, etc) is needed to get a 'noticeable' difference?
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Turnaround
Commercial User
Well, the difference is measurable, but pretty small. There are those that say they can feel the difference (I can't). But then there are those that say they can feel an increase in tension with added after length, despite the measurements to the contrary. So I tend to think you perceive what you expect regardless of reality.
I have both. The major difference I have found is that a G string that goes straight down through body immediately behind the saddle helps stabilize the G string and eliminated the twang which sometimes happens on plate bridges that are set too far back to give more than necessary room for the E string to intonate. It does this by providing more downforce over the saddle.
On the rest of the strings, it has only marginal, if any, difference on the tone and sustain, because the increased mass of the string takes care of the sustain.
It does not affect tension, because the necessary tension to bring the string to pitch only occurs between the witness points of the nut and bridge saddle, so that does not change. What does change is the downforce over the saddle, depending on the placement and angle of the string anchor, whether top load or body through.
Don't ask me to explain. It would take a significant amount of bandwidth to explain physics vector theory then use trig function to calculate it out.
On the rest of the strings, it has only marginal, if any, difference on the tone and sustain, because the increased mass of the string takes care of the sustain.
It does not affect tension, because the necessary tension to bring the string to pitch only occurs between the witness points of the nut and bridge saddle, so that does not change. What does change is the downforce over the saddle, depending on the placement and angle of the string anchor, whether top load or body through.
Don't ask me to explain. It would take a significant amount of bandwidth to explain physics vector theory then use trig function to calculate it out.
That is correct but it is far easier to move towards hex-core strings. They frequently have a perceptibly increased stiffness due to construction while maintaining comparable string tension. DR offers a few sets of this type as do others.
Riis
