Half rounds vs roundwound string tension

[asahisuperdry]

If you have a nickel roundwound and a half round string of the same gauge, which has more tension? Suppose it's the same brand, if that is important.

Thank you.

 

[Gorn]

The halfrounds.

 

[Mikhail1]

Like Gorn said, mainly because you start out with a larger gauge which are ground down to size.

 

[sdgrfan]

D'Addario has nice comparison charts on their website where you can compare the different strings tensions from type to type and gage size. Flatwounds, according to them have the most tension, with roundwounds having the least.

 

[Jon Moody]

Like Gorn said, mainly because you start out with a larger gauge which are ground down to size.

This is correct. And they're really not grinding down an awful lot, either. For a finished gauge .105, you would have something around a .110 or .112 prior to grinding. Going from pre-grind to post-grind is really only a 5-6% difference, not a lot.

 

[asahisuperdry]

This is correct. And they're really not grinding down an awful lot, either. For a finished gauge .105, you would have something around a .110 or .112 prior to grinding. Going from pre-grind to post-grind is really only a 5-6% difference, not a lot.

Could that possibly contribute to discomfort, switching tension/gauges, in the fingers?

 

[Jon Moody]

Could that possibly contribute to discomfort, switching tension/gauges, in the fingers?

Of course it could. That's why many, when reading threads about players going from roundwounds to flatwounds, suggest them going lighter on the flats to keep the same feel. I suggest the same with groundwounds.

 

[ZenG]

^^^^

What he said...

Personally I find that "digging in" the pluck with fingers on flats is harder on the fingers than rounds because the flats are generally stiffer. So I end up having to go a lighter touch on most flats.