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Many people assume and/or confuse a string’s “slinkiness” (aka: compliance) as being the same as tension, which is a big source of confusion and folklore on the Internet especially.

Thoughts like; “These are really slinky strings. They must be really low tension”, are a gross generalization, but would be totally right if referring to compliance only. When someone says “travel” in reverence to string bending, that’s a pretty good word to describe how compliant a string is too.

Being clearer still; it’s not gauge that determines tension. Technically, it’s the mass of the string itself in a plain wire, or in a wrapped string, it’s the mass of the core wire, which is generally thicker in a heavier gauge, but not always. This is the reason why it is possible to make a low tension bass string. Core wires of the same composite mass, have identical tensions regardless of shape. That is fact - Not opinion. It’s the core wire that is held under tension and brings the string to pitch - Not the outer wrap. If you debate this, try this: Pull on the outer wrap of a string. It will unravel!

What Is The Definitive Way To Determine Tension On Strings?
Measure end to end on a cable meter that will gauge it with the string strung to pitch and to scale length. This is something that is largely privy to industrial engineering, not guitarists. If you attempt to measure tension on a strung guitar by using a meter that pulls laterally on a string, you are getting a very biased reading due to compliance, or a string’s lack of compliance.

Everything else being equal, two major factors that bias that reading are as follows:
1. String Compliance - If you bend a less compliant string (i.e. hex core wire, or an outer wrap) it’s going to skew the measurement.
2. Leverage - It gets easier to bend a string as you approach the mid-point of the fretboard’s length. As mentioned above; “Travel”.

In plain wire, it’s simply the gauge, but a wrapped string is inherently stiffer (less compliant) then a plain string of the same gauge. Round wound wrap is more compliant than flat wound wrap because of the tightness of the spacing of the wrap in flat wounds, which while making the string smoother to the touch, is actually increasing the rigidity of the string, while round wound strings generally have less outer wrap on the string core and are more compliant.

For great deals on Pyramid Strings, go to: The String Guy

For guitarists who are iPhone users, I highly recommend the Peterson Strobosoft guitar tuner download for an incredible $9.99. This is the same precision tuner in their stomp box and it’s fantastic. Add the 1/4″ adaptor jack for electrics and this is the tool to have (IMHO).

I can’t recommend it any higher. It’s simply the best!

The Strobosoft is a stripped version, but the tuner engine is identical to the stomp-box. The sensitivity even without the 1/4″ jack is excellent. It has a noise filter, pitch adjustment and boost. The accuracy of a strobe tuner beats any chromatic tuner. I’d suggest Peterson Strobosoft sets the bar as being the maker of the best strobe tuners on the market. Their strobe program, or as I say “engine”, is the same regardless of whether it’s burnt onto the chip set in a stomp box, or as a download on your iPhone - Meaning the actual tuning program itself. Most of these programs are compiled in C++ as EXE files then burned to a chip set. It’s the same, just with a smaller add on library - No alt tunings. It’s theses features that are stripped out of this basic program, but as far as performing the task as a tuner, it’s second to none and is easily up to the task of more demanding work like setups (IMHO).

As for digital VS analog, I’d suggest that argument was certainly relevant a few years ago. Today’s D/A converters are vastly improved.

This is my new favourite iPhone App!

For great deals on Pyramid Strings, go to: The String Guy

It’s this time of year as the seasons change towards the warm summer months that humidity increases causing guitars to go sharp as the necks wow and the tops raise. Ideal humidity is 40-50% with no quick swings.

Often this is when a truss needs loosened slightly, but it should be checked by a pro.

Many shops do not temper the nut and file the slots to proper height. In my opinion, factory nuts are always set too high causing notes to be sharp right off the first fret. Without properly filing a nut everything else is compromised. Saddles are always too high too.

Adjust as follows:
1. Truss
2. Nut
3. Saddle

The biggest factor on intonation on fixed saddle acoustics is bridge height.

You should pick a set of strings you like, then adjust the truss, nut and saddle in that order and be done with it (minus any integrity issues like fretwork and bridge plate lift etc..) Compensated saddles on a six are typically only done on a B. Some don’t even need it.

Take your guitar to a good tech and you’ll be pleased. Getting a free opinion from a decent guitar tech will tell you more and if the tech is good he’ll tell you what the solution is and what the price is too to fix it.

Remember these points too:
1. You can’t properly set intonation with a guitar on a bench! It has to be in player position.
2. Wedging the nut to correct intonation at the 12 fret will not only shorten scale, but it will make your note on the first fret go sharp.

When you set up guitars, I’d suggest that you should be a lot more concerned about how good tuning is in first position than at the 12 fret. You want to temper the tuning and pay close attention to how good you can get tuning in common positions - ESP. The first three frets (1st position).

Every action has a reaction, so they say….

For great deals on Pyramid Strings, go to: The String Guy

Polished Nylon ensures classical strings are precision round and a precise diameter over the entire string. This ensures the musician can play in perfect fifths across larger diameters.

Fluro-Carbon has a higher density compared to nylon, so a carbon string provides a smaller diameter, which reduces stiffness, and increases vibration. This emphasizes upper harmonics, thus gives a more brilliant timbre.

Plain and polished Carbon strings show the same behavior of nylon strings, but polished Carbon strings are more sensitive to sharp-edged bridges and nuts.

The Results: The durability of Pyramid’s Nylon strings are excellent while the Fluro-Carbon line offers a more brilliant timbre in classical guitar performance.

For great deals on Pyramid Strings, go to: The String Guy

Alec Fraser, who plays bass in The Jeff Healey Band and Broken Joe had this to say when he put on Pyramid Strings Gold Nickel Flatwound strings:

“The Pyramid Gold Nickel Flatwound bass strings have the best tone I have ever had on the P bass. and they feel great  on the fingers too!

For great deals on Pyramid Strings, go to: The String Guy

In Vintage Guitar magazine’s current May 2007 issue on page 94, Santos Hernades is quoted as follows: “The best strings are German…. bass strings are made with silver wire wound around a twisted core of very fine silk threads… It’s strange,” finishes Santos, but in Germany where they don’t know anything about flamenco, they make the best bass (strings)”

We have Pyramid Super Classics in stock. Pyramid strings was established in Germany in 1850. For more info, go to: http://www.thestringguy.com/classics.html

Vintage Guitar magazine’s writer R.E. Brune begins his colum by saying that Sanotos Hernandes is considered by many authorities to be the greatest guitar maker of the 20th century. The article askes Mr. Hernandes about the fine art of classical guitar construction from the selection of woods, assembly and the best strings to use.

For great deals on Pyramid Strings, go to: The String Guy

Dean Farley, Artist, Innovator (founder of Scalar Strings) Vintage Guitar Magazine editor 25^th September 1998 on alt.music.byrds

“I can hardly say that I am surprised that Roger McGuinn has been using the Pyramid Gold Flatwound Strings on his electric 12-string guitar!! In reality, these strings are the only choice for anyone who strives for the “real deal” in strings and wants the ultimate tone and longevity. I have used Pyramid Strings on my own instruments and they are my choice for getting the great sounds that I demand from my instruments. If Pyramids were not available, I would STOP playing guitar! They are that GREAT! Their life is nothing short of amazing and the tone and feel make any guitar feel very sensual and warm.”

For great deals on Pyramid Strings, go to: The String Guy

Thanks goes to Nick Martellaro for the use of his excellent vertor graphics for www.thestringguy.com. What a cool logo!

 Together with Kyle Campbell, who edited the animation, it looks great!

 The String Guy and its other domains www.flatwounds.com and www.roundwounds.com thank you!

The String Guy

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To give you a better price, TheStringGuy.com prefers to buy product direct from the manufacturer. For example, importing Pyramid Strings direct from Germany into Canada, I offer great prices on their legendary strings. Compare me to others and enjoy the savings!

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Best Regards,

Brian Johnson

The String Guy

Pyramid has been manufacturing strings for over 150 years in Germany. While many think first of guitar as the obvious stringed instrument, Pyramid makes strings for all kinds of musical instruments!

By combining the latest in technology to provide consistency in production standards with the time honoured tradition of craftsmanship, and quality control, Pyramid produces some of the finest quality strings you can buy for any instrument.