Mathematically optimised string guage combination

IceCreamMan

Yip its true.

I was given a pack of these....folowing guages

10, 13.5, 17, 25, 34, 46.

D'addario's ....should not make a huge difference as only the normal 13,26 and 36 are marginally different.

Will put them on at some point, if maths can help me then awesome, i need all the help i can get

Malkav

Having played on tension calibrated strings before I honestly think they are better in every way than the regular gauges, I don't think that's what daddario has done here as these gauges are off from the ones I tried but still thinking outside the box is cool.

Unfortunately it's the kind of thing that'll either never catch on or take like 20 years because of the generally close minded and caked in tradition guitar players.

Side note: My bass player currently has a set of tension calibrated Circle K strings on his bass (.158 .118 .090 .067 .051 .037) and they are incredible, honestly the best sounding thing he's ever used, his high C now rings perfectly and audibly with all the other strings and it was honestly one of those volume imbalances I had never noticed until it wasn't an issue any more, now regularly strung six string basses just make me sad because I know that the problem exists ☹

Chocklit_Thunda

Never heard of these before ??? I always thought the regular packs were calibrated and that's why they were the norm....

Keira-WitherKay

Technology is advancing sound gear all the time , so yes if its perfection you seeking then this is a goodtime for you ......

That said often in music its the use of gear that breaks up or offers a subtle imbalance , in the sound that gives us what we perceive as good tone .....

So on one hand technology is fabulous and making guitars/strings/amps closer to scientifically perfect but on the other it could make for a perfect on paper yet sterile tone ....

vic

Keira WitherKay wrote: Technology is advancing sound gear all the time , so yes if its perfection you seeking then this is a goodtime for you ......

That said often in music its the use of gear that breaks up or offers a subtle imbalance , in the sound that gives us what we perceive as good tone .....

So on one hand technology is fabulous and making guitars/strings/amps closer to scientifically perfect but on the other it could make for a perfect on paper yet sterile tone ....

Smiling...thinking back to the early years of electric guitar tone....if the amp distorted it was considered VERY bad....now most players love that ?

AlanRatcliffe

Yup the tech marches on. I saw yesterday that Graph Tech now have a set of calibrated tuning machines - with different gear ratios per string. A half turn on any key equals a semitone on any string.

singemonkey

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Yup the tech marches on. I saw yesterday that Graph Tech now have a set of calibrated tuning machines - with different gear ratios per string. A half turn on any key equals a semitone on any string.

That's clever. What's the advantage meant to be of tension calibrated strings for six string guitar?

AlanRatcliffe

singemonkey wrote: What's the advantage meant to be of tension calibrated strings for six string guitar?

I'm presuming equal tension across strings (at least at standard tuning). But I'm not sure what the real benefits are - they'll still feel different because of the different gauges and sound different because of wound v unwound and differing core sizes on the wound strings.

Norman86

http://www.daddario.com/DADProductDetail.Page?ActiveID=3769&productid=383&productname=EXL110BT_Nickel_Wound__Balanced_Tension_Regular_Light__10_46

I have some of these which i'll be trying when my guitar comes back from setup...

Description
D'Addario EXL110BT Balanced Tension electric guitar sets are comprised of mathematically optimized string gauge combinations, resulting in greater control and playing comfort. Combined with the distinctive bright tone of XL nickel wound strings, each set offers greater dynamic control and a more consistent feel between strings for evenly balanced bending, strumming, fretting, picking, and plucking.

XL Nickel Wound, D'Addario's most popular electric guitar strings, are precision wound with nickelplated steel onto a carefully drawn, hexagonally shaped, high carbon steel core. The result, strings with long lasting, distinctive bright tone and excellent intonation, is ideal for the widest variety of guitars and musical styles.

Balanced Tension sets allow for evenly balanced bending, strumming, fretting, picking, and plucking
Environmentally friendly, corrosion resistant packaging for strings that are always fresh
Made in the U.S.A. for the highest quality and performance
String Gauges: Plain Steel .010, .0135, .017, Nickel Wound .025, .034, .046

Norman86

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Yup the tech marches on. I saw yesterday that Graph Tech now have a set of calibrated tuning machines - with different gear ratios per string. A half turn on any key equals a semitone on any string.

They have been out for a while..
i was sure i posted about the Graphtech Ratio Tuners..

http://www.graphtech.com/products/brands/ratio

But, this begs a new question..
how would using Balanced tension strings along with these balanced ratio tuners work, as im sure the tuners are meant for use with unbalanced tension strings... :-\

Chocklit_Thunda

Norman86 wrote:
Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Yup the tech marches on. I saw yesterday that Graph Tech now have a set of calibrated tuning machines - with different gear ratios per string. A half turn on any key equals a semitone on any string.
They have been out for a while..
i was sure i posted about the Graphtech Ratio Tuners..

http://www.graphtech.com/products/brands/ratio

But, this begs a new question..
how would using Balanced tension strings along with these balanced ratio tuners work, as im sure the tuners are meant for use with unbalanced tension strings... :-\

The world would explode. Simple.
It's the same thing when you have 2 Gibson Explorers on stage playing at the same time. ?

Kalcium

Chocklit_Thunda wrote:
Norman86 wrote:
Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Yup the tech marches on. I saw yesterday that Graph Tech now have a set of calibrated tuning machines - with different gear ratios per string. A half turn on any key equals a semitone on any string.
They have been out for a while..
i was sure i posted about the Graphtech Ratio Tuners..

http://www.graphtech.com/products/brands/ratio

But, this begs a new question..
how would using Balanced tension strings along with these balanced ratio tuners work, as im sure the tuners are meant for use with unbalanced tension strings... :-\
The world would explode. Simple.
It's the same thing when you have 2 Gibson Explorers on stage playing at the same time. ?

Would have to be a big stage...?

IceCreamMan

Chad Adam Browne wrote: Having played on tension calibrated strings before I honestly think they are better in every way than the regular gauges, I don't think that's what daddario has done here as these gauges are off from the ones I tried but still thinking outside the box is cool.

Unfortunately it's the kind of thing that'll either never catch on or take like 20 years because of the generally close minded and caked in tradition guitar players.

Side note: My bass player currently has a set of tension calibrated Circle K strings on his bass (.158 .118 .090 .067 .051 .037) and they are incredible, honestly the best sounding thing he's ever used, his high C now rings perfectly and audibly with all the other strings and it was honestly one of those volume imbalances I had never noticed until it wasn't an issue any more, now regularly strung six string basses just make me sad because I know that the problem exists ☹

ahhh some excellent feedback, thanks ..will pop em on at the next change. Intuitively it makes sense but the proof is in the pudding I guess....

el-guapo

It's times like this I think there should be a "LIKE" button on GFSA ?

[/quote]

The world would explode. Simple.
It's the same thing when you have 2 Gibson Explorers on stage playing at the same time. ?
[/quote]

BMU

The concept of mathematically optimized gauges appeals to my nerdly senses. (Hell, mathematically optimized anything.)

But in practice it's completely insignificant. I play 9's to 46's. I want light at the top heavy at the bottom. Does the logarithmic impurity of this arrangement make any earthly difference to my playing ability? Methinks not.