Blancas / negras and string tension

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mrstwinkle

Posts: 551
Joined: May 14 2017

Blancas / negras and string tension

Curious on thoughts on this. Do negras have inherently different pulsacion or inherent rigidity which in turn means they really -need- higher tension to drive them?

My Sanchis Carpio blana sounds best with regular classical normal tension strings. Any negra I've ever tested has high tension fitted, and the couple I've changed strings on sound awful with regular tension.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 31 2019 16:03:56

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 31 2019 19:33:31

constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1674
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: Blancas / negras and string tension (in reply to mrstwinkle)

Are the scale lengths (string lengths) the same? I think that is important for comparing required string tensions. A longer string length might require a lower tension to be comparable to a shorter string length.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 1 2019 21:41:25

Ricardo

Posts: 14799
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Blancas / negras and string tension (in reply to mrstwinkle)

quote:

Do negras have inherently different pulsacion or inherent rigidity which in turn means they really -need- higher tension to drive them?

No.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 2 2019 0:27:53

Echi

Posts: 1132
Joined: Jan. 11 2013

RE: Blancas / negras and string tension (in reply to mrstwinkle)

quote:

A longer string length might require a lower tension to be comparable to a shorter string length

In what terms? For sure there is more tension there, but this doesn’t mean that you end up feeling stiffer strings under your fingers.
Actually, in my experience, the strings feel softer (more easily bendable) in my longer scale guitars rather than in my ordinary 655 mm diapason guitars.
I cannot say for sure if this is by chance with my guitars or there is a specific reason behind, but it i something I noticed also with other guitars.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 2 2019 10:40:25

constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1674
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: Blancas / negras and string tension (in reply to Echi)

I'm not sure what you mean by "In what terms?" but physics dictates that it takes more tension to bring a longer string to pitch than a shorter one. The pitch starts out low with little tension. As you increase tension, the pitch gets higher (see: "tuning"). A shorter string is already at a higher pitch (see: fretting a string).

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Ethan Deutsch
www.edluthier.com
www.facebook.com/ethandeutschguitars
www.youtube.com/marioamayaflamenco
I always have flamenco guitars available for sale.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 2 2019 23:36:29

Echi

Posts: 1132
Joined: Jan. 11 2013

RE: Blancas / negras and string tension (in reply to mrstwinkle)

It’s correct.
What I’m saying is that the strings may feel more flexible under your finger in spite of the higher tension due to the long scale.
In fact many short scale guitars show the opposite effect of a stiffer feeling, in spite the strings have less tension.
That’s basically my experience, but I read other people report the same idea.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Sep. 3 2019 0:20:49