Why do strings fell different on different guitars?

Darin · #1 04-30-2008, 02:18 PM

I just restrung a few guitars at my house, with the same strings. GHS Boomers 9-42's Yet they feel a lot lighter on one guitar (22 fret with OFR) than they do on another (24 fret Schecter)
I didn't measure the length of the guitars. I'm wondering if the length from bridge to nut has anything to do with it.

Ever have that happen, where strings just feel different on different guitars?

**elcid** · #2 04-30-2008, 02:30 PM

Scale length

brothersnowgone · #3 04-30-2008, 02:35 PM

Yes and elcid nailed why.

**elcid** · #4 04-30-2008, 02:37 PM

Yep, smartest guy in the world...right here.

RGOU812 · #5 05-01-2008, 08:31 AM

I don't really know - i've got an RG550 and an RG7420 (7 string ) put the same guage strings on both and 550 is superb but for the life of me i can barley bend the strings on the 7420 so i had to detune a semitone to get the same tension - if anyone knows how you can release the tension on strings let me know - maybe if i reduced the number of springs on the 7420 to allow the trem to become a little less stiff?

Lefty Robb · #6 05-01-2008, 08:54 PM

remove a spring and set it up again

Drew · #7 05-02-2008, 11:50 AM

It's either scale lengh, as elcid suggested, or my money says the Schecter is a fixed bridge. When you bend a note on a guitar with a floyd, because the bridge can "rise" a little bit as the string tension increases, the strings will feel slinkier and easier to bend.

For the 7420 vs the 550, it's the same factor, sort of. The string tension on a seven is higher than a six because of the added low B, which means you have to offset it with higher spring tension. This makes the bridge a little stiffer than on a six, which translates into tighter feeling strings, all else equal. Lefty Rob is right, if you want it to feel looser, see if you can get away with one less spring. It won't be QUITE as loose as your 6, but it'll be a little better.

Scali · #8 05-02-2008, 12:11 PM

The actuion could also have to do with it ofcourse. I think especially the action on the nut is often overlooked.
I have an S7320 myself, and I have set it up exactly the same as my RG570, and it now has the exact same feel. So I don't think 6-string or 7-string should make much of a difference on tremolo guitars... even if they're different trems (ZR-7 and LoPro Edge in my case).

My Gibson M3 on the other hand never quite felt the same as my RG570... even though they have the same scale length. It could have to do with different string spacing, different fingerboard radius, different fret size, different fingerboard wood etc... Perhaps even the set neck vs bolt-on... But somehow, it's not quite the same.

RGOU812 · #9 05-03-2008, 01:30 PM

Yeah i might give the spring removal a go, i suppose with less tension under the guitar the trem might rise easier when bending the strings - i know the trem on the 7420 i really stiff and you've got to press down quite hard on the arm to use it wheras the floyd rose on the six string is a lot more 'moveable' when using it.
Cheers!

CosmicDebris · #10 05-05-2008, 08:05 PM

I have two Strat Plus Guitars with one being a deluxe (diff pups). Both have Fender floyds and LSR locking nuts. On my plus Deluxe the strings "feel" looser. Both have same brand strings tuned the same way with both being intonated properly. Is weird that both guitars almost being the same but have a diff feel.

Both are set up exactly the same as much as that is possible.

Wuddup wit dat.