[JD80]

I hope this is the right thread for this question....

I have a Jackson SL1 and an Ibanez RG7321...both have a 25.5" scale length, yet there is a substantial difference in string tension (especially on the E and A strings) for the exact same tuning and exact same strings (Ernie Ball super slinky).

Am I just imagining this, or what? I don't think I am. On the Ibanez, I even upped the gauge to a 46 gauge on the E string. And even then, with a 46 on the E on the Ibanez and a 42 on the E on my jackson, the Ibanez STILL seems to have less tension.

Is it because my jackson has a floyd rose and the Ibanez has a fixed bridge?

[Durero]

There's no difference in the actual tension if you're using the same gages with the same scale-lengths. But the difference in feel, or bend-ability/flexibility, or perceived tension can certainly be attributed to your Jackson having a double-locking trem and your Ibanez not.

The looser feel of your Ibanez is due to the extra length of string past the nut and bridge that is available to stretch whenever you push or bend the strings. On your Jackson the strings are locked at both the bridge and nut and so only the 'playable' part of the strings can stretch. This would be especially noticeable for your fretting hand when playing on the low frets close to the nut.

Noodles summed it up well in another thread:

Originally Posted by noodles

He, like most people here, probably doesn't understand the difference between string tension and perceived tension. String tension is determined by the effective length of the string, which is the distance from the nut to the bridge saddle. Perceived tension is the force required to move the string (bends and vibrato), and is based upon the total length of the string, from ball end to tuning peg. The longer the string, the easier it is to bend.

In the case of guitars with double locking tremolos, there is no difference between the two.

There's a detailed thread on this issue here:
http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/extended-range-guitars/10364-reverse-headstock-misconception.html

including a good linked article on this post:
http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/sho...1&postcount=32

[JD80]

Originally Posted by Durero

There's no difference in the actual tension if you're using the same gages with the same scale-lengths. But the difference in feel, or bend-ability/flexibility, or perceived tension can certainly be attributed to your Jackson having a double-locking trem and your Ibanez not.

The looser feel of your Ibanez is due to the extra length of string past the nut and bridge that is available to stretch whenever you push or bend the strings. On your Jackson the strings are locked at both the bridge and nut and so only the 'playable' part of the strings can stretch. This would be especially noticeable for your fretting hand when playing on the low frets close to the nut.

Noodles summed it up well in another thread:



There's a detailed thread on this issue here:
http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10364

including a good linked article on this post:
http://www.sevenstring.org/forum/sho...1&postcount=32

Thanks man, I was afraid nobody would answer me. That makes a good deal of sense, if I understand it properly. The tension is the same, but the perceived tension (which is what really matters) is different. This gives me a bit of insight into my problems. What originally led me to ask this is the following dilemma:

On the high e, b and g strings, the Ibanez slaughters the Jackson in playability, in my opinion. This really pisses me off since the Jackson is about 4 times as expensive as my Ibanez. On the Ibanez, it’s easier to fret and the string tension is good for super fast picking without the string moving around too much. (I play on 9’s). On the fretting, I don’t know whether it’s a perceived tension issue, the thickness of the neck, the fret size, fretboard radius… don’t know. I’m a pretty analytical guy, and it’s pretty frustrating that I can’t figure out why the two guitars play so differently.

However, on the Ibanez, the lower strings have really poor perceived tension, to the point where I cannot even alt. pick them fast because they move around too much. I don’t like putting really large gauge strings on to compensate either…I’m not used to picking on thicker strings and I dislike the rounder sound they produce. Very frustrating.

[Durero]

Yeah, it's probably a harsh mod to try, but if you could find a way to lock the lower strings of your Ibanez while leaving the top 3 as they are then you could have the best of both worlds - this is the great advantage of multi-scale (fanned-fret) guitars btw.

You could try a Kahler locking nut which mounts behind the regular nut you already have - then you could just lock the lowest 3 or 4 strings and leave your highest 3 loose. This would help.
http://www.wammiusa.com/kahler%20systems.html