Does the age of a guitar string affect sustain? Do old guitar strings provide a better or worse sustain? What happens to an old guitar string that could affect sustain? I need to know this for a serious science project I'm working on. Who do new guitar strings have that old guitar strings don't?
Is sustain affected by the age of a guitar string? How? Why?
- Thread starter Erika
- Start date
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: Is sustain affected by the age of a guitar string? How? Why?
Well adding a rust coating would have to change something. I would say yes it does. Do an experiment with new strings and others that you have artificially rusted.
Well adding a rust coating would have to change something. I would say yes it does. Do an experiment with new strings and others that you have artificially rusted.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Is sustain affected by the age of a guitar string? How? Why?
Welcome to the forum!
Depends on factors, the string metal and how they were played for a start. Depending on the density of the string metal and how hard the player plays, the frets and the bridge are digging into the metal, so the string would not be uniform and solid down it's length after a while. I would assume rust and dirt can minutely change the weight of the string and it's balance for vibration - though I do not know for sure if that really has a noticeable affect. Dirt in the coils of wound strings can provide some dampening of vibration. I can't quantify how much.
You really need to get a string manufacturer or someone who has tested these things to answer. You might try contacting some string makers, or see if they have their own forums to ask on.
Good luck with your science project.
Welcome to the forum!
Depends on factors, the string metal and how they were played for a start. Depending on the density of the string metal and how hard the player plays, the frets and the bridge are digging into the metal, so the string would not be uniform and solid down it's length after a while. I would assume rust and dirt can minutely change the weight of the string and it's balance for vibration - though I do not know for sure if that really has a noticeable affect. Dirt in the coils of wound strings can provide some dampening of vibration. I can't quantify how much.
You really need to get a string manufacturer or someone who has tested these things to answer. You might try contacting some string makers, or see if they have their own forums to ask on.
Good luck with your science project.
Re: Is sustain affected by the age of a guitar string? How? Why?
Old strings, the wound ones in particular, can also have dirt and grime build up between the winds and on the bottom of the string where they don't get touched by fret or finger. This build up can dampen the strings vibrations...maybe because of the added weight...and decrease sustain. I've seen this first hand on a few occasions. The worst one was a 70s P-bass that the customer had not changed the strings on in literally decades (!). He thought there might be something wrong with his amp, because of the dull tone and reduced sustain. Turned out all he needed was a string change...
Old strings, the wound ones in particular, can also have dirt and grime build up between the winds and on the bottom of the string where they don't get touched by fret or finger. This build up can dampen the strings vibrations...maybe because of the added weight...and decrease sustain. I've seen this first hand on a few occasions. The worst one was a 70s P-bass that the customer had not changed the strings on in literally decades (!). He thought there might be something wrong with his amp, because of the dull tone and reduced sustain. Turned out all he needed was a string change...
GoldenVulture
Braindeadologist
Re: Is sustain affected by the age of a guitar string? How? Why?
Old strings slowly fatigue [ metal fatigue ] because they're stretched and lose their sonic qualities
Old strings slowly fatigue [ metal fatigue ] because they're stretched and lose their sonic qualities
Chris of Arabia
Desert RATT
Re: Is sustain affected by the age of a guitar string? How? Why?
I guess once they're over a certain age, most things can't keep it going for as long...
I guess once they're over a certain age, most things can't keep it going for as long...
Lazarus1140
New member
Re: Is sustain affected by the age of a guitar string? How? Why?
Quit. You're embarrassing me.
Quit. You're embarrassing me.
Lazarus1140
New member
Re: Is sustain affected by the age of a guitar string? How? Why?
Rust and gunk and every other sort of parasite only compound the problem of string aging. In my opinion GV nailed it.
Metal fatigue is the result of cyclical loading. That is exactly what a string experiences while it is vibrating. The constant stretching and returning to it's "home" tension literally make a string tired. From the time the string is installed it begins to age even to the point of developing microscopic fissures, stress cracks and so on. The properties of the steel that allowed the string to vibrate as designed diminish so that it does so less accurately.
I wish I could afford to buy a new set of strings for everyone who professes to like the sound of old strings.
PS. Don't believe anything I said except the part about GoldenVulture being correct. Metal fatigue is the main culprit in a string's loss of musicality.
Rust and gunk and every other sort of parasite only compound the problem of string aging. In my opinion GV nailed it.
Metal fatigue is the result of cyclical loading. That is exactly what a string experiences while it is vibrating. The constant stretching and returning to it's "home" tension literally make a string tired. From the time the string is installed it begins to age even to the point of developing microscopic fissures, stress cracks and so on. The properties of the steel that allowed the string to vibrate as designed diminish so that it does so less accurately.
I wish I could afford to buy a new set of strings for everyone who professes to like the sound of old strings.
PS. Don't believe anything I said except the part about GoldenVulture being correct. Metal fatigue is the main culprit in a string's loss of musicality.
