String Tension

[Darryl Young]

Not sure I'm adding anything new........but using a longer scale, a string has to be tensioned more to get to the same note and on a shorter scale the string is tensioned less to play the same note. When you push a string down to fret it, you stretch the string even further so it tensions more. So it's slightly easier to fret a short scale instrument than a long scale instrument as your finger is pushing against less tension. It's not the whoe story though. As John mentioned, the string height above the frets makes a lot of difference in how easily the the string is to fret. You either stretch it a little (when the action is low) or stretch it a lot (when the action is high).

Same with bending, you are stretching the string further so in general, it's easier to bend a short scale (action still plays a big role).

What does string gauge affect? Sustain. The heavier gauge string have more sustain. Loudness. Heavier gauge strings are tensioned more and are heavier so supply more energy to the soundboard. To my ear, heavier gauge strings have better bass (subjective).

[Darryl Young]

A couple more comments.

I've never used "heavy" gauge strings so my comparisons are relative.....and "heavier" refers to medium gauge strings and lighter to light gauge.

Something interesting, I've never seen a guitar that didn't sound better (subjective) with medium gauge strings than it did with light gauge strings. I can't say if this is because medium strings sound better or if it's that almost all guitars oare overbuilt so the additional tension of medium gauge strings helps overcome the surplus stiffness. The medium strings sound "fatter" or more full in addition to being louder (again, all subjective). I know folks who only use medium gauge even on their electrics for that "fat tone".

I would love to play a lightly built instrument by RD or some other good builder that is built to respond to light gauge strings. I'm sure it would be an eye opener. I'm building a cuban mahogany 00 right now that I'm thinking will be the closest I've come to playing a guitar designed for light gauge strings........but I'm not in a class with builders that have built 100 of them this way so unfortunately, so not exactly the same thing.