Are there different weight strings of the same gauge?

[ChrisN]

I'm curious how much of the different feel and sound between different gauges of strings may result from the overall weight or mass of the set of strings affecting the structure of the guitar. Independent of tension and gauge, are there options for string sets of various mass?

[RJVB]

Well, yes.

I suppose you want to experiment for yourself and aren't looking for long theoretical discussions ...

- the most obvious but probably somewhat pathological example would be nylon strings. You'd have to look at sets for 7 or 8 string guitars to find an alternative for our usual low E gauge and you won't find a nylon 2nd or 1st string that's as thin as you'd want but I guess you can already imagine how the guitar will sound.

Within the steel string realm you have several options
- several companies offer thin-core strings that have a higher wrap-to-core ratio
- silk-and-steel designs will also have a slightly higher wrap-to-core ratio
- different winding alloys have different weights

The unavoidable theory is that tension increases with weight when all other factors remain equal - and the ideal string would have the highest weight with the smallest gauge to achieve the required tension & pitch, again all other factors remaining equal.

The problem with both is that relatively few manufacturers provide actual tensions which would allow you to calculate the (unit) weight, idem for core wire diameters. With a precise balance you might be able to calculate it yourself (no idea what precision is needed); core wire gauge is something you can measure with a little more confidence.

Another bit of theory: a priori it is basically the string's stiffness and weight-to-gauge ratio that determines the sound signature of strings. More specifically, the metallicity index (I'm citing Mimmo Peruffo from Aquila Strings here so the term may be an italianism).

[sgosnell]

I've never weighed strings, but theoretically there should be a difference in weight between brass/bronze wrapped and nickel-plated steel strings of the same diameter. Different metals and alloys have different masses. If you have sufficient curiosity, you could do the experiments and accurately weigh an assortment of strings and assess the difference in sound. But keep in mind, the mass is not the only factor in producing the tone. I would theorize that the mass/volume does influence the tone, but I'm not prepared to say exactly how or how much. Nor am I planning to do the work required to find out.

[ChrisN]

Thanks for your interesting answers. I wonder if there is enough difference just in weight between string types that the weight would have an effect on sound the way the weight of tuners, nut and saddle material, density of different neck wood all do.

[RJVB]

Of course they do; the strings are what produces the sound and of that list, only the saddle plays an active role. The others are all supposed to collaborate to make certain that distal anchor point of the string vibration is in a fixed position w.r.t. the distal anchor point of the top's vibration (IOW, that the two origins around with the 2 vibration components oscillate vibrate as little as possible with respect to one another).

There's a fixed, rather easy relationship between string density, gauge, scale length, tension and pitch. Reducing density (weight for fixed gauge) or gauge (with fixed density) should have a perceptually very similar if not indistinguishable effect as long as string gauge and weight are such that you can use a significant section of the sounding string without running into things like inharmonicity.

Get some GHS thin-core PB strings and their regular PB strings of the same gauges, and see how the sounds differ. That's about as close as you can get to comparing strings with identical gauges and wrap wire but different densities. Almost every other comparison will in fact be comparing strings wound with PB vs brass vs zinc etc.