And of course a decrease in tension affects action as well...the reduction in tension may leave the neck too straight to play cleanly as the rod now may pull with more tension than necessary. This all depends on how an instrument is set up and how much of a change in gauge you go with.
On a professionally set up electric guitar with a tremolo this simply spells headache either way you go. Tremolo's incorporate springs which counteract the strings tension. Changing the tension throws the trem out of balance and will dictate the need for adjustments. Read more here.
A change in tension and string gauge also affects the neck and intonation.
Srings effect SOUND
Besides affecting the action, a change in tension may also affect the sound (sustain and tone). Some players may choose to increase the string gauge on their instrument to experiment with volume and sustain. A common complaint when using very light or extra light gauge strings is a loss of volume, sustain and a thin or twangy sound.
You should consider the instruments CONDITION / AGE
While most new instruments are solid enough to give the player the option to choose from several string gauges, vintage pieces or those with other problems may greatly decrease our options. Older instruments that were originally designed to be strung with gut strings or were simply braced lightly, require very light gauges and should be structurally sound before submitting them to tension.
If you are thinking about stringing up a vintage instrument for the first time I highly recommend having it inspected. Take a peek inside and insure all braces are securely glued to the top and back. Inspect the bridge plate for cracks and ensure the bridge is glued down solidly. These are just a few areas that could create undue stress on a top if damaged or loose.
Another common problem that robs us of our options is an older guitar who's neck is either dead flat or slightly back bowed and void of adjustment. In an effort to force relief (forward bow) into a back bowed neck when the truss rod is already completely loose, we sometimes use a larger gauge string to place the neck under more tension in an effort to encourage it to bow forward.
More information on neck problems can be found here.
Strings effect playing COMFORT
OK, not that you could have missed it but...bigger gauge=more tension, and more tension can cause discomfort for some players as it places more pressure on your fingertips while fretting. It also makes it even more painful for those playing instruments with very high action.
For those who are just beginning to play this can equate to some serious discouragement, especially when the box you are learning on has the action of a dobro. Yow! Been there, done that right? For this reason I may recommend some beginners opt for a Light or Extra Light gauge until their fingers have developed calluses. Once you've learned to play you can start pondering just how to obtain the best possible sound from your instrument.
And let's not forget string benders. Not all of us can take an .011 gauge E string and bend it 2 notes sharp. Playing style can also dictate gauge...while some players opt for lighter gauge strings to aid their string bending skills, still others may find their mighty digits over bend strings that are too small (a common problem on short scale instruments strung with .008's)...those light tension strings will actually bend with so little effort that the player tends to play sharp as the strings offer little resistance when playing normal chords.
BRONZE PHOSPHER-BRONZE COATED NICKEL STAINLESS ...
String Material
Besides the effects of the strings tension on your instrument the material from which it is made will also effect tone and sound.
Instead of rambling thru all the brands that are on the market what I normally recommend to those wanting to experiment with sound is to try strings made of different materials...just stick with the same gauge.
For instance...when dealing with acoustic instruments you can choose from Phospher-Bronze strings, Bronze Strings, Coated strings, Silk and Steel Strings and many more. Because string material makes such a noticeable difference in sound it is easy to discriminate between materials. That isn't to say that most of us don't prefer one brand over another, but material can have a profound effect on sound so much so that while Elixirs (for example) may sound good on brand A guitar, they kill the sound of brand B guitar.
And we have no shortage of electric guitar strings either. One can choose from Nickel strings, Stainless Steel strings, Coated strings and more. You will also find that you have a choice of flat-wound, semi-round and round-wound strings, giving the player a choice of feel as well as sound.
Related Articles:
Restringing Your Acoustic Guitar
Properly Winding Strings Around The Tuning Post
