Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

For roundwound vs. compressed flat vs. flatwound, is there any "rule of thumb" on diameter vs. string tension? It seems intuitive that a roundwound diameter would be a little bigger than flatwound to achieve the same tension, if string mass is the only metric, but what do I know? I've been using compressed flats, but have been thinking of trying roundwounds, and would like to avoid any neck adjustments if I could help it.

Dan: The tension depends on the gauge and the construction of the string. You will be able to use roundwound 10s on your Rickenbacker in place of the flats without a neck adjustment as long as the gauge is in the same ballpark. If you increase the gauge a truss rod adjustment is likely.

Understood--but does the compression process actually reduce the diameter? I guess that is my real question. Thanks for the input!

For instance, a set of Rotosound Yellows have an 'A' that is .036 & low 'E' at .046. This might be the same tension-wise as a Rick compressed wound set with .034 & .042, respectively.

The compression would decrease the diameter to some extent.

It is my understanding, at least in the case of compressed roundwounds, that the manufacturer takes a round wound set and passes them over a roller in the final stage of processing which compresses them and makes them smoother at the same time.

I think you are right Peter....smoother & more consistant in diameter. I remember a thread that I initiated & JH kindly posted, with words to the effect that Ric 10-42's were equivelant in tension to normal roundwound 10-46's....at least that was my understanding.

Well that seems to hit the nail right on the head. Thanks!

I think the inner core upon which everything else is wrapped on has more to do with tension than anything else. You can't really go by gauge as some thicker strings have much less tension than some supposed thin "light" sets.