Do SIT (stay-in-tune) brand strings really stay-in-tune better than any others?
Do SIT (stay-in-tune) brand strings really stay-in-tune better than other brands of strings? I have bought them on occasion and did not really notice any length of time in-tune difference from the Ernie Balls that I usually use. There are guys that I know that swear they really stay in tune longer, but that could be:
1) Person bias
2) A side-effect of being a local company (Akron, Ohio)
3) A real difference on different (lower quality?) guitars
I usually play a good quality Stratocaster that stays in tune quite well anyways, so maybe this is not the best guitar to judge these strings by.
The company does state that they add a special "stay-in-tune" process to the manufacturing, but that could be:
1) total BS
2) a chemical treatment?
3) a special grind operation?
4) something else?
Does anybody know? Have any hunches?
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They stay in tune for me, as long ad I leave the bass in the stand. I have a soft case, so the pegs get turned, so I kills it for me. I will say that they stay bright much longer than any other string I've used though!
1) Total BS.
Your question is more about physics and engnieering than music but I'll answer anyway..
As far as I can tell they have no patents and make no effort to give any explanation as to what the "stay in tune" process entails which strongly suggests it does not exist at all.
A chemical treatment could be used to reduce friction, Though, this would not be unique to SIT and is a poor, band aid solution to the problem, you wouldn't cover your car in oil and hope the parts that need lubrication get it would you? No, you apply the correct lubrication where it is needed.
Only ground wound strings are ground, all other strings are extruded. Generally, extrusions have a better surface finish (therefore lower friction coefficient) than ground surfaces so any grinding is a step in the wrong direction.
Either way, it doesn't matter, the string itself is almost never the cause of tuning instability. I have heard of dud strings though they are very rare, I've never had one in >300 sets of strings.
99% of the time it is caused by one of these:
binding at a poorly cut nut
Too greater break angle
Binding at a string tree
Poorly wrapped string post
Low quality machine heads
I wont bother mentioning the other 1% but none of them are the string itself.
If you are interested in a detailed analysis of the physics of keeping at string in tune you should try physics.stackexchange, though you need to do your own research first, here are some places to start: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elasticity_(physics) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friction (both static and kinetic friction are involved)
I bought them at my local music store from a 19 year old who scoffed at the idea that they would Stay in Tune, but they did - for five years. After that I tried to buy them again, but all the 19 year old know-it-all's talked so many people out of these SIT strings that I can't find them locally anywhere.
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