I was wondering what the difference between a concert and tenor string set is, if the diameters are very close, almost identical? I know the length of the string is shorter for the concert, but is that it?
Here is how I understand it. The tenor string is larger in diameter than a concert string. Because of the longer scale length, 17" vs 15" the tenor length string is under higher tension to achieve the same pitch as the shorter length concert. The string is made larger in diameter to allows for this higher tension.A larger diameter string will have a slightly warmer sound, this is how Dirk from South Coast strings explains how he achieves the warmer sound in his soft series of medium gauge strings. He increases the diameter but uses a different compound to achieve the same tension.
Theoretically if you strung a tenor with concert gauge strings you would get a higher or brighter pitch because of the smaller diameter. Tenor strings on a concert would create a warmer sound because of the larger diameter.
A friend has a Pono pro classic cedar /rosewood tenor, I have the same model in cedar/ macassar ebony. He has SC medium gauge strings, I have SC medium heavy gauge strings. He feels his instrument is a little brighter than mine. The instruments are almost identical and just the string gauges are different. Take that for what it is worth, probably not much
I think you covered it but it begs the question. What other differences were you expecting? Changing the string gauge slightly will effect the intonation slightly, and string tension of course. String gauges generally get thicker at longer scale lengths. This keeps the string tension more constant (nominally a longer string at the same pitch will have less tension) and keep the intonation predictable.
You can play around with different string gauges if you wan't but keep track of the intonation as this will change. On solid body electric guitars you have the ability to compensate the saddle position for different string gauges but this saddle adjustability is not easy on most acoustic instruments.
I wasn't really expecting anything. I was going to try a set of concert strings on my tenor. A brand I use was out of stock and I noticed the concert version was almost identical. Two strings the same and the 1st and 4th strings are only .001 difference in diameter. Figured a very slightly brighter sound. Just wanted to be sure nothing was different about them.
Unfortunately for mental convenience, string gauge does not tell "the story" when dealing with what I'll generically call "plastic" strings because different plastics have different density, and "linear density" is supremely important in designing strings. Tension at "scale length pitch" would be a more important number if you wanted to make comparisons that way. But also understand that different plastics inherently have different harmonic responses, too.
Unfortunately for mental convenience, string gauge does not tell "the story" when dealing with what I'll generically call "plastic" strings because different plastics have different density, and "linear density" is supremely important in designing strings. Tension at "scale length pitch" would be a more important number if you wanted to make comparisons that way. But also understand that different plastics inherently have different harmonic responses, too.