Santa Cruz Parabolic Tension Acoustic Strings - Mid Tension (3-Pack)

The Santa Cruz Parabolic Tension Strings in Mid Tension represent the meeting point of science and soul, where precision engineering serves the art of tone. While most string makers define their creations by gauge alone, Santa Cruz Guitar Company dares to look deeper. Gauge is but a number, the measure of diameter, yet it tells little of how a string will speak. Tension, by contrast, is the living force within the wire. It shapes the equilibrium between strings, governs their dynamic response, and determines the true balance of tone across the instrument.

For decades, Richard Hoover has pursued the rarest form of harmony between materials and music. In the course of building some of the world’s most responsive acoustic guitars, he discovered that no commercially available string could fully awaken the intricate voice of a Santa Cruz. Thus began a decade-long collaboration between Hoover, his small and devoted team, and specialists in the audiological sciences. Together, they sought to design a string that would not merely vibrate but resonate in perfect proportion to the guitar’s intent. The result is the Parabolic Tension String, a creation that treats tension as its guiding principle rather than an afterthought.

Each Santa Cruz string is a study in meticulous balance. By refining the core-to-wrap ratio to within one half of one thousandth of an inch, the team achieved a perfectly weighted relationship across the set. The Mid Tension configuration—.013" at 22.5 lb, .0165" at 24 lb, .024" at 28.5 lb, .033" at 28.5 lb, .045" at 32.5 lb, and .056" at 27 lb—delivers equilibrium so refined that each note blooms with intention. The result is a logical, musical EQ where no single string overpowers another, creating a coherent and articulate voice that feels alive beneath the fingers.

Constructed with phosphor bronze windings, these strings are enhanced with a proprietary micro-coating that protects without compromising tone. The unwound strings are vapor-treated to resist corrosion, remaining pure, bright, and enduringly expressive. Every element is crafted to the highest tolerances, ensuring longevity and stability for players who demand both warmth and clarity.

The Mid Tension set finds its truest expression on dreadnought guitars and larger-bodied instruments, where its balanced resistance drives the top with strength and authority. Yet in every register, from the thunder of the low strings to the shimmer of the trebles, there is a graceful continuity that feels both powerful and poetic.

In the hands of a thoughtful player, the Santa Cruz Parabolic Tension Strings become more than a set of six wires. They are a revelation of harmony between touch, sound, and design—a culmination of Richard Hoover’s lifelong devotion to bringing the voice of wood and wire into perfect balance.

Other features include:

• Phosphor Bronze Windings
• Proprietary Micro-Coated Wound Strings
• Anti-Corrosive Vapor-Treated Unwound Strings
• Balanced Tension - Core to Wrap Ratio
• .056" - 27 lb
• .045" - 32.5 lb
• .033" - 28.5 lb
• .024" - 28.5 lb
• .0165" - 24 lb
• .013" - 22.5 lb

For more information on Santa Cruz Strings, please contact us.

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