Stiff feel on acoustic-Why

[gordon]

I'm sure this is a question that's been asked before but I'm trying to figure this out.

I have a very well made hand-built acoustic guitar, the action is set low, 5/64, 3.5/64, little to no relief, light gauge strings.  You can get a note by barely touching it so I'm not referring to the fretting. It has an overall very stiff feel to the strings.  When I play for a while it really tires the hand.

BTW  I already tune down 1/2 step and it still feels stiff.  Any thoughts??

[Tim Mace]

I did.What took so long?Just tryin' to keep helpin'!

[gordon]

I know you are Tim and I appreciate it.  I just didn't think that the strings could make that big of a difference.  Elixir says the test strings have no more tension than any other light gauge string.  I suppose that could be true. I guess you could have strings of equal tension but with a different amount of elasticity which would have an effect on the feel of the string unnder the fingers.

Thanks!