>Why do the lower gauge steel guitar stings need to be wound? Is it for flexibility? I'm playing more lately and the winding on the strings is tearing up my fingers. I know, once the blisters are gone I'll get my calluses back, but it got me wondering why they couldn't all just be straight gauge steel.

Renoir,

I don't know if this is true or not, but a good guitar should require higher tension strings. I can only guess why.

I believe that the better the instrument, the better the action, and thus the higher tension strings to produce a clearer tone.

Just a guess though,