String Tension Super Thread (Got a string question? Post it here!)

[WintermintP]

Right... Kalium... T-T

Oh boy... looks like my debit card is going to be weeping for another month... Looks like sometimes sacrifices have to be made... (seriously, I used to be a fan of light strings but they're just not cutting it anymore)

WintermintP

EDIT: I found this: https://www.long-mcquade.com/84168/...tar-Single-String--Super-Long-Scale---160.htm

 

[Mullet]

I’m running a NYXL .74 on my 26.5 inch scaled Ibanez in dropped G# and it works just fine. What tuners do you have installed on the Jackson? If you can squeeze a 76/78 in there, give that a try.

 

[Masoo2]

Thoughts on string gauges for a 6 string bass with low F# and a 34-37 fan?

Wanting something a bit general that could be tuned up or down from F# standard. I've seen people run between 160 and 190 for the lowest string so I was thinking maybe going with a normal 45-130 and throwing on an extra 175 or so. This way it could be tuned to Drop A# with a low F, Drop F (if I pushed that 130 up to C), or down to Drop A/Ab with a low E/Eb

 

[bostjan]

Are you saying you want to cover a range from F# to Eb with one string? What about tuning up?

I've done F, but I've never gone lower. I think a 0.175" should be plenty. Heck, I think a 0.160" is sufficient. Once your strings get to a certain point in thickness, they start feeling weird and sounding weird to me. Maybe it's just me, though. With bass strings costing so much, it's good to optimize your experimentation involving strings to get the most data, so start with the tension that'd match best. 0.130" at B is about 40 lbs at 37", so maybe try an F# string around .175" for around 39 lbs. The tension should be close. Personally, I like a little detente in tension on the really low strings, so the most I've done, is .165" for F#0 at 37", which is only about 35 lbs.

 

[Masoo2]

Are you saying you want to cover a range from F# to Eb with one string? What about tuning up?

I've done F, but I've never gone lower. I think a 0.175" should be plenty. Heck, I think a 0.160" is sufficient. Once your strings get to a certain point in thickness, they start feeling weird and sounding weird to me. Maybe it's just me, though. With bass strings costing so much, it's good to optimize your experimentation involving strings to get the most data, so start with the tension that'd match best. 0.130" at B is about 40 lbs at 37", so maybe try an F# string around .175" for around 39 lbs. The tension should be close. Personally, I like a little detente in tension on the really low strings, so the most I've done, is .165" for F#0 at 37", which is only about 35 lbs.

Yeah, I 100% am on board with less tension for the lowest strings. I run a 56 and 74 on my 8 string down to G and D at their lowest, but normally Ab and Eb.

And yeah I don't expect the Eb to sound or hold up the absolute best, just kinda want the ability like I have with my 8. It will be mostly stuck between F# and E.

A 160-170 seems more up my alley, I guess my main problem is deciding if the 130 is right or not. I currently have a 145 or 150 (forgot) on my 34 inch bass and it just feels plain weird from B to A, and anything lower is too loose given the scale.

edit: now that I think about it, I really do keep my 8 in Eb 90% of the time so it's probably best that the lowest string holds up well.

 

[bostjan]

Yeah, I 100% am on board with less tension for the lowest strings. I run a 56 and 74 on my 8 string down to G and D at their lowest, but normally Ab and Eb.

And yeah I don't expect the Eb to sound or hold up the absolute best, just kinda want the ability like I have with my 8. It will be mostly stuck between F# and E.

A 160-170 seems more up my alley, I guess my main problem is deciding if the 130 is right or not. I currently have a 145 or 150 (forgot) on my 34 inch bass and it just feels plain weird from B to A, and anything lower is too loose given the scale.

edit: now that I think about it, I really do keep my 8 in Eb 90% of the time so it's probably best that the lowest string holds up well.

Eb is pretty damned low on a bass. Even with the best string in the world, you might have trouble with the pickups and electronics being able to transduce the signal without significant distortion. I've had the problem before, where you have to roll the volume back significantly to tame the signal on the low notes, but then you get almost no ass at all from the higher strings. It becomes a balancing act on all fronts as you push lower and lower.

 

[Frosty the Snowperson]

Which string gives the best results for tuning to drop D, but on a seven string (so D is an octave lower than regular drop D) ?

 

[Albake21]

Which string gives the best results for tuning to drop D, but on a seven string (so D is an octave lower than regular drop D) ?

Wait... what? Isn't that lower than a 9 string?

 

[Frosty the Snowperson]

Would it be better to get a nine string? Where can I get one of those?

 

[bostjan]

Which string gives the best results for tuning to drop D, but on a seven string (so D is an octave lower than regular drop D) ?

Like D1? 36.71 Hz? That's quite low. What kind of guitar/scale length? Will the guitar accept a bass string, because you're probably going to need something like a 0.090" or 0.100". What other strings are you using (and tuning)?

 

[Frosty the Snowperson]

RG7620. An old one, made in Japan. I have to cut the ends off of the strings, so bass strings shouldn't matter.

 

[bostjan]

RG7620. An old one, made in Japan. I have to cut the ends off of the strings, so bass strings shouldn't matter.

D1 on a 25.5" guitar with a low pro? Which tuning are you using now and which strings - just out of curiosity?
A .090" would, in theory, give about 13 pounds of tension, which would be enough to sound almost musical, but I don't think that big a string will likely fit in the bridge, nor in the tuner without some modification. A 0.100" would give a more satisfying 16 pounds of tension, but would require even more drastic modification.

 

[Frosty the Snowperson]

What kind of modification? Would a different guitar be better?

 

[Albake21]

What kind of modification? Would a different guitar be better?

To be honest your best bet would be to get a long scaled 8 string.

 

[Frosty the Snowperson]

Better than a long scaled 7 string? Which brand?

 

[stevexc]

Whether it's 7, 8, 9, or 32 strings won't make a difference but the scale length will. Significantly longer scales do tend to be more easily found on 8+ string guitars however.

Either way, Rondo might be your best bet for finding a longer scale, and Kalium your best bet for finding appropriately thick strings.

 

[Frosty the Snowperson]

How long of a scale length do I need?

 

[Albake21]

Whether it's 7, 8, 9, or 32 strings won't make a difference but the scale length will. Significantly longer scales do tend to be more easily found on 8+ string guitars however.

Either way, Rondo might be your best bet for finding a longer scale, and Kalium your best bet for finding appropriately thick strings.

Yup your best best would be looking at Rondo Music, you will find longer scaled 6, 7, 8, 9, and even 10 string guitars.

 

[Frosty the Snowperson]

There's a headless guitar there that is scale 27".

Agile Hawker Headless 727 BBR

Is that enough? Why is the head so big on the headless?

I searched for 28" and saw a fretless guitar and acoustic bass, and also a huge ten string guitar, but I don't want so many strings or so few frets.

 

[Frosty the Snowperson]

But the prices there seem good. I'm assuming US dollars.