Multiscale String Gauges

[youngstary]

Hi,
I wanted to buy a 25,5-27'' multiscale guitar and I wonder which gauges should I buy for Drop G# and Drop F#. Any experiences and recommendations?

 

[ElRay]

What Brand? StringJoy and Valium have string tension calculators on their sites. The Valium one is a little easier to use (it will calculate the intermediate scale lengths), but they're having a delay with shipping again.

Stringjoy Guitar String Tension Calculator

The Stringjoy Guitar String Tension Calculator is the easiest and best tool to build the perfect balanced tension set of strings for your guitar or bass.

tension.stringjoy.com

Kalium Music | String Tension Calculator

kaliummusic.com

 

[youngstary]

What Brand? StringJoy and Valium have string tension calculators on their sites. The Valium one is a little easier to use (it will calculate the intermediate scale lengths), but they're having a delay with shipping again.

Stringjoy Guitar String Tension Calculator

The Stringjoy Guitar String Tension Calculator is the easiest and best tool to build the perfect balanced tension set of strings for your guitar or bass.

tension.stringjoy.com

Kalium Music | String Tension Calculator

kaliummusic.com

i dont live in the US so d'addario and ernie ball are the most obtainable here

 

[JimboLodisC]

Tension is a matter of preference. You have to know what you like in order to order what you need. If you have no clue, just use the current string gauges as a reference. If you want it looser, go with thinner gauges. Need more tension, grab thicker gauges.

 

[youngstary]

Tension is a matter of preference. You have to know what you like in order to order what you need. If you have no clue, just use the current string gauges as a reference. If you want it looser, go with thinner gauges. Need more tension, grab thicker gauges.

probably you're right but i just wanted to know others choices so i can try it out

 

[JimboLodisC]

People use anything from a .059 to a .090 ... knowing that doesn't get you closer to knowing what *you* personally like for tension.

 

[JimboLodisC]

If you need a starting point, look at what the guitar came with. Need more tension? Go thicker. Want it looser? Go thinner.

 

[SalsaWood]

There is so much more than tension to what makes a good set of strings. Folks normally like to stop talking strings right after it gets to gauge:tension specs because they can't read the reality of the strings' characteristics like it's the back of the box it came in while offering zero practical insight.

Unless you have a floating bridge or your neck is ridiculously thin you don't need and will not benefit from balanced tension strings. Most of them sound like ass for the money if you do have those problems, so regardless, if you want strings worth playing there are plenty of much better options.

 

[bostjan]

Just use the same gauges you'd use at 25.5".

 

[ElRay]

i dont live in the US so d'addario and ernie ball are the most obtainable here

1) I didn't catch the autocorrect of Kalium->Valium
2) D'addario has/had a string tension calculator too, but the last I checked, it didn't handle multi-scaled instruments.
3) There's a number of non-branded calculators that will get you reasonably close. Here's one:

String Tension Calculator

Find the right string gauge for your guitar or bass to achieve the perfect tension.

www.stringtensioncalculator.com