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

[WiseSplinter]

Hi Guys

I just got my Carvin DC727 (stunning guitar!) and have tuned it to drop Ab (G#), so the strings are like this from highest to lowest:

Eb , Bb, Gb, Db, Ab, Eb, Ab

The scale is 25.5

I feel the low Ab to be too loose and was thinking of replacing it with something thicker to increase the tension. The problem is I have no idea what the gauge of my current string is, I'm assuming Carvins come standard with a 56 for the lowest string? They don't seem to specify.

Anyway, would it be better to replace the entire set or just the one? I'm fairly happy with the other strings, just the low Ab that's giving me grief (damn buzz).

Thanks!

P.S.

This is my current plan using the tension calculator:

len 25.5"

E4b .011" p == 17.48#
B3b .014" p == 15.89#
G3b .018" p == 16.55#
D3b .028" nw == 18.98#
A2b .038" nw == 19.23#
E2b .050" nw == 18.23#
A1b .072" nw == 17.09#
total == 123.44#

Anyone have any opinions?

I notice the lowest string is still less tense than the E, even with a proposed .072 , not really sure i want to go thicker though, .072 already seems crazy thick.

 

[All_¥our_Bass]

^ If you could find a 75 that would be better tension wise and not too much bigger.
FWIW that's a pretty tame size for Ab/G# my preference for G is an 85, F/E 100.

 

[manux]

Hi guys , i have one question for yours. What is the recommended gauge for a seven string guitar tuned in drop G#?
Thanks

 

[Betterlaidplans]

scale length is needed to figure this one out. well that and a couple other things like what king of feel you want. I usually just pick a string I like and then find the lbs of tension and go from there

 

[manux]

I have got a 0.11/0.59 and i feel so sluggish :S

 

[fps]

got .56 on my baritone and my 25.5 7 string for this tuning, it's fine, it's for a sludge project we're doing so tight sound isn't really what we're after. You'd probably wanna go a touch thicker, what kinda music are you looking to play in the tuning?

 

[ibanez4lifesz]

I use 10-59 on a 27" scale for that tuning....feels great to me.

Eric

 

[Betterlaidplans]

if its a 25.5 scale i'd go with like a .70 at least.

 

[0 Xero 0]

I have an ibanez rg7621. It's 25.5" scale and I use 10-49s + 68. If you want to know what gauges to get, go look at string tension guides like this one here. You don't have to understand the tension or the calculations, you just need to find tensions on strings relative to what you know you like.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...xHn8onWyVYMGw_0KA&sig2=hGLSMssHtkIEo2rZuYkngghttp://www.daddario.com/DAstringtensionguide.Page

 

[leonardo7]

.066

 

[Bboren]

I have a 10-58 gauge set on my 25.5 Ibanez 1527 and an 11-70 gauge on my 27" scale agile. Both are in that tuning and I really enjoy how both of them play. I know it makes no sense at all but I can play fast, tight music on either.

 

[vampiregenocide]

I use a .68 for a G on my 7 string and that feels a little loose, so I'd say about that.

 

[HaloHat]

My 26.5" scale Loomis is tuned to G# standard [C# standard if it was a 6 string]. I am using
12/16/24p/32/44/56/68. Pretty heavy strings, yet I would not tune down from this on the Loomis or it starts to feel a little too lose on the G# string for my tastes.

My Strictly 7 27.5" seven string feels pretty much perfect [for me] with the same strings, though on both guitars I may move back to GHS 10.5/13.5/17/26/38 strings and keep the 56/68 for the lowest two strings. imho they sound a little better and are not such a work out bending [the lighter strings I mean.]

 

[MacApple10256]

Hi! I just want to know what string gauge I would use for this tuning on a 7-string guitar. The tuning is the 6-string version of C# Standard tuning (low to high: C# F# B E G# C#), but with a duplicated high C# to make a 7-string variation. I will use an .011 for the duplicated high C#, but would .009-.042 work, or would .010-.046? Should I even use .080-.039? I want to be exclusive to 7-string guitars as far as the Electric guitar goes, just in case you're wondering why I would want to do this. I use D'Addario's Nickel Wound strings, just in case you need to know that, too. Help!

 

[MetalMike04]

hmm well for D standard i use 10-54 which works great for me, and only a 1/2 step down wouldn't do too much damage

 

[MacApple10256]

On a 7-string?

 

[AcousticMinja]

Are you talking about a low C#? As in 9 string range C#? (C1#)
If so, if you have a 25.5" scale guitar, I'd suggest a .110 or a .115. I use that on mine and it sounds pretty good actually.

 

[MacApple10256]

nope. 7-string guitar up a whole step C#.

 

[AcousticMinja]

I apologize! I read your post wrong, I thought you said something about a .080 gauge (like huge string) instead of an .008 or .009.
Anyway, I'd go with an .011 - .052 set. DAddarioFretted Strings » Electric Strings » XL Nickel Round Wound » EXL116 Medium Top / Heavy Bottom 11-52

Or if you like heavier, maybe even a DAddarioFretted Strings » Electric Strings » XL Nickel Round Wound » EJ21 Jazz Light 12-52 set

If you want a duplicate high C# (I believe Stephen Carpenter from Deftones does stuff like this as well), I'd suggest using the same string gauge for the same duplicate string so the tension is pretty much the same. I did that exact tuning you're doing a long time ago except in drop B. It worked out pretty well and I had some cool chord stuff!

 

[DraggAmps]

I play an RGD Prestige (six string version) in drop G#. It's a 26.5 in. guitar and I like at least a 64, but a 66 is also good. If you have a 25.5 in. guitar, I'd go with a 68 or 70 for the low G#. The 64 on my RGD isn't super tight but does have plenty of tension. I generally like a lot of tension for a tighter sound and more precise attack, but I found that I don't like the low string to be too tight because otherwise you don't get that "bow-bow-bow" gargly low end sound. The 64 or 66 (on a 26.5 scale) has enough tension for good attack but it's has that kind of sound, which I like. The 64 has more of that "gargly" sound and the 66 still has it but has more attack and it's a little easier to pick fast on that low string. They're not vastly different, it just depends on what feel and sound makes one better than the other. I like them both at different times. I think the 68 and 70 would translate well to a 25.5 scale guitar.

I like to get custom sets and if you do like the 68 best, you're lucky because Elixer makes a 68 and you can buy it as a single. For the rest of the strings, I like 13, 17, 28 (wound), 38 or 40, and 50. Obviously that's for a 6 string though. You'd just have to figure out what you like for the first string (the 13 IS my first string since it's a six string). Probably a 10 would work well for the the D#/Eb. It would feel kind of like a 9.5 in standard tuning. If you like extra tension, you could do something like 11, 14, 18, 30, 40/42, 50/52, 70.