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

[Explorer]

I normally just unwrap my larger strings, including the .090 I use for low E1. I put the string on the instrument, pulling it alongside the tuner, and make a mark on the string with a permanent marker to know where the tuner contacts the string.

I will use a pair of locking pliers on the string a little higher than that point, and then unwrap down to it. I leave a bit more wrap than the contact point so that when I start tightening up the string, the wrap will be pulled against the tuner and won't uncoil over time.

 

[Indigenous]

Alright. I'll give that a try and hope I don't mess up my low string. Thank you again, you've been an awesome help.

 

[Ipringle]

What formula are you guys using to calculate these tensions?

Also if i'm tuned to C# standard with a low G# on a 25.5'' scale guitar and i'm using
.11, .14, .18, .30, .42, .54 in C# on a 6 what would be a good gauge for a low G#,
~.70 i'd imagine?

 

[Explorer]

I use the formula from the D'Addario String Tension Chart.

I have to go out for a bit, but I'll crunch some numbers on your string set when I get back.

 

[Explorer]

Doing this quickly on the back of an envelope:

C# .011 14.1
A# .014 16
E .018 Plain 13.1
B .030 17.7
F# .042 18.9
C# .054 17
G# .070 14.4

I'd probably change that .018 on the E to .019 plain (14.6 lbs.) or .020 plain (16.2 lbs.). I'd also change the low C# .052 to .056 (18 lbs) to nudge the tension up just a bit.

And then, I'd use a .074 on that low G#.

C# .011 14.1
A# .014 16
E .020 Plain 16.2
B .030 17.7
F# .042 18.9
C# .056 18
G# .074 19

If your previous tensions felt good, I suspect those changes will make it feel just a bit better, while giving you a much better feeling low string.

Good luck!

 

[Ipringle]

Doing this quickly on the back of an envelope:

Good luck!

Thanks a lot! But I noticed you have the 2nd string as an A# but in C# standard it'd be a G#. I had a look at the D'addario stuff and worked out that the G# would have 12.6lbs of tension, I think, a fair bit low. Thanks for the help!

 

[Explorer]

That's what you get when someone is in a rush to celebrate the New Year.... *laugh*

 

[jin]

Hello i have two question to ask,

I currently have a 7 string(jeff loomis sig) which has 26.5 scale and uses 10-60 gauge which is 10-13-17-26w-36-46-60.

Now i bought a set that has the following gauge:10-13-17-24-36-52-60

Will this affect the guitar playing wise /bending the truss rod?

I heard that changing gauges for the middle strings usually do not affect the tension much and do not require setup. You only need to do a setup if you change strings on the top two or the bottom two strings..is that true?

The second question is that if i want to move from this 7 string to an 8 string, what is the ideal gauge from the 8th string if i plan to use a 10-13-17-26w-36-46-60 gauge...is 70 enough? Im not sure about the 8 string scale length though if anyone could recommend a scale length for 8th string it would be great.

 

[Mess]

Hello, I was not sure where to write it, but maybe this is the right place.
I ve got problem with intonation on 7th string. Recently bought new 7string guitar LTD Viper 407, (25.5 scale) changed strings for Daddario .010 - .059. Wanna tune in AEAGDBE. Everything is good, except the seventh string. I can't set the intonation right, whatever I do, still is 10-15 cents higher at the 12th fret. I can't move the sadle anymore, is situated as far as can be. I was already experimenting with high of strings and adjusting truss rod, but nothing helped, only one time I was able to set intonation correctly, but then all the strings were too low and everything was buzzing.

So my question is, should I bought other strings with heavier gauge ? I mean istead of .059 something like .062 or anything ?

Thank you for your responses and if you have any other ideas how to set the intonation correctly I will be happy as hell.

 

[Phrygian]

I use 9-42 + 60 for drop A tuning on my 25.5" carvin dc727, works perfect after a good setup by a tech!

 

[d91]

What's up guys, I was thinking of rolling some 0.065 bass string for the low B on my 26.5'' demon 7, drop G tuning; because, unfortunately, I'm not able to get anything thicker than 0,056. So I was wondering, anything in particular I should know? Any significant differences between bass and guitar strings? (I'm pretty new to exotic string gauges)
Thanks a bunch.

 

[project25_01]

Here they say that Elixir bass strings are the same as the guitar ones, with a different ball-end.

I ordered Elixir light-heavy sets + .065 elixir bass single for both of my 7s.
I think I'm going to tune my demon7 in drop A or G# with this string gauges

 

[Quitty]

What's up guys, I was thinking of rolling some 0.065 bass string for the low B on my 26.5'' demon 7, drop G tuning; because, unfortunately, I'm not able to get anything thicker than 0,056. So I was wondering, anything in particular I should know? Any significant differences between bass and guitar strings? (I'm pretty new to exotic string gauges)
Thanks a bunch.

Well, i don't know about Elixirs (don't like 'em) but bass strings on guitar usually sound bad.
I'd try some Dunlop heavy-cores - there's a 7 string set ending with a .60 and it feels kinda like a .64. I bought them on ebay from a store who ships internationally, so i'm sure you could too.

 

[d91]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm actually more concerned about the extra tension, rather than the sound.

 

[Stealthdjentstic]

What are your guys 2 cents on this? Aiming for a lighter top with a bit of a chunkier bottom. I'm not sure what I want to use for the low A, I'm thinking a .68 or a .72? What do you guys think?

len 26.5"

E .009" PL == 14.18#
B .013" PL == 16.61#
G .020" PB == 22.66#
D .028" PB == 25.27#
A .040" PB == 29.05#
E .059" PB == 34.85#
A ???

 

[Zonk Knuckle]

What are your guys 2 cents on this? Aiming for a lighter top with a bit of a chunkier bottom. I'm not sure what I want to use for the low A, I'm thinking a .68 or a .72? What do you guys think?

len 26.5"

E .009" PL == 14.18#
B .013" PL == 16.61#
G .020" PB == 22.66#
D .028" PB == 25.27#
A .040" PB == 29.05#
E .059" PB == 34.85#
A ???

Even an .080" tuned to A will be 25 lbs, so I'd go for at least that if you're using a .059" on the E. BTW, any post I've made here has been to help people and provide accurate information. So, I think it's kind of messed up for you to be targeting me with negs for such minor things.

 

[Explorer]

Holy shit, Stealth, are you serious? You'd have to get at least around .090 on there to equal the tension on your E2.

Even Stevie Ray Vaughan, running similar strings, was tuning down to Eb at 25.5. You're putting considerably more tension on your neck. Does it have two truss rods?

Most light top/heavy bottom sets still have the "normal" extreme drop at the bottom. You're not only making your tensions a much heavier progression, but adding a majorly skewed heavy bottom to boot.

BTW, why are you going to use phosphor bronze (PB) strings instead of something like nickel wound (NW)?

 

[Stealthdjentstic]

I am fucking stupid




Time to fix everything -_-

 

[WiseSplinter]

Hello all

I recently got a Carvin DC727 (very nice guitar). When it arrived it was tuned to standard (low B) , but I need to use drop G# tuning , and lowering the stock strings down that much just didn't work (the low B was a 54 i think, so very loose at G#)

So I got a set like so:

len 25.5"

E4b .011" pl == 17.48#
B3b .014" pl == 15.89#
G3b .019" pl == 18.44#
D3b .032" nw == 25.04#
A2b .044" nw == 25.55#
E2b .056" nw == 23.48#
A1b .066" nw == 14.51#
total == 140.38#

Now i'm having some issues:

1) the low G# seems very high off the fretboard to me, especially towards the upper register.

2) I seem to be having some intonation problems with the low G#, it gets sharper the higher i play.

I adjusted the truss slightly to compensate for the increased overall tension (it went up from about 118 to 140), but it didn't seem to help the string height problem. should i be moving the saddle lower for the thickest string? or back slightly for intonation?

Sorry if this is a noob question, but thought i'd ask around here before i went and did something silly.

Anyone play their DC727 in drop G#? What strings are you using and did you have to make any of the above adjustments (truss, saddle)?

Thanks in advance

 

[Explorer]

For that low a pitch, I had to move my low saddle back further than was physically possible with the stock saddle, and had to replace it. Sometimes you can't get a replacement saddle which will work as is, and have to cut something down. I'd suggest not doing it to what you have on there, so that you can go back if you so decide.

Compounding your problem is the string being under such low tension, the thicker strings often come off the saddle heading up, and then curve around and down on their way to the nut. That also means they go sharp as you fret them.

I don't have time to calculate anything, but normally you have to double a string gauge when you drop an octave to maintain the same tension. You have a .044 at Ab2, and .066 for Ab1. That's like dropping your Db3 to Ab3. Give it a try, and you'll probably not like it... and that will tell you that you need to get that low string likely to .090.