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

[gr8Har V]

how can i accomedate scale length into sting guages compared to a 25" scale? On my 25 scale, a 60 is perfect at my low B, so how would a 27 scale change that thickness and tension?

and are 27's really bad for soloing? i've heard they are, but is it just the bending, or the actual tone also?

and would G# standard on a 25" scale be too much? i did the math and i would need a 72 guage. would that just get too buzzy and floppy on my short scale, or would it work?

[6Christ6Denied6]

guys got nothing for my post?

[aleXander]

I don't necessarily think that a 27'' scale would be bad for soloing... the necks just longer, if you wanna be able to bend a lil better use lighter strings.

I can honestly say all these questions can be answered by searching for your topic with the search function. There are a ton of threads about the Agile guitars here.

[Jzbass25]

Just got my 7 plekd with 9-52s for my rg1527 and I was just thinking about making the low B heavier but keeping the rest the same, what do you think I should go for so it wont change my setup too much and so my B is a little less sloppy. I may have to buy some heavier springs though since I know my guitar wont go to 10s since the springs arent strong enough.

[AcousticMinja]

I got an Agile Argus 30" baritone guitar.
I'm going to order some custom gauge strings for it...since it is 30" scale..I was wondering what gauges I should get? I prefer medium-medium high tension strings (for example, I like playing E standard on a strat with .009-.042s, or I play in open B on a les paul with .010-.052 set) I'm not a fan of piano wire stuff. I'm not much of a bender, but I do like to be able to bend easily. I enjoy chording however.
What gauges would I want to get to match this? I'm going to be tuning to Drop A and sometimes B standard. I'd prefer a wound 3rd if I could do that.
Possible gauges are .056, .042, .032, .022w, .014, .011. However I'm not sure that'd work.

Thanks guys!

[Dvaienat]

Originally Posted by AcousticMinja

I got an Agile Argus 30" baritone guitar.
I'm going to order some custom gauge strings for it...since it is 30" scale..I was wondering what gauges I should get? I prefer medium-medium high tension strings (for example, I like playing E standard on a strat with .009-.042s, or I play in open B on a les paul with .010-.052 set) I'm not a fan of piano wire stuff. I'm not much of a bender, but I do like to be able to bend easily. I enjoy chording however.
What gauges would I want to get to match this? I'm going to be tuning to Drop A and sometimes B standard. I'd prefer a wound 3rd if I could do that.
Possible gauges are .056, .042, .032, .022w, .014, .011. However I'm not sure that'd work.

Thanks guys!

For correct intonation (longer scale requires thicker strings) on 30" scale in B/drop A, you'd need a 70 or 74 gauge string.

I'd try 74-54-40-28w-20-15.

You could use the 11-56 set I suppose, and the tension would be fine, but you may have issues intonating. Try it and see, I'd say.

[Dvaienat]

Originally Posted by Jzbass25

Just got my 7 plekd with 9-52s for my rg1527 and I was just thinking about making the low B heavier but keeping the rest the same, what do you think I should go for so it wont change my setup too much and so my B is a little less sloppy. I may have to buy some heavier springs though since I know my guitar wont go to 10s since the springs arent strong enough.

A .056 in B has the exact same tension as a .042 in E. I'd replace the low B with the .056.

[potatohead]

Originally Posted by NatG

For correct intonation (longer scale requires thicker strings) on 30" scale in B/drop A, you'd need a 70 or 74 gauge string.

I'd try 74-54-40-28w-20-15.

You could use the 11-56 set I suppose, and the tension would be fine, but you may have issues intonating. Try it and see, I'd say.

Huh?

Longer scale needs thinner strings...

[Dvaienat]

Originally Posted by potatohead

Huh?

Longer scale needs thinner strings...

No, why do you think a bass uses 50-105 gauges then?
Think of it this way. You have a baritone guitar with 29.5 scale (right in between 25.5 and 34"). For Bb tuning (midway between the two E tunings) you'd need something like 20-80 gauge (again, roughly midway between). A bass uses gauges like 45-100 for correct intonation. So therefore a baritone guitar needs strings somewhere in between for correct intonation. Sorry for my terrible explanation of it.

[potatohead]

Originally Posted by NatG

No, why do you think a bass uses 50-105 gauges then?
Think of it this way. You have a baritone guitar with 29.5 scale (right in between 25.5 and 34"). For Bb tuning (midway between the two E tunings) you'd need something like 20-80 gauge (again, roughly midway between). A bass uses gauges like 45-100 for correct intonation. So therefore a baritone guitar needs strings somewhere in between for correct intonation. Sorry for my terrible explanation of it.

Holy smokes.

Or, lets just prove it this way. Same 9-42 strings on both guitars. Look at the tension difference. I will use 25.5" guitars and 28" baritone, both tuned to E std just for example.

len 25.5"
E .009" PL == 13.13#
B, .011" PL == 11.01#
G, .016" PL == 14.68#
D, .024" NW == 15.77#
A,, .032" NW == 15.77#
E,, .042" NW == 14.77#
total == 85.13#

len 28"
E .009" PL == 15.83#
B, .011" PL == 13.28#
G, .016" PL == 17.7#
D, .024" NW == 19.01#
A,, .032" NW == 19.02#
E,, .042" NW == 17.81#
total == 102.64#

The 28" scale 9-42 is just about the same tension as 10-46 on 25.5" scale:

len 25.5"
E .010" PL == 16.21#
B, .013" PL == 15.38#
G, .017" PL == 16.57#
D, .026" NW == 18.41#
A,, .036" NW == 19.54#
E,, .046" NW == 17.48#
total == 103.59#

A bass uses thicker strings because it's tuned way the hell down from a guitar.

[AcousticMinja]

Originally Posted by NatG

For correct intonation (longer scale requires thicker strings) on 30" scale in B/drop A, you'd need a 70 or 74 gauge string.

I'd try 74-54-40-28w-20-15.

You could use the 11-56 set I suppose, and the tension would be fine, but you may have issues intonating. Try it and see, I'd say.

I'll try that. With longer scales, would you require more tension? I only ask because I don't really like super high tension strings. I'm looking for something to possibly match a 0.013~.056 set in B standard/Drop A on a 25.5 scale guitar for example. I was checking out a calculator, and I got these...

0.056 - 23.03lbs in B
0.042 - 22.11lbs in E
0.032 -23.32lbs in A
0.022w-24.75lbs in D
0.014 -13.73lbs in F#
0.011 -15.25lbs in B

Not sure about that .014. I tried raising the gauge to a .015 and got 16.06lbs in F#.
This is all 30" scale by the way.

So, I'm not really that great in terms of understanding how tension works and all, but would this be good enough? Or would that be a bit much? Again, I prefer medium-to medium high tension stuff. Bending is funkadelic even though I don't use it much. I'd prefer it to be like that though.

[Dvaienat]

Originally Posted by AcousticMinja

I'll try that. With longer scales, would you require more tension? I only ask because I don't really like super high tension strings. I'm looking for something to possibly match a 0.013~.056 set in B standard/Drop A on a 25.5 scale guitar for example. I was checking out a calculator, and I got these...

0.056 - 23.03lbs in B
0.042 - 22.11lbs in E
0.032 -23.32lbs in A
0.022w-24.75lbs in D
0.014 -13.73lbs in F#
0.011 -15.25lbs in B

Not sure about that .014. I tried raising the gauge to a .015 and got 16.06lbs in F#.
This is all 30" scale by the way.

So, I'm not really that great in terms of understanding how tension works and all, but would this be good enough? Or would that be a bit much? Again, I prefer medium-to medium high tension stuff. Bending is funkadelic even though I don't use it much. I'd prefer it to be like that though.

That'd be good enough, and I'm sure it'd work. But yes, ideally longer scales need thicker strings for correct intonation.

[Dvaienat]

Originally Posted by potatohead

Holy smokes.

Or, lets just prove it this way. Same 9-42 strings on both guitars. Look at the tension difference. I will use 25.5" guitars and 28" baritone, both tuned to E std just for example.

len 25.5"
E .009" PL == 13.13#
B, .011" PL == 11.01#
G, .016" PL == 14.68#
D, .024" NW == 15.77#
A,, .032" NW == 15.77#
E,, .042" NW == 14.77#
total == 85.13#

len 28"
E .009" PL == 15.83#
B, .011" PL == 13.28#
G, .016" PL == 17.7#
D, .024" NW == 19.01#
A,, .032" NW == 19.02#
E,, .042" NW == 17.81#
total == 102.64#

The 28" scale 9-42 is just about the same tension as 10-46 on 25.5" scale:

len 25.5"
E .010" PL == 16.21#
B, .013" PL == 15.38#
G, .017" PL == 16.57#
D, .026" NW == 18.41#
A,, .036" NW == 19.54#
E,, .046" NW == 17.48#
total == 103.59#

A bass uses thicker strings because it's tuned way the hell down from a guitar.

No, a bass low E with a 100 gauge string is about 34lbs. A 46 guitar E is about 17lbs. The reason the bass has so much more tension is because the thicker string is needed to get correct intonation. You could use a 75 or 80 on a bass to get regular tension, but the reason a 100 or 105 is used is because you need the thicker string to get the correct intonation.
Therefore baritone guitar strings should be in between - about 17-75 or 20-80, since the bari is tuned in between a guitar and bass!

[AcousticMinja]

Well, the baritone I have is currently strung up with 24-84's or something like that. Those strings were made to be tuned to E-E. Just like a bass. It's like a Fender Bass VI thing. I'm not sure a 70 or a 75 would be ideal for B-B on this scale length...Even A...although I'm not sure. I've tuned up the thing to F# standard and broke the higher 2 strings. It's wayy too much for it. I use a .070 in G# on my 25.5 scale 7 string and I like the tension of that and the intonation is pretty accurate...

[Dvaienat]

Originally Posted by AcousticMinja

Well, the baritone I have is currently strung up with 24-84's or something like that. Those strings were made to be tuned to E-E. Just like a bass. It's like a Fender Bass VI thing. I'm not sure a 70 or a 75 would be ideal for B-B on this scale length...Even A...although I'm not sure. I've tuned up the thing to F# standard and broke the higher 2 strings. It's wayy too much for it. I use a .070 in G# on my 25.5 scale 7 string and I like the tension of that and the intonation is pretty accurate...

.070 in G# is fine.
You don't actually have to use these massive gauges I suggested. They're just what is technically correct. Use what feels good to you.

[gr8Har V]

what if i wanted to switch between G# standard, and drop F# without changing strings on a 7 string 25.5 scale? would it work if i took a 70 (what i like @ G#) and a 78 (what wuld mathmatically be correct at F#) and averaged them so i'd play on a 74? would the notes still be clear at F# or would that be where i need a longer scale?

[Dvaienat]

Originally Posted by gr8Har V

what if i wanted to switch between G# standard, and drop F# without changing strings on a 7 string 25.5 scale? would it work if i took a 70 (what i like @ G#) and a 78 (what wuld mathmatically be correct at F#) and averaged them so i'd play on a 74? would the notes still be clear at F# or would that be where i need a longer scale?

I should think a .070 will be fine in F# if set up right, so use that if you like it. You could try a .074 to be sure tho.

[gr8Har V]

Originally Posted by NatG

I should think a .070 will be fine in F# if set up right, so use that if you like it. You could try a .074 to be sure tho.

Originally Posted by NatG

.070 in G# is fine.
You don't actually have to use these massive gauges I suggested. They're just what is technically correct. Use what feels good to you.

how can a .070 be fine at both G# and F#?

[Dvaienat]

Originally Posted by gr8Har V

how can a .070 be fine at both G# and F#?

The difference in tension between them would be 6lbs. You'd feel the tension drop, but will still be playable.

.070 in F# = .038 in E
.070 in G# = .042 in E

I'd personally bump it up to a .080 for both.

[gr8Har V]

Originally Posted by NatG

The difference in tension between them would be 6lbs. You'd feel the tension drop, but will still be playable.

.070 in F# = .038 in E
.070 in G# = .042 in E

I'd personally bump it up to a .080 for both.

yeah i did the math and a 78 would be the .042 in E. i think a 74 swould be fine for going between, cuz plan on doing the drop tuning only for for about a quarter of my playing.

[fireheart82]

how low can i tune this guitar caparison horus 24.75" 27 frets with exchanging 9-46 e std to tune lower with 14-68 strings i have.. dropped a? or is it to low.. i dont have the intonation tool you see..

[Rook]

I you have no intonation tool I wouldn't go too low, but anything over a 56 will do fine for A depending on how you like it to feel. Your upper end intonation will be screwed though, and I don't think a 68 will fit into gotoh hardware (the Floyd or tuners) I think anything over a 58 will be a struggle.

[CrushingAnvil]

Originally Posted by Fun111

I you have no intonation tool I wouldn't go too low, but anything over a 56 will do fine for A depending on how you like it to feel. Your upper end intonation will be screwed though, and I don't think a 68 will fit into gotoh hardware (the Floyd or tuners) I think anything over a 58 will be a struggle.

.65 is the limit for Gotoh and Grovers.

OP I think you're over doing it a little with the string guages although alot of people here use pretty thick strings whereas I don't.

If I were personally going to tune a Les Paul scale guitar to Dropped-A I would use 12-60.

You might want to get the appropriate tools though. Standard E down to A is a pretty big drop....

[fireheart82]

i think the
10-60 is good for c#. but dropped a or a# with no intonation..
the zakk wylde 10-70 set is for les paul only then if tuners doesnt take gauges over .65?

[Kornfann1024]

ive had 12-58 on my lp down to a standard and drop g...they feel somewhat similar to 9-42 at that low of a tunning to me...and they intonate fairly well