String gauges, tuning and tension

imalrightjack

Morning all,

I usually play 10-46 on guitars in E standard (25.5 scale length). Works perfectly. 

For Drop C/D standard, with a Floyd Rose, is there a way to calculate an equivalent gauge/tension? I’ve often found 10s on Floyds a tad tight. 

Any thoughts? Is there a magical equation to calculate tension? 

Cheers!

drofluf

Here you go. 

https://www.daddario.com/string-tension-pro/ it only works for d’Addario strings but you can put in your own tuning or gauge and mess around until you have something close in your alternate tuning. You can get a reasonable approximation for other brands. I assume that’s what you’re aiming for rather than knowing the exact tension for a specific brand

There is a magical equation but you need to know factors such as string density or weight per unit length. 

imalrightjack

Interesting! I use D’Addario too!

allen

https://rodrigocfd.github.io/string-tension-calc/

This one is much more advanced. Hit 'new guitar' and off you go. 

You can even press 'new guitar' again and compare across different setups.

imalrightjack

Thanks, @allen ;

Can you make it compensate for Floyd trem?

allen

I don't think so. 

On a related point: Slightly worried we could get into a rabbit hole, but my initial thought is that a given gauge of string (at rest) will always have the same tension. The trem spring stiffness will have some 'give' when you bend a string, but not sure if that varies by type of trem.

jasonbone75

D'Addario 10 -46 E standard 25.5":

D'Addario EXL115 drop C 25.5" is about the closest off the shelf: edit: a custom 6th string slipped in, correction below

I'll check the balanced tension off the shelf 11s as well as they may come a bit closer...

jasonbone75

Sorry, my bad I had a replacement bottom E on the EXL115. Here are the EXL115 and EXL115BT together:

EXL115BT would be my choice here. It would feel really close to the 10-46 at E standard.

imalrightjack

Thanks, @jasonbone75 ;

Best tune that third string to F 

jasonbone75

imalrightjack said:

Thanks, @jasonbone75 ;

Best tune that third string to F 

Crap, how many times have I rushed this lol!

jasonbone75

Sooooooooo......third times a charm. I've gone OCD and grabbed all the typical suspects from D'Addario. Just illustrates yet again what a joke standard guitar string sets are. It might not be obvious - the DIFF FACT column is the total tension difference to E standard 10-46 at 25.5"

imalrightjack

Thanks, @jasonbone75 I've a few sets of EXL116s, so actually a bit lighter, tension-wise.

jasonbone75

imalrightjack said:

Thanks, @jasonbone75 I've a few sets of EXL116s, so actually a bit lighter, tension-wise.

Yeah, that would be the first one I tried out now I've done the numbers at the correct tuning

Perhaps the tiniest of tweaks on the claw screws and bang on methinks.

imalrightjack

Have a whole bunch of widsomses.

drofluf

drofluf said:

Here you go. 

https://www.daddario.com/string-tension-pro/ it only works for d’Addario strings but you can put in your own tuning or gauge and mess around until you have something close in your alternate tuning. You can get a reasonable approximation for other brands. I assume that’s what you’re aiming for rather than knowing the exact tension for a specific brand

There is a magical equation but you need to know factors such as string density or weight per unit length. 

Magic formula 

Tension = unit weight * (2 * Length* Frequency)^2 / 386.4

Tension in lbs, unit weight in pounds per inch, length in inches, frequency in Hz


https://www.daddario.com/globalassets/pdfs/accessories/tension_chart_13934.pdf