Tuning and Tension - Technical question

dilney

dilney

New member
This question is twofold.

First, I want to down tune my strat a half-step or even a full step (to Eb or D, standard tuning). Consequently, string tension will be reduced. I use .010s now and I am thinking of using .011s os .012. Which gauge will give me the same tension of the .010s in standard E tuning?

Second, this is the technical part of the question: if I know the tension of each string when tuned to standard E, can I estimate the tension of the same strings when I change tuning (for example, first string "e" to "d" or "f"). How can I do that?

Thanks for the contribution.
 
Re: Tuning and Tension - Technical question

First question. I use 13's for a standard-flattened-to-D guitar. The feel and tone is nice. Do it and you will see. Truss will need a tweak. And vibrato springs must be added. Heavy sounding, with no flapping strings. Nice.

Part two of your question is beyond my understanding...
 
Re: Tuning and Tension - Technical question

Thanks.

I googled for the second question and found this site:
http://www.mcdonaldstrings.com/stringxxiii.html

It has a string tension calculator. It's a little different from the specs I found on my D'Addario pack, but it gives a good estimate of string tension and total tension for what I needed.
 
Re: Tuning and Tension - Technical question

JohnJohn said:
Not to be rude but I think that you're overthinking this.
Not to take away from you efforts,(great info though),but I would suggest that the instrument will respond as you alter the tensions.Basic adjustments will bring it all back in line to a happy medium.Unless your idea is to alter string tensions for different tunings without any adjusting.
But even then as you drop and remove strings the tension will be off,(if even for short amounts of time),and the instrument may respond to that and in the end require adjustments anyway.
Nothing serious and,(except in extreme cases),you won't ruin your guitar.
Click to expand...

JohnJohn: If I get you right, you are saying that even though I can get "about the same" tension, I'll have to do some adjustments to the truss rod, right?

In that case, I'm pretty confident I can handle it and set the guitar up fine.

Anyway, thanks for reminding me of that.

What I was REALLY worried, was how heavy it would be for me to bend the strings. 10's are ok for me and I can get 1.5 step bends easily, but I was wondering if 12's downtuned would be too heavy for me.
 
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