Tension ?

[John Bertotti]

Generally speaking, in mando family instruments, does the string tension increase with scale length or decrease?
FYI I run a mac computer and Doug Dieters string tension calculator wont work on it. Let me know if there is an alternative.
Thanks John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[Chris Baird]

Tension increases as scale length increases.

[John Bertotti]

Thansk Chris! John

[Dave Cohen]

Tension increases as scale length increases if the strings have the same diameter and density in both cases. If you use lighter gauge strings in combination with a longer scale length, you can keep the same tension. There is an online string tension calculater called Arto's String Calculater. You can find it in the links over on MIMF. It is easy to use. Use a density of about 7600 kg/cubic meter for plain steel strings, and a density of about 7200 kg/cubic meter for phosphor bronze wrapped steel core strings.

[John Bertotti]

Thanks Dave I'll give it a shot. I can't remember if I tried that one or not. John

[John Bertotti]

Alright a new question, I am drawing a blanck on which octave a mandolin is tuned at. I just turn the tuner on to the one that sounds right and tune from there. I need to know what octace it is and what octace and octave mandola/short scale cittern is tuned at (gdaea five course). I found I didn't know when I went to the string calculator above. It has many choices to chose from from bigC-B on down to little c-b with orwithoue""""" or'''. I'm lost thanks John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[John Bertotti]

Thanks Jacob.
Ok so correct me if I'm wrong I can take the decimal number in inches times 25.4 to get the approximate mm. Since Artos string calculator needs mm. What do I use for a string length? The scale length or the actual string length from tuner to tail piece? Thanks all this just turned out to be a project that required ore specific knowledge then I already knew. John

[John Bertotti]

I used the constant above and he scale lengths for a string length and got a original four course value of .056 Kg. I didn't double it for the double strings. I get .066 Kg for the sizes recommended by Steve at acoustic music works. The five course is a shorter scale from 22 7/8 original to 20.379 inches now with a fifth course. So is and increase of .01 Kg and the shift to a shorter scale length a reasonable increase in tension? Thanks all John http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

I found an online converter and the difference taking into account all string is about 4.409 Lbs. I will go with this unless someone tells me 4.5 lbs is to much of an increase. John