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Thread: String Tension of Silk and steel strings

  1. #1
    Registered User J.C. Bryant's Avatar
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    Default String Tension of Silk and steel strings

    I have a Kala tenor guitar, 21.5" scale +or- . I want to tuned it to Uke tuning GCEA and was recommended 10, 13, 18W 26w strings. I had some LaBella Silk and steel strings and used a 11, 14, 23w, 31w. the little guitar sounds great and doesn't seem to e over stressed. But I don't know how to do the tension thing for strings. For those of you who really know, is what I've done okay or should I go with a lesser gauge? Thank you

  2. #2
    Registered User fox's Avatar
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    Default Re: String Tension of Silk and steel strings

    I think LaBella Silk and steel strings are slightly lower tension than standard steel strings so using the standard string calculator sites won't work for them.

  3. #3
    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: String Tension of Silk and steel strings

    IDK , the plain strings are still subject to Physics.
    writing about music
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  4. #4
    Registered User J.C. Bryant's Avatar
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    Default Re: String Tension of Silk and steel strings

    I really never got a definitive answer to my question. I'm still wanting to tune a Kala Tenor guitar to tenor Ukulele tuning (low G) GCEA. What would be the best string gauges NOT necessarily silk and steel. Thanks for letting me try again.
    Last edited by J.C. Bryant; Mar-27-2018 at 1:48pm.

  5. #5

    Default Re: String Tension of Silk and steel strings

    Hi, Did you ever find the answer to this question? I have a new Kala Tenor guitar 21" scale and would like to figure out what the right steel strings would be for the (low G) GCEA tuning. Were you able to do this on your Kala Tenor Guitar? Thanks in advance! P.S., I'm new to this board, so I hope I'm asking in the right place. Thanks again.

  6. #6

    Default Re: String Tension of Silk and steel strings

    Quote Originally Posted by apdapd View Post
    I have a new Kala Tenor guitar 21" scale and would like to figure out what the right steel strings would be for the (low G) GCEA tuning.
    Low G: G3 C4 E4 A4 @ 21.5" scale.

    One possibility: 10-13-16-24w

    0.0100 in. 20.55 lbs
    0.0130 in. 19.49 lbs
    0.0160 in. 18.60 lbs
    0.0240 in. 20.79 lbs
    Last edited by Huck; Oct-05-2020 at 9:30pm.

  7. The following members say thank you to Huck for this post:

    apdapd 

  8. #7

    Default Re: String Tension of Silk and steel strings

    Quote Originally Posted by Huck View Post
    Low G: G3 C4 E4 A4 @ 21.5" scale.

    One possibility: 10-13-16-24w

    0.0100 in. 20.55 lbs
    0.0130 in. 19.49 lbs
    0.0160 in. 18.60 lbs
    0.0240 in. 20.79 lbs
    Thanks so much!

    One follow up: I'm really new to understanding string size, tension, etc. (And frankly, I don't understand it yet). The strings that are currently on my new 21" scale Kala Tenor guitar are the factory installed D'Addario J66-Tenor Guitar/Bronze.

    According to the package it says:

    0.0100 in. 23.5 lbs
    0.0140 in. 20.5 lbs
    0.0220 in. 20.2 lbs
    0.0320 in. 19.1 lbs

    Do you think I need to worry about damaging the instrument if I replace these strings with the ones you suggest?

    It seems to me that the total pounds of your suggestion is 79.43 and the total pounds listed on my D'Addario strings' package is 83.3. (it does say on the package: 25 1/2" (648mm) scale length used for tension measurements) . I've watched a couple of videos that explain string tension, but this is so far from my wheelhouse that I had a tough time following them. Plus, the videos I've seen are all for standard sized six-string guitars. I honestly don't know if putting these other strings on my 21" Kala is something I should worry about or not.

    Thanks in advance!

  9. #8

    Default Re: String Tension of Silk and steel strings

    apdapd,

    Aim for around 20 lbs. per string to start. Go up or down from there to find what works best for you.

    80 lbs. total is just a benchmark.

    Theoretically, although probably warranty cancelling, you can go from as low as 60 lbs. to as high as 100 lbs. total tension.[EXTREMES]

    Try to keep it balanced (even tension) across the fretboard up or down a few pounds from each other.

    REFERENCE SET- EJ66 CGDA @ 23" scale

    0.0100 in. 23.52 lbs
    0.0140 in. 20.53 lbs
    0.0220 in. 20.08 lbs
    0.0320 in. 18.73 lbs

    Came to you from Kala - CGDA @ 21.5" scale (Shorter scale lowers tension.)

    0.0100 in. 20.55 lbs
    0.0140 in. 17.94 lbs
    0.0220 in. 17.54 lbs
    0.0320 in. 16.37 lbs

    You desire GCEA @ 21.5" scale

    10-13-18w-24 gives you around 20 lbs. per string. (Approximately same feel as the EJ66's):

    0.0100 in. 20.55 lbs
    0.0130 in. 19.49 lbs
    0.0180 in. 20.50 lbs
    0.0240 in. 20.79 lbs

    Thinner strings = less tension. So if you wanted to go lighter - around 17 lbs. per string.
    9-12-15-22w gives you:

    0.0090 in. 16.65 lbs
    0.0120 in. 16.61 lbs
    0.0150 in. 16.35 lbs
    0.0220 in. 17.54 lbs

    Heavier strings = more tension. 11-15-20w-26:

    0.0110 in. 24.86 lbs
    0.0150 in. 25.95 lbs
    0.0200 in. 25.41 lbs
    0.0260 in. 24.31 lbs

    Here's a recent thread that may help: https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...-String-Gauges

    Best of luck,
    Huck

  10. The following members say thank you to Huck for this post:

    apdapd 

  11. #9

    Default Re: String Tension of Silk and steel strings

    Quote Originally Posted by Huck View Post
    apdapd,

    Aim for around 20 lbs. per string to start. Go up or down from there to find what works best for you.

    80 lbs. total is just a benchmark.

    Theoretically, although probably warranty cancelling, you can go from as low as 60 lbs. to as high as 100 lbs. total tension.[EXTREMES]

    Try to keep it balanced (even tension) across the fretboard up or down a few pounds from each other.

    REFERENCE SET- EJ66 CGDA @ 23" scale

    0.0100 in. 23.52 lbs
    0.0140 in. 20.53 lbs
    0.0220 in. 20.08 lbs
    0.0320 in. 18.73 lbs

    Came to you from Kala - CGDA @ 21.5" scale (Shorter scale lowers tension.)

    0.0100 in. 20.55 lbs
    0.0140 in. 17.94 lbs
    0.0220 in. 17.54 lbs
    0.0320 in. 16.37 lbs

    You desire GCEA @ 21.5" scale

    10-13-18w-24 gives you around 20 lbs. per string. (Approximately same feel as the EJ66's):

    0.0100 in. 20.55 lbs
    0.0130 in. 19.49 lbs
    0.0180 in. 20.50 lbs
    0.0240 in. 20.79 lbs

    Thinner strings = less tension. So if you wanted to go lighter - around 17 lbs. per string.
    9-12-15-22w gives you:

    0.0090 in. 16.65 lbs
    0.0120 in. 16.61 lbs
    0.0150 in. 16.35 lbs
    0.0220 in. 17.54 lbs

    Heavier strings = more tension. 11-15-20w-26:

    0.0110 in. 24.86 lbs
    0.0150 in. 25.95 lbs
    0.0200 in. 25.41 lbs
    0.0260 in. 24.31 lbs

    Here's a recent thread that may help: https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...-String-Gauges

    Best of luck,
    Huck
    OH WOW!! Thank you SO much! I just couldn’t google the right things to figure all this out on my own. I am truly grateful for your help. I’ll order the strings now and let you know how it worked. A million thanks!

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