Whats the deal...

[stubhead]

There was a guy on the seven-string forum who went through the GHS site and calculated out matching string tensions. I can't find the link right now, but I have it printed out on my wall.... :laughing7:

Basically, he found that the sets you buy from the store are light on the low E string, and really light on the lowest B string. For matching tension, here's what he found:

.009 - .012 - .015/.016 - .024 - .032 - .044 - .059/.060
.010 - .013 - .017 - . 026 - .036 - .049/.050 - .066
.011 - .015 - .019 - .030 - .042 - -056 - .075 (!)

You really want to crank that bottom string gauge up a ways.... I've found that using these sizes, I can even keep a whammy'd chord sort-of in tune! :cool01: I keep .066's and .070's around now, the hard part is finding a tuning key they'll go through. Schallers won't take above a .060, you have to use the Planet Waves or Ibanez, or track down some Pings.

Sort-of....

 

[JohninSC]

I don't know how this will sound with metal, but - flatwound strings are higher tension than roundwounds, so a set of medium electric jazz strings (.013-.056?) might make it that much easier to get where you want to go. I wonder if they would work with a metal-type rig.

I use Daddario chromes, a flatwound jazz string. It works perfectly for low metal chugging

 

[dbw]

There was a guy on the seven-string forum who went through the GHS site and calculated out matching string tensions. I can't find the link right now, but I have it printed out on my wall.... :laughing7:

Basically, he found that the sets you buy from the store are light on the low E string, and really light on the lowest B string. For matching tension, here's what he found:

.009 - .012 - .015/.016 - .024 - .032 - .044 - .059/.060
.010 - .013 - .017 - . 026 - .036 - .049/.050 - .066
.011 - .015 - .019 - .030 - .042 - -056 - .075 (!)

You really want to crank that bottom string gauge up a ways.... I've found that using these sizes, I can even keep a whammy'd chord sort-of in tune! :cool01: I keep .066's and .070's around now, the hard part is finding a tuning key they'll go through. Schallers won't take above a .060, you have to use the Planet Waves or Ibanez, or track down some Pings.

Sort-of....

I know the post you're talking about... really good stuff!  Someone should find the link... it's been posted here before.

I absolutely agree that most commercial (6-string) sets have too light a low E string.  10-48 should be 10-50 and 12-52 should be 12-56, or thereabouts.  I used to make custom sets but I got lazy, the difference isn't that noticeable.