Official Luthiers Forum!

I just released the initial public version of a string set calculator on my site here:

https://liutaiomottola.com/formulae/stringSet.htm

The introductory text on that page explains what the calculator does:



Check it out.

_________________
R.M. Mottola
LiutaioMottola.com

Author of the books Building the Steel String Acoustic Guitar and Mottola's Cyclopedic Dictionary of Lutherie Terms.

I don't check in here very often. If you need to contact me the best bet is via email through the contact page on my site.

Thank you R.M. Very timely and very useful. I have been designing a 7-string steel string in my head, soon to be on paper. I’ve been pondering over string gauges. I expect to use this tool frequently. Thanks again.

I’ve just used it for the same reason - a 7-string that I built a couple years ago.

Thanks very much!

That looks great. Thanks for sharing R.M.

I did a test run and really like the clear formatting and multiple results for heavier or lighter string sets.

For electric guitars there are players who prefer significantly lighter tension than the results I got from your calculator. Tension as low as 10lbs. or less per string. An option to specify string tension as an input parameter could accommodate such players. Or perhaps just expanding the list of results to include sets that are typically marketed as super-light, or extra-super-light.

I have my own spreadsheet which I use for the same purpose so I wouldn't be using your tool myself, but I'm very happy to see it available. A top priority for me is control over string tension, including whether I want even tension across all strings, or evenly increasing or decreasing tension across the strings. I implement this as string tension parameters for the lowest and highest pitched strings.

Just wanted to share some quirky feedback. Great tool!