Official Luthiers Forum!

Does anybody know the formula to calculate how changes in scale length affect string tension assuming string gauge stays the same? For example, lets say I have a 650mm and 660mm guitar, both strung with the same gauge strings, about how much more tension does the longer scale guitar have?

Thanks!

John

This site has the calculator http://www.greenmanhumming.com/html/Str ... e%20applet

The inputs can be found from D'Addario's site http://www.daddario.com/Resources/JDCDA ... _chart.pdf

I have a spreadsheet on my other computer than kind of automates the calculations. If you want it PM me with your email address and I'll send it this evening.

John,

If you mean steel strings then this is the calculator I use.

If the guitars with scale lengths you quote were in EADGBE tuning with 12-53 strings then the 660mm scale length one would have a total string tension of 169.68lb and the 650mm scale length one 164.58lb.

_________________
Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010