String Tension Question

[Taylor Martin Guild]

As you know, I got a baritone guitar a few weeks ago.
It came with D'Addario baritone strings. [.016 to .070]

My question is this.
It is tuned B to B.
If I want to tune it up to C to C, would I want to use lighter gauge strings
to keep the tension down?
I was thinking about trying some regular heavy gauge strings.

 

[davismanLV]

Why are you wanting to do this?

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

Tuned B to B , the guitar is just a little too much bottom end for me right now.
I am getting more used to it though. I'm interested in knowing what the options are for a baritone.
As I have been reading on the guitar forums, there isn't any rules as to what works and what doesn't for different tunings on a baritone. The baritone hasn't been used very much in the past, so it's a new world to explore.
String gauge choice is all over the place.

I want to know how the guitar will sound when tuned up a step.
I may like it more there. I just won't know until I try it.

 

[davismanLV]

This is a bit problematic, TMG. The only person I know to ask about baritone guitars..... IS YOU! Not a whole lot of them around and not many people have them. I'd think you can put any strings on them you want. What's the scale length on that baritone?

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

The guitar scale is 27 3/4" from nut to saddle.
What I need to know is how different tunings and different gauge strings will affect the guitar.
I would like to see a chart that shows the string tension for a baritone guitar in the different tunings and with different gauge strings.
I have seen these charts for regular acoustic guitars before.
The last thing that I want to do is to damage the guitar by using the wrong strings.

 

[davismanLV]

So, what we're trying to find here is if lighter gauge strings tuned higher will increase or decrease the tension ..... is that right?

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

That is correct.

 

[12 string]

I think you can do a little extrapolation to find string guages for what you want to do. Your 6th string, at .070, is tuned to B. Find the difference between that and the 5th string guage, subtract one fifth of that amount from 70 and the string will tune to C with about the same tension. In other words, if the 5th string guage is .055 (I don't know the actual number) you would subtract 55 from 70 meaning that .015" is the difference between the two strings. Subtract one fifth of that amount (.003) from 70 and .067 would be a good guage for C...assuming that my specualative guess of .055 is correct. Use that process for all the strings. The second string won't be completely accurate because the interval is different, but it will get you close enough. I suspect you'll only wind up dropping the treble strings by a single thousandth of an inch each, anyway. I use these calculations all the time in creative 12 string stringing and tuning.

Dang, I hope that made enough sense...

' Strang

 

[Scratch]

Good hearing from you Strang. You always have good insight...

 

[12 string]

Thanking you kindly, Ken.

' Strang

 

[Taylor Martin Guild]

Thank you for your information.
I will try to use it to see what strings will work for me.

 

[Zelja]

It is tuned B to B.
If I want to tune it up to C to C, would I want to use lighter gauge strings
to keep the tension down?

Yes, I believe. TMG, check out the associated pdf from D'addario: http://www.daddario.com/upload/tension_chart_13934.pdf

You can use it to approximate the current tension you have with your 0.016 to 0.070 set at B.

E.g.

Plain Steel 1 string:
A 0.016 tuned to B has a tension of 23.3
A 0.015 tuned to C has a tension of 23.0

Nickel Plated Roundwound 6th string:
A 0.070 tuned to B has a tension of 22.9
A 0.066 tuned to C has a tension of 23.0

You could go through the rest of the strings as well to work out a custom set.

Note that these tensions are at a scale length for 25.5" so the tension on your longer scale length will be less. Perhaps also the differences on the longer scale between the smaller string tuned to c & the original string gauge at B will be larger as the tensions may be non-linear but it should get you in the ball park.

You could also use the string tension chart to see where another standard set will be at C in comparison to your original set at B.