6 String Short Scale Lap Steel Low Bass String Size

[Tony Oresteen]

I spent quite a bit of time figuring out what tension I like my lap steel strings to be. For me, I like strings that are from 27 to 31 pounds of pull. So that is what I strive for when I calculate a string set for a particular tuning.

To calculate tension you need to know the instrument scale, the pitch note, and the diameter of the string. I use Stringjoy's on line tension calculator to figure the pull in pounds.

https://tension.stringjoy.com/

I have had fun trying out different tunings but occasionally I end having to use a too thick big string for the #6 low bass string.

Take OPEN D (L2H) DADF#AD for example. A lot of You Tube players use it. The low bass note is a D2. The "2" means in is the D note in the second octave. To calculate tension you must know which octave the note is in.

I tried OPEN D on my Gibson BR-9 22.5" lap steel:




The #6 bass string for D2 note needs a whopping 0.074" string to have the tension I like - 28.90 lbs of pull. I put one on it but after using it, it was just too big for the 22.5" scale. The You Tubers that are using OPEN D are using a 25.5" scale Duesenberg lap steel so they can use a 0.060" or a 0.062" size string to get a D2 note with 27.1 lbs of pull.

I put a chart together that lists bass notes from C3 used in standard C6 tuning down to C2 which is low with string sizes that that pull between 27 and 31 pounds of pull. I use it to check if the tuning will work on my 22.5" or 23.0" scale lap steels. I'm posting it as you may find it useful as you explore different tuings for your short scale lap steels.




If you like less tensions use a smaller string. I find that my lower limit is E2 using a 0.064" string.

[Bruce Roger]

I spent quite a bit of time figuring out what tension I like my lap steel strings to be. For me, I like strings that are from 27 to 31 pounds of pull. So that is what I strive for when I calculate a string set for a particular tuning.

To calculate tension you need to know the instrument scale, the pitch note, and the diameter of the string. I use Stringjoy's on line tension calculator to figure the pull in pounds.

https://tension.stringjoy.com/

I have had fun trying out different tunings but occasionally I end having to use a too thick big string for the #6 low bass string.

I followed the link to chart the string tension on my 8-string C13 lap steel. Based on John Ely’s chart, the strings range from 6 to 30#. This leads me to ask, “Why should they be uniform if not pressing the string into the fret? Does tension affect the sound?”

Thanks.

[Allan Revich]

I followed the link to chart the string tension on my 8-string C13 lap steel. Based on John Ely’s chart, the strings range from 6 to 30#. This leads me to ask, “Why should they be uniform if not pressing the string into the fret? Does tension affect the sound?”

Thanks.

Uniform string tension (or close to it) will give you a better “feel” under the steel bar, and you’re less likely to have string buzz issues. Another thing that contributes to feel and reduces buzzing is string gauges that are not to far apart on adjacent strings. Basically you want the bar to be pressing evenly on all the strings when the bar is lying across them, untouched by your hand.

The heavier gauge strings will still feel right with less tension than the light strings, so anything heavier than a .062 will be reserved for baritone tunings for most people. I’ve found .058 or .060 to be just fine for my low D.

[Tony Oresteen]

I spent quite a bit of time figuring out what tension I like my lap steel strings to be. For me, I like strings that are from 27 to 31 pounds of pull. So that is what I strive for when I calculate a string set for a particular tuning.

To calculate tension you need to know the instrument scale, the pitch note, and the diameter of the string. I use Stringjoy's on line tension calculator to figure the pull in pounds.

https://tension.stringjoy.com/

I have had fun trying out different tunings but occasionally I end having to use a too thick big string for the #6 low bass string.

I followed the link to chart the string tension on my 8-string C13 lap steel. Based on John Ely’s chart, the strings range from 6 to 30#. This leads me to ask, “Why should they be uniform if not pressing the string into the fret? Does tension affect the sound?”

Thanks.

Allan nailed it. Uniform tensions make barring easier. You don't have to increase downward pressure to compensate for a looser string.

[Tony Oresteen]

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Thanks.

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........ I’ve found .058 or .060 to be just fine for my low D.[/quote]


Allan,

Is that on a 21" lap steel or a 26" lap steel? The scale matters considerably so you should state what scale you were using that a 0.060" string worked ok for a low D.

Tension is a three legged stool: pitch, length, and diameter. You need all three to calculate tension.