String tension - worry or not?

[jodygc50]

I’ve picked up a Guild M-20 (24.75” scale and sold with Light strings .054 - .012) and am thinking about using it as my regular slide guitar. I’d like to use D’Addario Mediums .056 - .013) and replace the .013 with a .015…

I’ve looked at a few different string tension calculators and they show the total tension for Lights in standard tuning at about 163 lbs. and for the Mediums with a .015 in Open D at about 170 lbs.

My question is - is that 7 lb. difference likely to be a problem - or is 4% nothing to worry about? Thanks!

[Wade Hampton]

Most factory-built guitars can handle medium gauge strings without any problems. I’d suggest that you just put on some mediums and watch what the guitar does - if it’s too much for the instrument, go back to lights.

But I honestly doubt it’ll be a problem.

Hope this helps.


Wade Hampton Miller

[rllink]

You could just email or even call Guild and ask. I've talked to them on a few questions I've had about my D-20 and they are very responsive.

[Silly Moustache]

Surely, if you are going to use it for slide, you will be tuning it DOWN to open D, C or G , or whatever, which would reduce the tension over all.

[jodygc50]

Right you are… that’s the 7 lb difference of Mediums in Open D. Thanks

[jodygc50]

Thanks WHM and rllinks - good points!

[Jimbo00]

I set up the nut slots & saddles for/in Standard D (D2-G2-C3-F3-A3-D4) that way I can capo it at the 1st & 2nd frets to get to Standard E. Standard D is optimal set up (I'm not open tuning it any lower), whatever the capo or even tuners tension the strings for, 1/2 Step (Eb) & Standard E will lift & have slightly higher string action height that I have to live with. The Capo is the better way to go. The guitar I have is a super shallow bowl Ovation, so it needs the lower tune to project a deeper bass presence anyway.

Acoustic guitars being glued together with wood glues that can take 3,000, 3,500, even as much as 4,500 lbs of force, the guitar isn't coming apart over 160-170 (6 string) to 225-250 (12 string) lbs of string tension as a set. The headstock & neck is built to handle that load as well. The truss rod may need a slight adjustment, but it's not going to break or warp & twist over 7 more lbs of string tension.

What was the guitar set up for, or rather what was the intended tuning when you bought it ? Ovation made mine with high string action to be playable out of the box, not an optimal set up that was dialed in for lowest action & intended use as a slide or normal finger/pick player..

[abn556]

+1 on add a touch to the truss rod after a week or so. When I go up in string size I check the relief a week later to see if the additional pressure took any relief out of the neck.

[jodygc50]

Thanks all…

[Wade Hampton]

Originally Posted by jodygc50

Thanks all…

I think all of us would join in on a group “You’re welcome!”


whm