Hi. I appreciate your site and vision.
I'm building my first guitar, and would like to know going in how much pressure a set of light strings will exert onto my bridge (the downward force, at 90 degrees to the strings) when stretched from a tailpiece. I am told this pressure is greater when the angle across the bridge is more extreme; I don't need to know if this asssertion is true; I just need a technohack estimate to help me build a strong but sensitive face, using my own strut system. BTW, the pressure from nut to tailpiece, linearly, is something like 179.2 lbs.
thanks much!
Replies
Are you sure about that tension being 179Lbs?? I think if it where that high alot of the tail pieces you see here would be flying off. I found this web page that puts the linear tension closer to 20Lbs which sounds much more realistic to me. What do you technohacks think?
http://www.daddario.com/DAstringtensionguide.Page?sid=9c6c2dc2-7c10...
I'm very, very new at this, but I'm wondering if your 20lbs is per string, for extra lights?
Joe, if you look at the D'addarrio site they have the low E string, a .046 wound, at 17.5 pounds. !79 pounds of pressure would be breaking strings and really hard on the fingers when fretting. I don't know about the bridge pressure, which is your real question. So far I have on;y had a problem with one box flexing from the bridge so it is a concern and a good question.
You may be correct in that the 179 is for all 6 strings, I have not added up D'addarios figures but that makes more sense, mine are all 3 string so half that for the average cbg.
I see what you're saying.... and I appreciate the check. I'll do some more looking, starting with D'addario. Thanks.
One more thing to consider. The shorter scale will have less tension, longer higher tension. Good luck and let us know how it works out.
Here is another cool calculator of string tensions etc.
http://wahiduddin.net/calc/calc_guitar_string.htm
I 've made a number of successful builds and never found the need to be concerned about this, i found most cigar box lids should support the pressure from the strings at the bridge easily enough, or as with my builds if all/part of the through-neck is supporting the bridge directly below it. It is important for the neck/body joints to be made as rigid as possible, otherwise distortion will occur with the neck bending while playing.
btw if you find the answer to your question let us know! (-;
I'd solve it for you, but what's the fun in that? Just need to resolve the force vector:
http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/vectors/u3l1e.cfm
Huntz
Joe,
Here's some background on what strings do when under tension, and how to calculate that linear string tension (I know, not what you're asking for, but good background nonetheless):
http://www.noyceguitars.com/Technotes/Articles/T3.html
There are several online tension calculations for various string gauges / sets when tuned to standard pitch; here are a couple that also reference other information, from string manufacturers like D'Addario:
http://www.mcdonaldstrings.com/stringxxiii.html
http://wahiduddin.net/calc/calc_guitar_string.htm
I understand that you are not looking for the linear string tension, but instead for the downward vector force of a string bent at 90 degrees across a saddle. Here's some sites I found rather quickly with Google, that may answer your needs:
http://www.liutaiomottola.com/formulae/downforce.htm
http://mowrystrings.com/downloads.htm
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