Hello, World!

I'm trying to put together some information about string gauges.

All of you who purchased a new stick, or a used stick with all the documentation, you should've gotten a document with the tuning and gauges (see below):



Would you be so kind of sharing it here?

This will help me tremendously!

Thanks in advance
Walt

I'm not sure if we all got that, Walt. I don't recall getting one with my Railboard, just an invoice. I checked a set of strings I have for it to see if a sheet like that was in there, but no - just the envelopes with the strings.

Interesting... I've never bought a new stick because of the long delivery times. But the used ones I bought with all documentation (graphite & railboard) came with such a document, exactly as shown. On the sets of strings that I had nothing was shown, only the name of the tuning and the number of the string.

Anyway, let's see if others got it and want to share it

Both my Stick and Railboard were bought used. No string paperwork came with them. When I ordered a set of light gauge strings for my vintage Stick from SE, the package had only the string number on the outside but not the gauge.

The package was labelled 5+5 Classic light gauge.
String 1 - .008"
String 2 - .009"
String 3 - .011"
String 4 - .014"
String 5 - .024" ww
String 6 - .116" ww
String 7 - .064" ww
String 8 - .040" ww
String 9 - .024" ww
String 10 - .013"

On page 3 of the Free Hands book, it states the following string gauges.
String 1 - .007"
String 2 - .008"
String 3 - .010"
String 4 - .014"
String 5 - .022" ww
String 6 - .092" ww
String 7 - .065" ww
String 8 - .040" ww
String 9 - .022" ww
String 10 - .013"

When I first tried reaching out to SE, I could not get any strings for my vintage Stick. So, I bought four sets of Newtone strings and I really liked them. When I was finally able to get a set of strings from SE, I didn't like them on the vintage Stick but they work fine on my Railboard. So, that set is currently in use on the Railboard.

Thanks for sharing, this is similar to what I have so far.


How did you get these gauges? Did you measure the strings that they sent you?


I've seen this on my Free Hands too, but as someone pointed out in another thread, these seem to have changed over the years, that is why they are slightly different from the ones they sent you.

Basically, this the string gauge and pitch, you can put a set for different variations of the same tuning:



What is very interesting, and I've noticed this from other sets too, is that when there is a note that is repeated on both the bass and melody side (i.e A3 or E3), the bass side always has a heavier gauge.

I use a digital caliper to measure any strings that are unknown.

Maybe I should do the same, I used an analog one in mm and then converted it to in, which could introduce some errors. But I found a digital one in inches, so I'm going to remeasure my current sets.

I love The idea of getting a list of different tunings and gauges together. It would simplify further tuning experiments immensely and also open up for cheaper strings alternatives for folks outside of the north america such as myself.

I have a set of unused 12-string Matched Reciprocal light gauge stings that I'll measure for this thread as soon as I get my hands on a digital caliper.