Psuedo Tenor string questions

[calmb4tehpwn]

So, guys. I'm playing in a band that wants to do low drop G#, and I've decided, for fear of my cabs (and the terrible sound of low G# through my rig) to go the other direction and get a sub-octave pedal. Too easy.

So I'm getting a ADGC set, and tuning the A down half a step, and the rest up half a step, resulting in what I want, G#D#G#C#.

Now, to my question. Gauges... I'm assuming I want a heavy A, and light DG and C strings, so I'm tracking something around:
G# 85
D# 60
G# 44
C# 30

Let me know if I'm on the wrong track. I don't know the science between gauge, tension, and note, so feel free to hurl some knowledge my way. Also, anyone willing to drop a sub-octave pedal my way on the (relatively) cheap, would be sincerely appreciated. I know you guys aren't using them anymore.

Thanks in advance for the font of information about to be poured at me.

Note: I haven't played with enough tensions to know what I'm most comfortable playing, so when it comes to my desired tension, assume "standard"

[calmb4tehpwn]

Okay, so Ken Smith has a 6 string set for pretty much exactly what I -think- I need.

.030 .044 .063 .084 .106 .125

That 63 isn't exactly what I imagined, but if I have issues, I've got other D strings laying around, and I probably have one at a slightly smaller gauge.

What do you think guys?

[ixlramp]

Originally Posted by calmb4tehpwn

So I'm getting a ADGC set, and tuning the A down half a step, and the rest up half a step, resulting in what I want, G#D#G#C#.

Let me know if I'm on the wrong track. I don't know the science between gauge, tension, and note, so feel free to hurl some knowledge my way.

Note: I haven't played with enough tensions to know what I'm most comfortable playing, so when it comes to my desired tension, assume "standard"

Perhaps build a set from singles? It's cheaper and you can choose the tensions you want.

The excellent daddario tension chart pdf has everything you need to understand what determines tension and how to calculate tension for any type of string of any gauge at any note on any scale.

But yeah, you're on the right track.

Looking at the nickel roundwound table, I personally would have the strings at roughly equal tension or a very slight fall in tension with pitch, standard tension being perhaps 40 pounds?:

.028w 36 pounds of tension
.040 38
.055 40
.085 43