There are other tension calculators out there, how is this different?

Tension calculators will return the tension of a given string in a given tuning. If you want the same string tension in a different tuning or on a different guitar, you need to work backwards to find the optimal string gauges. Then you need to find a set of strings that match all the optimal gauges. Now you can skip all these steps.

You could just ask AI?

Maybe, but drop-downs are quicker than writing a prompt.

I play in a Sonic Youth cover band. Why is my tuning not on here?

I wanted to keep the tool as simple as possible and not have you enter everything for each string, so I went with a selection of most common tunings. If you play in alternate tunings, you most likely thought about this a lot and have it worked out already.

Why is my favourite string set not included?

I tried to cover most common electric guitar string sets from major brands. If there is a brand I have omitted, please contact me and let me know. And if you use a custom set of strings, you probably also have it all figured out already (see 3).

I play a fretless guitar with flatwounds, will this still work?

The information I used for the calculations comes from the good people at D’Addario, who not only make great strings, but also published a comprehensive documentation of tensions and unit weights. The tool will therefore work best for D’Addario XL nickel wound electric guitar strings. The results for similar strings from other manufacturers shouldn’t be that different. If you use very different strings, the calculations will be off, but the results should still be useful.

What about other multiscale guitars?

If you play a multiscale or fanned-fret guitar then you probably care about string tension and string gauges. Unfortunately, other than Strandberg, it is difficult to find information from the manufacturers about the effective scale length for each string.

How do you compare guitars with different number of strings?

If you are moving to an instrument with more strings, I assume you want the additional string(s) to have the same feel as your current lowest string. If you are moving from a seven or eight string down to a six or seven the tool only compares the top strings common to both instruments.