String Gauge & Tension for a Regal lap steel

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

I'm wanting to tune up this little old Regal 6 string lap steel with an open E tuning:

Low to high: E B E G# B E

Scale length is 23-1/4 inches

Plenty of string gauge/tension calculators out there. My main question is how many POUNDS OF TENSION per string should I be after for a good lap steel feel?

Thanks,
Brad

Noah Miller · From: Rocky Hill, CT

I aim for around 25-30 lbs per string.

Brad Sarno · From: St. Louis, MO USA

Thanks Noah!

Jeff Bell · From: California, USA

I have my Supro, which is around 23.25", tuned that way and I was thinking of ordering a new set of strings and really like what I've got. According to the String Joy tension calculator, it's about 27lbs per string.

E- 60w
B - 40w
E - 30w
G# - 24w
B - 18p
E - 13.5p

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I'm with Noah - around 25-30 lb/string, depending on the steel. I try get the tensions pretty close to equal all the way across. I use this string tension calculator to get the gauges in right vicinity - https://tension.stringjoy.com/

Each tension calculator depends on the exact materials, string winding technique, and so on. But the string tensions feel very equal across the neck. I have too many guitars, so I just buy bulk strings by the dozen very reasonably at juststrings.com

D'Addario also has their own string gauge/tension chart here - https://www.daddario.com/globalassets/pdfs/accessories/tension_chart_13934.pdf - it's a bit more laborious but works fine too.

Tony Oresteen · From: Georgia, USA

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