String calculator
The Savarez Selector was the string calculator Savarez distributed on CD-ROM between 1998 and 2000: from a string's frequency, vibrating length and tension, it worked out its theoretical gauge in gut, nylon or fluorocarbon (KF) if plain, or its linear weight (PUL) if wound, and looked up the closest reference in the house catalogue. It stopped being distributed years ago; this page recovers and documents it with demonstrable fidelity.
Read the formulas →Use this calculator with caution: a wrong calculation can damage your instrument.
18.00 kg
Total set tension
6
strings · 3 wound
440 Hz
Pitch standard
| Plain — gauge in mm | Wound — linear weight in PUL | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | Note | Hz | Length | Tension | Gut (mm) | Nylon (mm) | KF (mm) | Gut-core wound (PUL) | Synthetic-core wound (PUL) |
| 1 | MI (E) | 330.0 | 0.429 BRH40 | 0.470 NN47 | 0.415 KF41 | — | — | ||
| 2 | SI (B) | 247.0 | 0.573 BRH55 | 0.628 NN60 | 0.554 KF55 | — | — | ||
| 3 | SOL (G) | 196.0 | 0.722 BRH71 | 0.792 NN77 | 0.699 KF69 | — | — | ||
| 4 | RE (D) | 147.0 | — | — | — | 94.5 No exact reference in the catalogue | 94.5 NFA90 · NFC92 | ||
| 5 | LA (A) | 110.0 | — | — | — | 168.7 BFA162 · BFC160 | 168.7 NFA150 · NFC152 | ||
| 6 | MI (E) | 82.4 | — | — | — | 300.7 BFA302 · BFC300 | 300.7 NFA300 · NFC302 | ||
A plain string carries no wound references and a wound string no gauges: the columns that do not apply to it are left with a dash. Each cell's reference is the catalogue one with the largest value at or below the computed one; when the computed value falls below the smallest in that series there is none, and the cell says so. The NFP family (nylon wound over plastic) is not offered in the synthetic-core column; it stays in the Catalogue, and Methodology explains why.
Derived split: the original had no calculation routine for this instrument, so it didn't fix which strings are plain and which are wound either. Here it's deduced from the catalogue, with a single limit: a string stops being plain when its theoretical gut diameter goes past the thickest gauge in the gut series. There is no lower limit, so a very thin string still comes out plain even when its gauge falls below the thinnest one in that same series; each gauge column then answers on its own, and the one that does not go that thin reads “No exact reference in the catalogue”, and that is the honest answer: that Savarez series did not reach that string. The KF column, whose series goes thinner than gut and nylon, still offers a reference on some rows where the other two no longer can. The criterion is ours, not a value from the original.
The original's recommendation tables (LIGHT / MEDIUM / FORTE)
| No. | Note | Frequency | Length (cm) | LIGHT KF (mm) | LIGHT Nylon (mm) | MEDIUM KF (mm) | MEDIUM Nylon (mm) | FORTE KF (mm) | FORTE Nylon (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DO - C | 2,093 | 10.2 | — | 0.520 | 0.550 | 0.540 | — | 0.560 |
| 2 | SI - B | 1,976 | 11.6 | — | 0.540 | 0.550 | 0.560 | — | 0.580 |
| 3 | LA - A | 1,760 | 12.3 | — | 0.560 | 0.550 | 0.580 | — | 0.600 |
| 4 | SOL - G | 1,568 | 14.8 | — | 0.560 | 0.570 | 0.580 | — | 0.640 |
| 5 | FA - F | 1,397 | 15.7 | — | 0.580 | 0.570 | 0.600 | — | 0.660 |
| 6 | MI - E | 1,318 | 17.6 | — | 0.580 | 0.620 | 0.600 | — | 0.680 |
| 7 | RE - D | 1,175 | 19.4 | — | 0.580 | 0.620 | 0.600 | — | 0.700 |
| 8 | DO - C | 1,046 | 21.3 | — | 0.600 | 0.690 | 0.640 | — | 0.720 |
| 9 | SI - B | 988 | 23.2 | — | 0.600 | 0.690 | 0.640 | — | 0.770 |
| 10 | LA - A | 880 | 25.8 | — | 0.640 | 0.710 | 0.660 | — | 0.800 |
| 11 | SOL - G | 784 | 27.5 | — | 0.660 | 0.710 | 0.680 | — | 0.830 |
| 12 | FA - F | 698 | 27.8 | — | 0.680 | 0.740 | 0.700 | — | 0.860 |
| 13 | MI - E | 659 | 32.3 | — | 0.720 | 0.770 | 0.740 | — | 0.890 |
| 14 | RE - D | 588 | 34.7 | — | 0.740 | 0.770 | 0.770 | — | 0.910 |
| 15 | DO - C | 523 | 37.4 | — | 0.770 | 0.810 | 0.800 | — | 0.940 |
| 16 | SI - B | 494 | 40.2 | — | 0.770 | 0.810 | 0.800 | — | 0.970 |
| 17 | LA - A | 440 | 42.0 | — | 0.800 | 0.860 | 0.830 | — | 1.000 |
| 18 | SOL - G | 392 | 43.3 | — | 0.860 | 0.860 | 0.890 | — | 1.030 |
| 19 | FA - F | 349 | 49.8 | — | 0.910 | 0.910 | 0.940 | — | 1.070 |
| 20 | MI - E | 330 | 52.4 | — | 0.940 | 0.910 | 0.970 | — | 1.100 |
| 21 | RE - D | 294 | 57.3 | — | 1.000 | 0.910 | 1.030 | — | 1.220 |
| 22 | DO - C | 262 | 61.0 | — | 1.100 | 1.010 | 1.120 | — | 1.270 |
| 23 | SI - B | 247 | 64.2 | — | 1.120 | 1.080 | 1.220 | — | 1.320 |
| 24 | LA - A | 220 | 66.7 | — | 1.220 | 1.080 | 1.270 | — | 1.370 |
| 25 | SOL - G | 196 | 73.7 | — | 1.320 | 1.250 | 1.370 | — | 1.400 |
| 26 | FA - F | 175 | 76.4 | — | 1.400 | 1.250 | 1.450 | — | 1.450 |
| 27 | MI - E | 167 | 84.5 | — | 1.450 | — | 1.600 | — | 1.600 |
| 28 | RE - D | 147 | 88.4 | — | 1.600 | — | 1.720 | — | — |
| 29 | DO-C | 131 | 91.0 | — | 1.700 | — | — | — | — |
| No. | Note | Frequency | Length (cm) | LIGHT KF (mm) | LIGHT Nylon (mm) | MEDIUM KF (mm) | MEDIUM Nylon (mm) | FORTE KF (mm) | FORTE Nylon (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LA - A | 1,760 | — | 0.430 | 0.560 | 0.520 | 0.580 | 0.550 | 0.600 |
| 2 | SOL - G | 1,568 | — | 0.450 | 0.560 | 0.520 | 0.580 | 0.550 | 0.600 |
| 3 | FA - F | 1,397 | — | 0.470 | 0.580 | 0.520 | 0.600 | 0.550 | 0.640 |
| 4 | MI - E | 1,318 | — | 0.470 | 0.580 | 0.520 | 0.600 | 0.570 | 0.640 |
| 5 | RE - D | 1,175 | — | 0.520 | 0.580 | 0.520 | 0.600 | 0.570 | 0.640 |
| 6 | DO - C | 1,046 | — | 0.550 | 0.600 | 0.550 | 0.640 | 0.620 | 0.660 |
| 7 | SI - B | 988 | — | 0.550 | 0.600 | 0.570 | 0.640 | 0.620 | 0.660 |
| 8 | LA - A | 880 | — | 0.570 | 0.640 | 0.620 | 0.660 | 0.690 | 0.680 |
| 9 | SOL - G | 784 | — | 0.620 | 0.660 | 0.640 | 0.680 | 0.690 | 0.700 |
| 10 | FA - F | 698 | — | 0.660 | 0.680 | 0.660 | 0.700 | 0.710 | 0.720 |
| 11 | MI - E | 659 | — | 0.660 | 0.720 | 0.710 | 0.740 | 0.710 | 0.770 |
| 12 | RE - D | 588 | — | 0.690 | 0.740 | 0.770 | 0.770 | 0.740 | 0.800 |
| 13 | DO - C | 523 | — | 0.740 | 0.770 | 0.810 | 0.800 | 0.770 | 0.830 |
| 14 | SI - B | 494 | — | 0.770 | 0.770 | 0.840 | 0.800 | 0.770 | 0.830 |
| 15 | LA - A | 440 | — | 0.810 | 0.800 | 0.860 | 0.830 | 0.810 | 0.860 |
| 16 | SOL - G | 392 | — | 0.860 | 0.860 | 0.910 | 0.890 | 0.810 | 0.910 |
| 17 | FA - F | 349 | — | 0.910 | 0.910 | 0.950 | 0.940 | 0.860 | 0.970 |
| 18 | MI - E | 330 | — | 0.910 | 0.940 | 1.010 | 0.970 | 0.860 | 1.000 |
| 19 | RE - D | 294 | — | 0.950 | 1.000 | 1.010 | 1.030 | 0.910 | 1.070 |
| 20 | DO - C | 262 | — | 1.010 | 1.100 | 1.080 | 1.120 | 0.910 | 1.220 |
| 21 | SI - B | 247 | — | 1.050 | 1.120 | 1.160 | 1.220 | 0.910 | 1.270 |
| 22 | LA - A | 220 | — | 1.080 | 1.220 | 1.160 | 1.270 | 1.010 | 1.320 |
| 23 | SOL - G | 196 | — | 1.160 | 1.320 | 1.210 | 1.370 | 1.080 | 1.400 |
| 24 | FA - F | 175 | — | 1.250 | 1.400 | 1.250 | 1.450 | 1.080 | 1.600 |
| 25 | MI - E | 167 | — | — | 1.450 | 1.270 | 1.600 | 1.250 | 1.720 |
| 26 | RE - D | 147 | — | — | 1.600 | 1.320 | 1.720 | 1.250 | — |
| No. | Length (cm) | Gut LIGHT (mm) | Gut MEDIUM (mm) | Gut FORTE (mm) | KF LIGHT (mm) | KF MEDIUM (mm) | KF FORTE (mm) | Nylon LIGHT (mm) | Nylon MEDIUM (mm) | Nylon FORTE (mm) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7.5 | 0.440 | 0.480 | 0.510 | 0.430 | 0.450 | 0.470 | 0.520 | 0.540 | 0.560 |
| 2 | 7.5 | 0.480 | 0.510 | 0.530 | 0.450 | 0.470 | 0.500 | 0.540 | 0.560 | 0.580 |
| 3 | 8.9 | 0.510 | 0.530 | 0.550 | 0.450 | 0.470 | 0.500 | 0.560 | 0.580 | 0.600 |
| 4 | 9.7 | 0.530 | 0.550 | 0.580 | 0.500 | 0.520 | 0.550 | 0.580 | 0.600 | 0.640 |
| 5 | 10.8 | 0.550 | 0.580 | 0.610 | 0.520 | 0.550 | 0.570 | 0.600 | 0.640 | 0.660 |
| 6 | 11.9 | 0.580 | 0.610 | 0.630 | 0.520 | 0.550 | 0.570 | 0.640 | 0.660 | 0.680 |
| 7 | 13.0 | 0.610 | 0.630 | 0.660 | 0.550 | 0.570 | 0.600 | 0.660 | 0.680 | 0.700 |
| 8 | 14.0 | 0.630 | 0.660 | 0.680 | 0.600 | 0.620 | 0.640 | 0.680 | 0.700 | 0.720 |
| 9 | 15.4 | 0.660 | 0.680 | 0.710 | 0.600 | 0.620 | 0.640 | 0.720 | 0.740 | 0.770 |
| 10 | 16.7 | 0.680 | 0.710 | 0.740 | 0.640 | 0.660 | 0.690 | 0.740 | 0.770 | 0.800 |
| 11 | 18.1 | 0.710 | 0.740 | 0.790 | 0.660 | 0.690 | 0.710 | 0.770 | 0.800 | 0.830 |
| 12 | 19.6 | 0.740 | 0.790 | 0.810 | 0.710 | 0.740 | 0.770 | 0.800 | 0.830 | 0.860 |
| 13 | 21.3 | 0.790 | 0.810 | 0.840 | 0.740 | 0.770 | 0.810 | 0.830 | 0.860 | 0.890 |
| 14 | 23.1 | 0.810 | 0.840 | 0.890 | 0.770 | 0.810 | 0.840 | 0.860 | 0.890 | 0.910 |
| 15 | 25.0 | 0.840 | 0.890 | 0.940 | 0.840 | 0.860 | 0.910 | 0.890 | 0.910 | 0.940 |
| 16 | 27.0 | 0.890 | 0.940 | 0.970 | 0.860 | 0.910 | 0.950 | 0.910 | 0.940 | 0.970 |
| 17 | 29.4 | 0.940 | 0.970 | 0.990 | 0.860 | 0.910 | 0.950 | 0.940 | 0.970 | 1.000 |
| 18 | 31.9 | 0.970 | 0.990 | 1.040 | 0.910 | 0.950 | 1.010 | 0.970 | 1.000 | 1.030 |
| 19 | 34.6 | 0.990 | 1.040 | 1.090 | 0.950 | 1.010 | 1.050 | 1.000 | 1.030 | 1.070 |
| 20 | 37.3 | 1.040 | 1.090 | 1.140 | 1.010 | 1.050 | 1.080 | 1.030 | 1.070 | 1.100 |
| 21 | 40.2 | 1.090 | 1.140 | 1.220 | 1.050 | 1.080 | 1.160 | 1.100 | 1.120 | 1.220 |
| 22 | 43.3 | 1.140 | 1.220 | 1.270 | 1.080 | 1.160 | 1.210 | 1.120 | 1.220 | 1.270 |
| 23 | 46.8 | 1.220 | 1.270 | 1.320 | 1.210 | 1.250 | 1.260 | 1.220 | 1.270 | 1.320 |
| 24 | 50.8 | 1.270 | 1.320 | 1.370 | 1.210 | 1.250 | 1.270 | 1.270 | 1.320 | 1.370 |
| 25 | 54.8 | 1.320 | 1.370 | 1.420 | 1.270 | 1.320 | 1.360 | 1.320 | 1.370 | 1.400 |
| 26 | 59.4 | 1.370 | 1.420 | 1.500 | 1.360 | 1.400 | 1.450 | 1.370 | 1.400 | 1.450 |
| 27 | 64.8 | 1.420 | 1.500 | 1.600 | 1.400 | 1.450 | 1.500 | 1.400 | 1.450 | 1.600 |
| 28 | 70.6 | 1.500 | 1.600 | 1.700 | 1.450 | 1.500 | 1.600 | — | — | — |
| 29 | 77.0 | 1.600 | 1.700 | 1.780 | 1.500 | 1.600 | 1.720 | — | — | — |
| 30 | 83.7 | 1.700 | 1.780 | 1.850 | 1.600 | 1.720 | 1.800 | — | — | — |
| 31 | 90.0 | 1.780 | 1.850 | 1.930 | 1.720 | 1.800 | 1.900 | — | — | — |
| 32 | 97.0 | 1.850 | 1.930 | 2.030 | 1.800 | 1.900 | 2.030 | — | — | — |
| 33 | 103.0 | 1.930 | 2.030 | 2.130 | 2.030 | 2.070 | 2.100 | — | — | — |
| 34 | 110.0 | 2.030 | 2.130 | 2.250 | 2.030 | 2.070 | 2.100 | — | — | — |
| 35 | 117.0 | 2.130 | 2.250 | 2.250 | 2.070 | 2.100 | 2.100 | — | — | — |
Export the set
- Some instruments need adjustments to the bridge, the nut or both to take certain gauges.
- If you're looking for other brands or string types, check the equivalences in the Catalogue.
- To find the real diameters of certain string types, see Diameters and units.
- Pick the instrument and, if it has one, its tuning.
- Set the pitch standard, the vibrating length and, if you like, the block tension adjustment.
- Fine-tune string by string: length, tension and the ± semitone step for each row.
- Read the five columns: three plain-string gauges and two wound ones, with their catalogue references — one for plain strings, up to two for wound ones.
- With “Custom instrument” you can work out any string by typing its frequency.
- Copy the set to the clipboard with the button in the header.