ATM "Tuning" a wire spider?

["Jim Miller" <jim@jtmiller.com>]

Anyone have some references as to how to determine the tension on a wire
spider by measuring its note as it's plucked? I was hoping it might be a
simple function of length and tension...

I've got some 50lb test low-stretch fishing line (www.spiderwire.com) that
I'm using and it would be nice to know how close I am to spec. Right now
they sound a bit like an upper string on a mandolin.

It's on a 18" spider and the lines are each 9.375" long. Although I haven't
mic'd them they appear to a bit smaller than the 0.020" guitar string I was
using.

anyone?

tnx
jtm