String gauge question

Todd Weger · From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA

I've noticed that most GBDGBD string sets list gauges simlar to those below.

.016
.018
.028
.036
.046
.056

John Pierce even has a GBDGBD set with the lowest strings being .039, .049, and .059.

My question is, how does one tune those two lowest strings up that high!? I have a square neck tricone, and I know the neck it can take it, but doesn't that put excessive pressure on the bridge, and thus, the delicate cones? Seems like the tension would be insane.

Apparently, it must not, or people wouldn't do it, but I have a hard time turning that tuning knob on the lowest string up to a G, when it normally would be a D or E, at highest. It feels like it's gonna break any second.

I know my fears are not rational, but I wondered if anyone else has experienced the same trepidation. Also, I like semi-flats. Can anyone recommend some brands that they find work really well?

Mahalo,
TJW
_________________
Todd James Weger --
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, E13, A6); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Custom-made 25" aluminum cast "fry pan" with vintage Ricky p'up (C6); 1938 Epiphone Electar (A6); 1953 Oahu Tonemaster; assorted ukuleles; upright bass

Steinar Gregertsen · From: Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.

No need to worry about putting that much tension on squareneck resonator guitars,- they actually enjoy it! Wink

Steinar
_________________
"Play to express, not to impress"
Website - YouTube

Todd Weger · From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA

I know that higher tension is desirable; I just can't bring myself to tune that .056 up to G. I get it to about F, and then things start creaking and moaning, and I'm wondering if the tricone will explode.

Well, OK -- not really, but it sure seems to feel like that string is going to bust!

I'm going to go try it again, and see what happens (crossing fingers)...

Whoa!

Bill Hampton · From: Colorado, USA

I really like the D'Addario FlatTops reso string set as far as the feel of my bar and picks on the strings. Makes the bar just glide up and down and really cuts pick noise. The tone is definitely different from the round wound nickle strings I normally use on my single cone reso's though -- much more mellow sound.

Todd Weger · From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA

Well, I finally got the low string up to G, and the next up to a B, but my tricone sounded HORRIBLE! All buzzy, and not good at all. I don't know if it's the bridge, cones or what, but I am going to take those strings off, and check under the hood. I know I'm going to have to lower the bridge about 1/16th" or so.

Would the weird buzzes, etc. (which I'm not having when tuned DADF#AD, btw) be from the imbalance in tension from lower strings (.056, .046, .036) to higher (.026, .017, .013)? In any case, I had to quickly put them back, as it was unusable at that point.

TJW

Steinar Gregertsen · From: Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.

I'm no reso expert at all, but could it be that the cones/bridge have adjusted themselves to the lower tension they've been used to?

I read in an interview with Jerry Douglas that he preferred the 016-056 D'Addarios because they gave the most similar tension on all strings when tuned to highbass-G.

Steinar
_________________
"Play to express, not to impress"
Website - YouTube

Todd Weger · From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA

Well, it must be user error, because I just re-tried tuning it up to hi-bass G, and it sounds GREAT!

Huh!!??? Confused

I don't why it didn't yesterday, but today, it has that nice, tight hi-bass tuning sound. The only thing is that I've de-tuned and re-tuned that high G to F# and back so many times, that it finally had enough, and broke. Oh well... I want to try those D'Addarios on it anyway, so I'm going out to get a set and take the opportunity to put 'em on there. The round wounds with all their skritchiness were bugging me anyway.

Thanks guys!
_________________
Todd James Weger --
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, E13, A6); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Custom-made 25" aluminum cast "fry pan" with vintage Ricky p'up (C6); 1938 Epiphone Electar (A6); 1953 Oahu Tonemaster; assorted ukuleles; upright bass

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

Not to detract from the tone or why the hi tension, but the tuners are what would suffer more than a square neck. A bit of lube on the tuners when trying higher tension may be a reasonable idea.

Todd Weger · From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA

Thanks Bill.

Yeah, I found that helped, and it's working out great now. I definitely like the chord voicing options with that GBD on the bottom three strings.

Tricone is a blast.

Very Happy

_________________
Todd James Weger --
1956 Fender Stringmaster T-8 (C6, E13, A6); 1960 Fender Stringmaster D-8 (C6, B11/A6); Custom-made 25" aluminum cast "fry pan" with vintage Ricky p'up (C6); 1938 Epiphone Electar (A6); 1953 Oahu Tonemaster; assorted ukuleles; upright bass

Eugene Cole · From: near Washington Grove, MD, USA

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