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Topic: String Gauge Question |
Travis Hillis
From:
Nashville TN, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2010 2:59 pm |
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Howdy. I’m pretty new to this so please excuse me for asking any stupid questions lol.
I recently put a extension nut on a Fender acoustic so I could play it like a reso. Once I started tuning it to low bass open g (D G D G B D Low to High), the strings(which were 12’s) felt very ‘tight’, like they would break if I tuned them up another ½ step. I managed to get it in tune(somewhat) and it worked great for about a week. Then, last night I hardly turned the tuning gear on my B string and the string broke. I don’t want to much stress on the neck or bridge either(I’ve head those stories about nut risers and bowing necks  ). So basically, what string gauges do I need? The stings I was using worked great until I put on the extension nut. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks  |
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Lynn Oliver
From:
Redmond, Washington USA * R.I.P.
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 12 Apr 2010 6:43 am
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Travis, welcome. That seems to be unusual to me. I don't think a set of normal guage guitar strings should break when tuned to that tuning. The "B" note you're using is the same pitch as in standard guitar tuning.
If you can use the same strings with standard guitar tuning, the proper way to get the tuning you want is to lower the high E string to D, lower the low A string to G, and lower the low E string to D. All the other strings are pitched the same as in standard guitar tuning.
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars |
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Gianni Gori
From:
Livorno, Italy
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Posted 12 Apr 2010 7:44 am
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You may feel strings "tight" because of the sharper angle they make on the extension nut, much taller than the factory one, but I do agree with Brad: you're using regular guitar strings (and you're tuning three of them with less tension than on a standard guitar tuning) so there's no risk at all for your neck and it's quite strange that your strings may break.
Should it happen again, check the strings slots on the extension nut to be sure they don't have any imperfection which may cause the strings to break.
The groove shape should be smooth and round, not sharp and rough... |
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Travis Hillis
From:
Nashville TN, USA
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Posted 12 Apr 2010 9:00 am
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Thanks Lynn, Brad, and Gianni
I thought it was strang too. I've been tuning my guitar like Brad said for some time and thought it would be no prob with a nut riser. The nut seems to be in great condition, too. Maybe I just got bad strings.
I'll string it up in a bit with some fresh strings.
Thanks again  |
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