advice needed

[Leroy Falconi]

just purchased a double neck fender 8 string - don't know the model it's a brownish color will have my daughter post picture later
1. what tuning is good for the old country sound
2. want to buy a tuner what brand at a decent price
3. would one of the fender amps be ok
all advice is welcome - i'm fairly new to the steel and doing the best i can

[Ray Montee]

WHAT OLDE COUNTRY SOUND are you seeking? 1980 and later? 1960 and later? 1948 thro' 1958?

It's a great model year........

You'll likely get 11,000 opinions on which tunings to choose however, it's a known fact that in the early days.......C6th and A6th were both popular choices. It depends whether you hope to sound like
JERRY BYRD, Billy Robinson, Don Davis, Johnny Sibert, Roy Wiggins, Noel Boggs, Speedy West, Joachin Murphy or whomever. After the pedal craze set in, nearly everyone sounds the same........

Unless you're playing in a big band/hall, a smaller
Fender amp will do you well. The positioning of the amp knobs is critical to achieve the sound you're seeking.


Good Luck! And have fun........

[Thomas Temple]

First off welcome to the forum, it is a very helpful site and you can gather a wealth of info. Do think that C6th is a good tuning to start with, many good sources in this tuning for tab. As for a tuner make sure that you get a chromatic tuner with 12 (rather than the regular 6 note for standard guitar) Mine happens to be a Sabine Nextune 12Z but there are many out there and most obtainable for $25 or so, less on sale. Again with an amp I have a Fender Mustang I that I got for under a $100. has more effects than you can shake a stick at and I am sure that you can find the "sound" you are looking for. And also very much agree with prior post best advice is just have "fun". I am a novice (less than 3 months with a lap steel) but am on the up swing and getting a big kick out of starting to recognize the tunes that I am attempting to play. Anyway good luck and once again welcome.

[Leroy Falconi]

thanks for the respones - i would like the roy wiggins tuning on one neck - don helms on the other
i do have a small fender amp believe it's 25 watts
should i go for more watts