What strings for your 6 and 8 string lap/console steels?
Moderator: Brad Bechtel
What strings for your 6 and 8 string lap/console steels?
I'm a new player after playing "armpit" guitar since the 1960s. The armpit players have an almost infinite choice of strings. I know the SGF forum sells some lap strings, and there are a few other options. I'm using the excellent SIT string sets now. I'm looking to try low E13 8 string and high C6 8 string. Looks like assembling the right gauged sets from single strings is the way to go. Am I on the right track, and what's the most economical way to do that? I appreciate any suggestions you have.
Thanks,
Joe
Thanks,
Joe
I use stringjoy.
https://www.stringjoy.com/
You can order custom 8-string sets from them. I get high-G C6 and McAuliffe E13 sets from them.
-Bo Parker
https://www.stringjoy.com/
You can order custom 8-string sets from them. I get high-G C6 and McAuliffe E13 sets from them.
-Bo Parker
- Steve Wilson
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- Location: Morgan Hill, California, USA
- Andy DePaule
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- Joined: 20 Jun 1999 12:01 am
- Location: Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
- Contact:
Me too, Buy Forum
Me too, I also try to get as much as possible from the forum to support this site where I go most often. Need to place another order soon.
Wish Bob would get the National finger picks again. Hint, hint.....
I live overseas, but return to the states at least twice a year. I usually place an order before I return so my stuff is waiting for me when I get to my destination in Oregon.
Wish Bob would get the National finger picks again. Hint, hint.....
I live overseas, but return to the states at least twice a year. I usually place an order before I return so my stuff is waiting for me when I get to my destination in Oregon.
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project.
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project.
I Love
Love the Scotty's semi-flat strings. They're not as noisy as "regular" strings, but still have a bit of bite/brightness.
Here's the C6 set I use:
http://www.juststrings.com/sit-sc-c6th- ... x4QAvD_BwE
Here's the C6 set I use:
http://www.juststrings.com/sit-sc-c6th- ... x4QAvD_BwE
Remington Steelmaster S8 w/ custom Steeltronics pickup. Vox MV-50 amplifier + an 1940's Oahu cab w/ 8" American Vintage speaker. J. Mascis Fender Squire Jazzmaster, Hofner Club bass, Ibanez AVN4-VMS Artwood Vintage Series Concert Size Acoustic Guitar. 1920s/30s Supertone Hawaiian-themed parlor guitar. Silvertone parlor guitar.
Thanks Mark,
I really like the Scotty's too. Excellent strings, and the packaging is the best. Boxed, sealed plastic, and then individual sealed plastic bags for each string. I will never buy John Pearse again because of the packaging. Things rust here, and it's hell to open a new pack of strings and find half of them useless. With the Scotty's, for high G C6 I have to add a lighter gauge 1st string and lose one of the midJoele strings. I wonder if SIT sells individual strings?
I really like the Scotty's too. Excellent strings, and the packaging is the best. Boxed, sealed plastic, and then individual sealed plastic bags for each string. I will never buy John Pearse again because of the packaging. Things rust here, and it's hell to open a new pack of strings and find half of them useless. With the Scotty's, for high G C6 I have to add a lighter gauge 1st string and lose one of the midJoele strings. I wonder if SIT sells individual strings?
- Phillip Vaught
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- Location: Dallas,Texas, USA
Strings
I use J.D'Addario strings from the maker of my steel, Georgeboards.
Georgeboards s8 colorshift, roland cube, goodrich, perfect touch, ernie ball, deluxe 34, Pandora px3. cegacegd
That's a good idea, Phillip. Here's links for D'Addario single strings. An E13 set W/ 0.064" E on the bottom (like I'm looking for) is about $13 + very reasonable shipping.
https://www.stringsandbeyond.com/dniwoelsist.html
https://www.stringsandbeyond.com/dplstsist.html
Gauges go from 0.007 to 0.080"
https://www.stringsandbeyond.com/dniwoelsist.html
https://www.stringsandbeyond.com/dplstsist.html
Gauges go from 0.007 to 0.080"
- Nic Neufeld
- Posts: 1319
- Joined: 25 Sep 2017 8:10 am
- Location: Kansas City, Missouri
I generally try to use existing sets (I like SIT sets, definitely) and springboard off them with just a few extra single strings as its a bit cheaper than buying all custom gauges, usually. Ie, your high C6, if you like the SIT ones you've used, most places sell plain steel single strings for less than a buck, just add in the high G and donate the low string to charity . For E13, I would write out the gauges you want, approximately, and then just cross reference existing string sets til you find one that fits, or very nearly fits...thus minimizing how much a la carte string buying you have to do.
Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me
Thanks Nic. For C6 I'm doing the SIT + 1 idea like you recommend. I buy the single string from an online big box for about $2/dozen. Looks like SIT doesn't make a string between about 0.056 and 0.068 or 0.070," or I'd mix & match low E13 too. I don't see where they sell singles either. Don't mean to beat this dog to death, but I'm sure there's more ideas out there.
Thanks All,
Joe
Thanks All,
Joe
- Nic Neufeld
- Posts: 1319
- Joined: 25 Sep 2017 8:10 am
- Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Not sure if they have the half-round ones, but you can get SIT roundwounds in those sizes here:
http://www.juststrings.com/powerwoundsi ... rings.html
http://www.juststrings.com/powerwoundsi ... rings.html
Waikīkī, at night when the shadows are falling
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me
I hear the rolling surf calling
Calling and calling to me