6 String C6 Lap Steel Gauges?

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Bob Snelgrove
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Joined: 4 Aug 1998 11:00 pm
Location: san jose, ca

6 String C6 Lap Steel Gauges?

Post by Bob Snelgrove »

I brought out my old Magnatone MOT and I need new strings, Currently tuned to C6 with C# on the 6th string,15,18,24w,34w,40w,54w.

From what I find that's more for an open E tuning but I like the way it feels so should I just replace the same or try a "proper" C6 gauge set?

thx

bob
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Dave Mudgett
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Re: 6 String C6 Lap Steel Gauges?

Post by Dave Mudgett »

Even for a typical 22.5" short-scale Magnatone, for me the the top 3 strings are in the ballpark, around 30 pounds/string more or less. But I think the bottom 3 are pretty heavy for standard C6 = C/C# E G A C E lo-hi (High E = E4), which are in the range of around 45-50 pounds per string. I'd go for something more like 26w, 32w, 42w for the bottom 3, which is a bit heavier than, let's say, the Scotty's C6 set - https://www.stringsbymail.com/sit-sc6c6 ... 22977.html

You can play with the string gauges/tensions here - https://tension.stringjoy.com/ - tensions vary by winding method/meterial/core-size, etc, but this gets in the ballpark.
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