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Topic: String Guages/Tunings for Acoustics |
Patrick Newbery
From:
San Francisco, California, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2005 1:18 pm |
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I have recently bought a couple of older squareneck acoustics (no reso). One is a Regal and one is an Oahu.
Does anyone have any experience with the best string gauges and tunings? Would the standard lap steel tuning/gauge combinations work or is it too much tension on the guitar top? |
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Jim Bates
From:
Alvin, Texas, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2005 2:33 pm
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You can start with a set of 'medium gauge' guitar strings. If the first and second are a little too weak, then increase the first to .015 and the second to a .017.
Sometimes, depending on the guitar you will get a nice full sound if you tune down to an open F (from the standard dobro G tuning of H-L DBGDBG) or tune to Open D (down from the open E (H-L EBG#EBG#). I used the F and D tunings on an old Gibson squareneck I had, which worked great. Currently I use the F tuning on my Weissenborn.
Thanx,
Jim |
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Ron Randall
From:
Dallas, Texas, USA
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Posted 23 Mar 2005 4:16 pm
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Pat,
I have a 1930's Oahu acoustic squareneck. I follow the string gauges on John Ely's website and it works for me. The top is kinda thin and fragile, but that is where the tone come from. Be sure to check the scale of the guitar from nut to bridge. I go with middle of the road. Mine is tuned Bb6. http://www.hawaiiansteel.com/learning/gauges.html
hope this helps.
Ron |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 24 Mar 2005 5:19 am
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Ron,
Thanks for that link; invaluable, for playing around with tunings. Still searching; interested in your Bb 6th.
Charlie
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Patrick Newbery
From:
San Francisco, California, USA
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Posted 24 Mar 2005 8:39 am
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Ron and Jim,
Thanks. Helpful info. Iis it safe to assume that you're using a wound 4th string in those tunings? |
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Colin Brooks
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Posted 24 Mar 2005 2:27 pm
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| Don't know if Newtone strings are available in the States, but their Aloha Hawaiian strings are very well regarded over here. They have thin circular (as opposed to hex.) cores and tune to pitch at lower tension than regular strings of the same gauge. They are specifically designed for Weiss. style and other none reso Hawaiian guitars. |
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db
From:
Bethlehem, PA 18015 USA
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Posted 24 Mar 2005 5:33 pm
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Check out:
http://www.greenmanhumming.com/html/StringCalc/stringCalcX.html
Enter the scale length, string type and pitch reference (above or below 440)
into the calculator and . . . It will give you the tension!
Adjust the gauge or string type to equalize the tension on all of the strings.
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Dan Balde
U-12/8&5, S-7/D 3&1, S-6/E,A & G3[This message was edited by db on 24 March 2005 at 05:37 PM.] |
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