stringing up a sixth tuning on a dobro
Moderator: Brad Bechtel
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stringing up a sixth tuning on a dobro
I recently bought a Beard Gold tone and it's a step or three up from the starter asian Regal I began with. I don't play the G Bluegrass tuning so I put strings on for a C6 tuning and it sounded .... thin. The guages were 14, 18 , 22 , 26 , 32, and 36. I really didn't want to go much thicker on the guages, esp. the bottom 3 strings because of tension downward on the bridge and cone. Has anyone else tried a Bb6 tuning on their resonator ? As I soon as I restrung the guitar to a standard G tuning the guitar seems to sound so much better. I restrung with the Beard strings that came on the guitar , which are heavier than most other manufacturers reso sets. I removed the bottom heavy G string , moved the B and D string to the 6th and 5th string position, and added a 32 on the 4th string spot. If I tune it to lo-hi B , D , F , G , Bb , D ... I get the C6/A7 tuning except one whole step lower. It seems to work / sound fine , plus I can easily retune to B D E G B D for G6 tuning with the fifth tone on the top string. or BDEG#BE for the E7 tuning. Any thoughts on this topic ?<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Kevin Ruddell on 28 April 2006 at 01:06 PM.]</p></FONT>
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I do this also (on an 8 string so I can still keep the low G string). Moving between Bb6 and G6 just requires retuning 2 strings - one up a half step (Bb to B) and the other down a half step (F to E) so string gauges work out fine. I tend to play it more in the G6 tuning even though I'm more familiar with C6 and C6/A7 from lap playing. It's a really versatile setup. <font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Ambrose Verdibello on 28 April 2006 at 07:18 AM.]</p></FONT>
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- Earnest Bovine
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Kevine, I got a thin sound too at first but fatter strings seem to help a lot.
I'm no reso guitar expert but here is what I've found.
The D'Addario Phosphor Bronze set is:
<font face="monospace" size="3"><pre>
D .016
B .018
G .026
D .035
B .045
G .056
</pre></font>
You can interpolate to choose gauges for your own tuning. For example, my tuning would give:
<font face="monospace" size="3"><pre>
D .016
E .015
C .018 p
A .024 w
G .026
E .0314
C# .0383
A .0501
</pre></font>
I round the last 3 up to a thicker string because:
1. Beard & Auldridge suggest heavier
2. I will sometimes tune the lowest two down to C and G
3. .038 and .050 are not available in D'Addario phosphor bronze
So I use
<font face="monospace" size="3"><pre>
D .016
E .015
C .018 p
A .024 w
G .026
E .032
C# .039
A .052
</pre></font>
One source for the single strings is: http://www.juststrings.com/acousticphosphorbronzedaddarioguitarsinglestrings.html
I'm no reso guitar expert but here is what I've found.
The D'Addario Phosphor Bronze set is:
<font face="monospace" size="3"><pre>
D .016
B .018
G .026
D .035
B .045
G .056
</pre></font>
You can interpolate to choose gauges for your own tuning. For example, my tuning would give:
<font face="monospace" size="3"><pre>
D .016
E .015
C .018 p
A .024 w
G .026
E .0314
C# .0383
A .0501
</pre></font>
I round the last 3 up to a thicker string because:
1. Beard & Auldridge suggest heavier
2. I will sometimes tune the lowest two down to C and G
3. .038 and .050 are not available in D'Addario phosphor bronze
So I use
<font face="monospace" size="3"><pre>
D .016
E .015
C .018 p
A .024 w
G .026
E .032
C# .039
A .052
</pre></font>
One source for the single strings is: http://www.juststrings.com/acousticphosphorbronzedaddarioguitarsinglestrings.html
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I user a C6 Tuning on my Dobro (G tuning on my Wechter Scheerhorn), and use heavier gauge strings, and they sound good. I order them as singles from juststrings.com. Here's what I use, low to high.
C (44w) - E (34w) - G (28w) - A (24w) - C (18) - E (16)
This set sounds crisp acoustically - really makes the Hounddog sing.
------------------
OMI Original Hound Dog Dobro,
Remington Playboy 8 String
C (44w) - E (34w) - G (28w) - A (24w) - C (18) - E (16)
This set sounds crisp acoustically - really makes the Hounddog sing.
------------------
OMI Original Hound Dog Dobro,
Remington Playboy 8 String
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I've tried two different G sixth tunings on my Dobro, using a standard set with an added 0.032 for a "middle E". Don't like the sound or feel of lighter strings & higher tuning on a reso. Not substantial enough.
This one loses the low G and has more potential for retuning as mentioned above...
D .016
B .018
G .026
E .032
D .035
B .045
This one loses the low B and keeps the root in the bass. I'm using it right now, because it's a little stronger for rhythm.
D .016
B .018
G .026
E .032
D .035
G .056
This one loses the low G and has more potential for retuning as mentioned above...
D .016
B .018
G .026
E .032
D .035
B .045
This one loses the low B and keeps the root in the bass. I'm using it right now, because it's a little stronger for rhythm.
D .016
B .018
G .026
E .032
D .035
G .056
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- Rick Schmidt
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On my el cheapo rezo w/ Trilogy bridge, I use this Gmin7(Bb6) as one of my main settings. Great for jazz, blues, and swing. (For my own tastes, I always liked tuning my lap steel to Amin7 rather than the usual C6. I like the lower range.) I can still go between open G and D tunings pretty easily with just a little re-adjustment using this setup.
Low to high: G-Bb-D-F-G-Bb
Somtimes I'll raise the low Bb up a half or raise the low G to G#
(If anybody is interested in my Trilogy settings, I'd be happy to email them)
Low to high: G-Bb-D-F-G-Bb
Somtimes I'll raise the low Bb up a half or raise the low G to G#
(If anybody is interested in my Trilogy settings, I'd be happy to email them)
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