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Topic: Help with Dobro strings please |
Terry Sneed
From:
Arkansas,
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Posted 28 Feb 2007 12:24 pm |
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Hey guys, I've put two sets of GHS (Tim Sheerhorn set) on my Goldtone Dobro. I like to pull that 4th string #36 up from a D to an E to get a G6th tuning for western swing type music. Problem is I've broken both #36's after tuning up to an E. The last set hadn't been on but about 2 weeks.
What strings do ya'll recomend, and do I need to go to a #34 instead of a #36? I've been using bronze wound. what about nickel wound, do they give a brighter tone? Thanks
Terry
_________________
1997 emmons legrande lll 8&5/ Nashville 112 with Fox chip mod LTD 400 / American Tele / John Jorgerson Takamine/ W/S Rob Ickes model dobro/
"May God Bless America Again" |
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Gary C. Dygert
From:
Frankfort, NY, USA
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Posted 28 Feb 2007 1:49 pm
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| Yes, go with .034 or lighter for an E. Check John Ely's website (and others) for string guages. |
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Billy Gilbert
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 28 Feb 2007 2:48 pm
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A .032 works good.  Billy |
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Bryan Bradfield
From:
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
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Posted 28 Feb 2007 2:53 pm
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I agree with Gary. Go with the 0.034" string first. See what kind of life you get from it. If you are still irritated with premature breakage, go to an 0.032". However, I think that I would start becoming unhappy with tone and volume of the string at that gauge. When I had the same problem - going from D to E with a 0.036" string and having excessive breakage, I began carrying a second reso kept at G6 tuning for the western swing stuff. This was the better choice for me, as I am fussy about the gauges of my strings.
Regarding string composition, I prefer nickel to brass or bronze. For my personal chemical make-up, the nickel lasts longer with a more consistent tone through the string life. The bronze and brass types die quickly from my sweat glands, I suppose, and there is a drastic tone change quite early with brass or bronze. I think that each player has to come to grips with what kind of strings their bodies will tolerate. Or buy a lot of spares and change frequently. I do that anyway (change frequently) during festival season, but I try to use something that my sweat glands get along with, as well so that at least a set of strings will last me through a weekend of performing. |
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Larry Robbins
From:
Fort Edward, New York
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 28 Feb 2007 11:46 pm
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Bryan Bradfield wrote: "I agree with Gary. Go with the 0.034" string first. See what kind of life you get from it. If you are still irritated with premature breakage..."
Bryan, I don't think it's a matter of premature breakage, like you can play in this 6th tuning for awhile-it's more like, tune it up to E at all, and make sure you'e wearing safety glasses. Kapow!
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Mark |
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Terry Sneed
From:
Arkansas,
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Posted 1 Mar 2007 9:18 am strings
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Thanks to all.
Terry |
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Bryan Bradfield
From:
Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
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Posted 1 Mar 2007 11:32 am
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| Mark Eaton, upon reflection, I'm going to have to agree with you. Obviously, I was having a string breakage problem for some reason or another. I overcame the "surprise on stage" situation by carrying 2 instruments, but it would have been more practical to drop the gauge of the offending string to ease the strain during retuning. |
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