The Steel Guitar Forum

I have an old lap steel that was tuned (many years ago)to A6. Over the years I forgot the names of the seven strings, their position and their guage. I would be very grateful for some help. Thank you.

Here's one example tuning that would work. These are the Herb Remington strings that b0b sells to support the Steel Guitar Forum. I would use the C6 Low or A6 strings and omit one of the strings. Click on the STRINGS link at the top of the page to purchase:
<pre>
C6 Low (or A6)
--------------
E .014 E
C .017 C#
A .022w A
G .024 F#
E .030 E
C .034 C#
A .042 A
G .046 F#
</pre>

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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Stan-- just leave off the low F#. Your A6 would be (lo-hi) A-C#-E-F#-A-C#-E. What kind of guitar do you have?

You can also order a 6 string set from Bob and buy one more string. You can either order the C6/A6 set and buy a low A, or the A/E7 set and buy an F#.

That's what I do - I've bought the E set and added an F#, the A/E7 set with an F# - I also ordered the same set and bought a low E to go with it.

Once I bought a set from Bob and let him know what tuning I was using - he threw in a different gauge string he thought might work better. Now I hope nobody expects Bob to be throwing in extra strings at the drop of a hat - I just thought it was a great example of the great, personalized customer service he delivers.

To Brad, Stephan and John....thanks a million for your help....you guys are the reason this forum is so successful.Stephan,I have a Trotmore lap all metal that I haven't played for many years and I want to get it back in playing order. Your replies are right on the money. Thanks again....very much appreciated.

I have seen some Trotmore steels (photos only), but I didn't know they made an all metal model. Please post photos.

Stan; I would use a C6/A7 Tuning:
Lo–Hi = A–C#–E–G–A–C–E.
.042w, .036w, .030w, .024w, .020p, .017p, .014p. Actually, I personally would use ‘my’ favorite tuning! C-Diatonic: Lo–H = E–F–G–A–B–C–E.
.030w, .028w, .024w, .020p, .018p, .017p, .014p.

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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
’05 D–10 Derby
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
Current Equipment

Richard and John....thanks for your comments.....very much appreciated. Richard, I don't have any way I can post a picture of the Trotmore....I suggest you go to the Jerry Byrd fan club web site...there is a picture there under the topic "Guitars Jerry Byrd used". Some (or one)Trotmore
guitar(s)were made of wood and some of metal...only a few guitars were made. Mine is an all metal alloy...designed to minimize temperature changes that adversly change the string settings. Please post if I can be of further help......Stan

Stan, Don't you think it would be fair to tell the nice peoples that your lap steel is battery operated since it was made before electricity?

One prob...batteries ARE electric!

A.J. Fred doesn't know that.

I did too! I wuz just checkin AJ out.

A.J. ....you must feel sorry for Fred....he lives in a small town in south east Texas where they are just now getting electricity.

Fred....see you in Dallas...take care my friend

lol Stan. I am just getting lucidity.It's all good

Stan, you jest! However you caused a pleasant memory to surface.Sometime around 1941-1943 we got our first electricity on the farm in Northern Missouri.We continued use of gas engines for a while.My aunt had a maytag washer with a gas engine. Us boys would take it off and use it on our homemade go cart.Monday a.m. you could hear you screaming,you little ------- get that engine back on my washer.So it all started over every week.Those were not bad days! Lookin forward to seeing you in Dallas. Fred