The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm anxiously waiting for my new toy. 50ish Gibson Console Grande. Should be here in about 5 days.
Question: Seeings Don played the same guitar for so many years, does anyone know the brand of strings and guages he used for his E13th tuning?. Thanks Lee

Don Helms told me his tuning and string guages were:

E6 (on the outside neck of the steel)

G# .010P (Later he told me he would use .011)
E .014P
C# .017P
B .020P
G# .024P
E .030W
C# .036W
A .042W

B13 (on the inside neck)

E .014P
C# .017P
A .024P
F# .028W
Eb .030W
B .038W
A .042W
F# .054W

For a long time he was using John Pearse strings, but I noted that he used other brands as well. He used the E6 for almost all his signature sounds and used the other neck for backup fills at times.

Let me know if you need any other information.

Terry

Thank you Terry. by chance I use John Pearse on all my instruments (lap steel, fiddle, mandolin, Reso.)
I would have run away from home to have one of these Gibson console's when I started steel 50 odd yesrs ago, and I'm finally gonna have one. Oh Joy. Thanks again for your come back. Lee

Lee,

You sound as excited as I was when I bought my Console Grande. When you get it, share a picture with us.

Once you tune the stings and strum that E6 neck just one time, you will hear that Don Helms sound.

There is nothing quite like it.

Enjoy!
Terry

Lee,

Congrats on the new steel. Sounds like a true dream come true!! I can understand your excitement.

E6 (on the outside neck of the steel)

G# .010P (Later he told me he would use .011)
E .014P
C# .017P
B .020P
G# .024P
E .030W
C# .036W
A .042W

As for the E6, looks very intriguing, especially all the plain strings!

Please share any sound and/or video you may produce with the new console, and again Best of Luck with it.

Josh

Those tunings look very well thought out when paired together. Looks like fun.

just posting so I can find this thread later

If you want to get real authentic here, get a grooved Schubb bar and glue some strips of Velcro to the sides. Don did this in later years to ensure he wouldn't drop his bar!

CS

Hey Chris I caught about 15min of your set at Roberts on the 20th. I had to run as we had to get to the next show in Kansas. Awesome playing and great tone you have, what tunings do you use?

Back in the day I think they used whatever was available

Thank you all.. The information answer my question.
Lee