The Steel Guitar Forum

I've been looking at this site for some time, but I recently bought a lap steel so I figured that was as good a reason as any for me to join.

The guitar I got is Guyatone HG188C, which I beleive to be from the mid 60's. It's a double neck 8 string, and I am still deciding on what tunings to use when I get the guitar. (I bought it yesterday, but it needs some work so the tech is doing that tomorrow and hopefully I will get it then or Tuesday) Any suggestions would be appreciated...

I am mainly interested in learning some Hank Williams, Patsy Cline and some Santo & Johnny songs. Maybe even some Junior Brown if I ever get good enough lol

So yeah, I just wanted to say hi out there and show off my new purchase

Wow! Cool double 8. I have a D8 Gibson Consolette. Having a blast with it. I use the standard classic western swing tuninigs A6 on the back and E13 low to high EDF#G#BC#EG# on the front neck. The low notes of the E13 have the 7 & 9 jazzy Bob Wills chords and the top is your basic Don Helms high whinny E6. I have my own 4 pc with upright bass and electric gtr and we play a lot of the kind of music you mention plus originals in that style. People love it. They look like they've seen a ghost when I bust out the old steel. So that's what makes that sound! A6 and whatever variation of E13(there are dozens) I chose this one so I could do BW strum and DHelms blues. C6 is good too, but a lot of guys like the deeper growl of the A6 Remmington tuning. There are other interesting tunings such as the Remmington F#9 and the J Byrd Diatonic, but for rockabilly, swing and classic country, I stick with those two on a D8. Contrats on the great score, I felt like I got an old friend back when I got mine. So much you can do on a D8. Think of the two tunings as one and use them together once in a while on the same song for color and effect. Tons of fun! Good luck, TC

Hi Jason,Welcome from Alabama,happy picking. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

BTW, welcome to the forum, I would have been lost without it. TC

I also tune my A6 lowest string to a 7th interval. Junior Brown does as well. Kinda handy, I put mine an ocave up though. otherwise it is just a straight 6th tuning. Meat and potatoes tuning, and the front neck with the 7 & 9 to trick it up. Settle quickly on two that you know you will use and dont mess around changing too much. I even tune my pedal steel back neck to A6 not to get too confused by the shift from C6 to A6. Hard to beat A6 and E13 combo for the kind of music you are talking about.

Thanks for the welcome guys!

This is probably a silly question, but am I correct in assuming that the "back" neck is the one closest to you while playing?

And A6 and E13 are the tunings that seem to keep coming up so I think I will go for those.

Yes. Back neck, one closest to your body when playing, front neck, the one farther away.

''Back neck, one closest to your body when playing, front neck, the one farther away''

It looks to me (for all you right handers) like the pots would get in the way of your picking hand whilst playing the front neck up near the top frets?

Wouldn't be a problem for this leftie though, I daresay. I would just turn it 180 deg.

It's a good looking outfit though!

So I spoke to the Guitar tech at the shop today, and unfortunately he's not too well versed on lap steel so he requested info for stringing the guitar.

This is the info I gave him, based on my research of tunings and gauges...

E13 Front neck
G# .012
E .015
C# .018
B .020p
G# .026w
E .032
D .036
B .042

A6 Back Neck
E .015
C# .018
A .022p
F# .026w
E .032
C# .036
A .042
F# .050

Does this sound right? I'm pretty sure it is, just would like confirmation.

That sounds right to me. I'm sure your Guyatone will sound great with those two tunings. Congratulations!