The Steel Guitar Forum

Hi all,

I really want to try out the GBDGBD “dobro” tuning on my Lazy River weissenborn – but what gauge strings can I use without risking the instrument's good health?

I'm using .017-.020-.026-.035-.045-.056 for Open D.

Would it perhaps be better to go FACFAC and then use a capo?

And has anyone else tried this on a similar instrument?

Thanks,
Hans

Move the .045 to the 6th string and use a .040 for the fifth. That's what I do when I want to set my LR weiss up in that tuning, never had a problem with it.

Without changing gauges from what you are using for open D, you could try out Spanish tuning (L2H: D G D G B D) which is similar to Dobro tuning. If you do go for Dobro tuning, I think that Steiner's suggestion is right on. HTH.

BTW, how would you capo a Weissenborn?

Michael Maddex wrote:
BTW, how would you capo a Weissenborn?

Steiner, thanks for the photo. I have seen that style of capo before. I guess because I'm not really a capo kind of guy, I didn't snap to its possible use with a Weissenborn. This little side discussion did remind me of this website:

http://www.sternercapo.se/Capomuseum/

which may or may not be interesting or useful.

Hans, sorry for the little hijack. We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread . . .

Thanks Steinar! I'll do that. Could I also do it like that on my 1964 Gibson FJN or would that require even less tension?

And thanks Michael - I've got one of those Beard capos as well (I think that's the one in Steinar's picture). They work well when you've got no frets. But actually, on my converted FJN I use this home made thing (made after Kelly Joe Phelps'). It works really well:


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I would reduce tension on all strings on a round neck guitar, like the Gibson. On my Washburn parlor I start with a 012 set, replace the first string with a 013 and use a 036 for the B on the fifth string.

Thanks again, Steinar

Hans!

Haha - Danny! No way Have you switched from uke to lap slide? And I'm waiting eagerly for a response to my last email - let me know how things are in NYC!