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Topic: How many strings 8 or 10 |
Mike Bagwell
From:
Greenville, SC, USA
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Posted 14 Jul 2009 1:46 pm |
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I've had a guitar on order for a while, and its time to make a decision. Its a non pedal steel with 2 necks. I have a choice of a D8 or a D10. The string spacing and scale are the same. I would appreciate your thoughts.
Mike |
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Andy Sandoval
From:
Bakersfield, California, USA
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Posted 14 Jul 2009 2:05 pm
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I think I'd go with the D-8. Heck, a 6 string lap steel for that matter has enough music on it to keep you busy for a life time but I really like extending the tuning in both directions just a tad for convenience of notes. Plus, buying string sets would be easier for 8 than 10. I guess though you can always string a 10 stringer up with just 8 and still have the 10 string capability.  Boy, I wasn't much help in makin a decision huh?  |
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Eugene Cole
From:
near Washington Grove, MD, USA
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Posted 14 Jul 2009 2:35 pm Re: How many strings 8 or 10
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| Mike Bagwell wrote: |
Its a non pedal steel with 2 necks. I have a choice of a D8 or a D10. The string spacing and scale are the same.
Mike |
For me the answer would be a D10 without a doubt. This keeps the options open and it would allow me to use my Dobro tuning on either neck from day one.
Additionally it is a lot easier to put an 8-string tuning on a 10-string guitar than it is to put a 10-string tuning on a 8-string neck..... I hold this truth to be self-evident. The differenc in size & weight is negligible; the options are greatly expanded.
But your preferences and my preferences may differ so... go whatever way makes sense to you.
_________________
Regards
-- Eugene <sup>at</sup> FJ45.com
PixEnBar.com
Cole-Luthierie.com
FJ45.com
Sierra U14 8+5 my copedent, 1972 MSA D10 8+4, and nothing in the Bank. 8^)
Last edited by Eugene Cole on 14 Jul 2009 3:03 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 14 Jul 2009 2:54 pm
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Personal preference = 8 per.
Although I find a single 6 to be plenty.
If you're used to PSG, 10 per might be the way to go.
_________________
Primitive Utility Steel |
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Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
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Posted 14 Jul 2009 4:07 pm
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| Get a D12 or a D14. Endless possibilities. |
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Don McGregor
From:
Memphis, Tennessee
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Posted 14 Jul 2009 4:10 pm
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Check out youtube clips of both Billy Robinson and Carco Clave, and see if they inspire you to go to ten strings. I'm building a triple neck at present, two with 8, and the far one with 10. I may be over reaching attempting a ten string, but after listing to those two guys, I've got to try one.
Besides, if 10 strings do, in fact, confound me, I can always just put 8 strings on it.
I was intimidated by 8 strings for the longest, having been a regular guitar player all my life, but now that I've gotten pretty comfortable on 8 strings, a 6 stringer just doesn't do it for me anymore. I like'em. I just love my 8 stringers.
I'd take a good, hard look at whichever guys' or gals' playing styles are closest to what you hope to achieve for yourself, and maybe go with what they are playing. |
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Eugene Cole
From:
near Washington Grove, MD, USA
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Posted 14 Jul 2009 4:28 pm
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| Bill Hatcher wrote: |
| Get a D12 or a D14. Endless possibilities. |
This is true; however I would venture that a third neck and fewer strings per neck would be more universally useful.
Heck just keeping track of the strings on my U14 was daunting initially; and it only has 1 neck.
-E |
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Thomas Ludwig
From:
Augsburg, Germany
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Posted 15 Jul 2009 1:33 am
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now I would go for the D10
Thomas |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 15 Jul 2009 6:51 am
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| I never really saw much need for more than 8 strings per neck on a non-pedal steel. |
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John Bechtel
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
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Posted 16 Jul 2009 12:26 pm
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I've been playing a Triple~10 Non-Pedal Steel for nearly 3-yrs. My tunings are basically 8-string, but; I'm using 10-strings on each neck. I've added extra-strings to each tuning:
#3.=E13 E~[B]~D~[E]~F#~G#~B~C#~E~G#
#2.=C-Diatonic
[C]~E~F~G~A~B~C~E~[D]~[F]
#1.=C6/A7
Lo-A~C~C#~E~G~A~C~E~[B]~[D]
The [X]'s indicate the added-strings.
_________________
<marquee> Go~Daddy~Go, (No), Go, It's your Break Time</marquee> L8R, jb
My T-10 Remington Steelmaster |
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Mike Bagwell
From:
Greenville, SC, USA
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Posted 17 Jul 2009 5:30 am
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Thanks Guys,
I appreciate the comments.
Mike |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 17 Jul 2009 9:21 am About strings.................
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I'd say ANDY hit it right on the head, once again.
When you're a steel guitar player, questioning the number of strings that 'would be best for you'.....
just remember: WHAT do you intend to do with each of those strings above and beyond the initial SIX (6)? If you have no idea, then you're in over your head.
Total strings on a steel guitar are not at all comparable to the different lengths offered on an RV Trailer or ski-boat. More strings do not make a better steel guitar player. Bigger speakers and more horsepower does not make a better steel guitar player.
Before you jump into this quagmire of ifs and an's,
figure out what it is that you THINK you want to do with those extra strings BEYOND the basic six (6).
If you're trying to impress someone, just make yourself a 5 or 6 neck steel guitar. That, will definately turn a few heads. Total strings, is not impressive.
Listen to JERRY BYRD, REALLY LISTEN, and discover what HE DID with only six or seven strings. Then decide if you think you really need 8 -10- 12 or 14. |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 17 Jul 2009 9:28 am
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+1
Ray hit it right on the head!
_________________
Primitive Utility Steel |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 17 Jul 2009 10:00 am
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Mike, I've heard you play before and you sound excellent. You come from a pedal background. If I were you, I would consider the D-10 string guitar and tune to Tom Morrell's E13 tuning. I think there's also a suitable 10 string C6 tuning. Heck, you could even just remove 2 strings from one neck.
I'd say D-10 for Mike Bagwell.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Mike Bagwell
From:
Greenville, SC, USA
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Posted 17 Jul 2009 3:31 pm
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Ray,
Thanks for the advice. I make a point to read your posts, and respect you opinion. The guitar in question is a Clinesmith, it only comes in 8 or 10 string configurations. I prefer a standard C6, adding a D note as the first string. I do miss the bottom F note of the pedal steel C6 version and a C# note would be nice, although I've played Stringmasters for many years and I always find some way around the lack of these notes in the tuning.
My Dad ( very sadly passed away now )started me out on a 6 string Dobro 35 years ago. I still play it. Your posts (in a good way) remind me of him sometimes.
Mike
Thanks for the compliment. I agree, Tom Morrell's tuning seems to offer a great deal of possibilities.
Bill
If I possessed a reasonable facsimile of your skill/talent I would go for a 14. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 17 Jul 2009 3:49 pm
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Do you notice how we think in pairs ? In all this discussion between 6, 8 and 10 strings, no-one suggested 7, 9 or 11 strings...  |
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Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
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Posted 18 Jul 2009 2:28 am
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Clinesmith only comes in 8 or 10. Until just recently, I wondered why anyone would need more than 6. But now that I have a pedal guitar, I need 10. Go figure. I'd go double 10. Morrell's 13 on one neck. A 10 string C6 on the other. I would put D's on both the top and bottom at this point. But I'm so new at this tuning that I am still making what I refer to as "Duh-scoveries." 
_________________
Amor vincit omnia |
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Stephan Miller
From:
Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
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Posted 19 Jul 2009 5:39 am
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| +1 on Tom Morrell's E13. TM pulled stuff out of it that you don't even hear from pedals. Few have gotten more than their big toe wet with this tuning, and you're one guy who could get it rolling. Keep us posted! |
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