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Post new topic string gauges for open A
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Author Topic:  string gauges for open A
J. Wilson


From:
Manitoba, Canada
Post  Posted 3 Jun 2010 7:22 pm    
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A band wants me to play a song with them this weekend. It is in 'A'. Is there an open 'A' tuning? If so, could someone let me know what gauges I should use? My scale is 24.5 inches.
_________________
If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On. -Shakespeare
___________________________________________
1941 Ric B6 / 1948 National Dynamic / 1951 Bronson Supro / Custom teak wood Allen Melbert / Tut Taylor Dobro / Gold Tone Dojo / Martin D15S / Eastman P10
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Mark Eaton


From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
Post  Posted 3 Jun 2010 9:02 pm    
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The string gauges below are from b0b's "strings" section, these are Jagwires, and the gauges are pretty standard for Open A:

A Major/E7
----------
E /E .015
C#/B .018
A /G# .022w
E /E .030 E
C#/D .036
A /B .042

Out of curiosity, which tuning do you normally use?
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Mark
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J. Wilson


From:
Manitoba, Canada
Post  Posted 4 Jun 2010 6:25 am    
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Thanks Mark! I'll get the hang of this yet...

My usual tuning is open E (E B E G# B E)

Gauges: (low to high) 48-40-34-26-20-16

The nut is a custom roller nut to better accomodate a bender bridge by Duesenberg. The benders are organized as follows:

G# to A (gauge 26)
B to C (gauge 20)
E to F (gauge 16)
_________________
If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On. -Shakespeare
___________________________________________
1941 Ric B6 / 1948 National Dynamic / 1951 Bronson Supro / Custom teak wood Allen Melbert / Tut Taylor Dobro / Gold Tone Dojo / Martin D15S / Eastman P10
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Bill McCloskey

 

Post  Posted 4 Jun 2010 7:20 am    
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Why don't you just leave it in Open E?
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J. Wilson


From:
Manitoba, Canada
Post  Posted 4 Jun 2010 7:22 am    
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Simply because I want to get the most out of the benders. I was practicing last night and I can put on more of a show if my root is in the same key. I figure if I am only playing one song I may as well make er count.
_________________
If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On. -Shakespeare
___________________________________________
1941 Ric B6 / 1948 National Dynamic / 1951 Bronson Supro / Custom teak wood Allen Melbert / Tut Taylor Dobro / Gold Tone Dojo / Martin D15S / Eastman P10
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Stephen Abruzzo

 

From:
Philly, PA
Post  Posted 4 Jun 2010 8:23 am    
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J. Wilson......which Open A are you trying to get to? The capo-up-2-frets version of Dobro High G (G-B-D-G-B-D to A-C#-E-A-C#-E) or the capo-up-2-frets version from Low Open G (D-G-D-G-B-D to E-A-E-A-C#-E).

If you currently play in Open E and you want Low Open A, then you shouldn't have to change strings at all as there isn't much difference between Open E (E-B-E-G#-B-E) and Low Open A (E-A-E-A-C#-E).
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J. Wilson


From:
Manitoba, Canada
Post  Posted 4 Jun 2010 8:37 am    
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Cool, thanks Stephen. I will try that first and if it doesn't groove quite right I will buy a thinner gauge and go after an open A config.
_________________
If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On. -Shakespeare
___________________________________________
1941 Ric B6 / 1948 National Dynamic / 1951 Bronson Supro / Custom teak wood Allen Melbert / Tut Taylor Dobro / Gold Tone Dojo / Martin D15S / Eastman P10
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J. Wilson


From:
Manitoba, Canada
Post  Posted 4 Jun 2010 8:51 am    
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I was actually after the same intervals with an A root -- so that would be A E A C# E A.

I haven't tried this before though. You think it will fly?
_________________
If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On. -Shakespeare
___________________________________________
1941 Ric B6 / 1948 National Dynamic / 1951 Bronson Supro / Custom teak wood Allen Melbert / Tut Taylor Dobro / Gold Tone Dojo / Martin D15S / Eastman P10
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Stephen Abruzzo

 

From:
Philly, PA
Post  Posted 4 Jun 2010 9:46 am    
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From what I've read here on the Forum...I'd say that High A first string will be problematic for you...perhaps on the tinny side? If the Low E string bothers you, just do like Keith Richards and leave it off. Very Happy
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J. Wilson


From:
Manitoba, Canada
Post  Posted 6 Jun 2010 10:25 am    
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Well I tried a few different options. In the end... I just left it tuned to E. Turns out that was the best way to do it after all! Go figure.
_________________
If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On. -Shakespeare
___________________________________________
1941 Ric B6 / 1948 National Dynamic / 1951 Bronson Supro / Custom teak wood Allen Melbert / Tut Taylor Dobro / Gold Tone Dojo / Martin D15S / Eastman P10
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Bill McCloskey

 

Post  Posted 6 Jun 2010 11:46 am    
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No surprise.
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J. Wilson


From:
Manitoba, Canada
Post  Posted 6 Jun 2010 12:27 pm    
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Well it was a learning experience for me: when you try to find the easy way out you can make things a whole lot harder.
_________________
If Music Be the Food of Love, Play On. -Shakespeare
___________________________________________
1941 Ric B6 / 1948 National Dynamic / 1951 Bronson Supro / Custom teak wood Allen Melbert / Tut Taylor Dobro / Gold Tone Dojo / Martin D15S / Eastman P10
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail

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