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Topic: 6th string |
Steve Becker
From: Daytona Beach FL
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Posted 2 Jul 2010 4:00 pm
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6th string - which do you prefer- wound or plain? Pros or cons of either? |
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Carson Leighton
From: N.B. Canada
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Posted 2 Jul 2010 4:23 pm
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I think it depends on whether you are lowering the string a whole tone or just raising it a half tone... If you are just raising it a half tone,, I would go with a wound .022.(stays in tune better) but if you are lowering it a full tone,,then either a plain .020 or .022 would be more suitable,,depending on your guitar...Carson |
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Joe Miraglia
From: Jamestown N.Y.
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Posted 2 Jul 2010 4:24 pm
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Plain,I raise my 6th.string from G# be B. It works for me.Just a little thing I have on my set up. |
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Billy Carr
From: Seminary, Mississippi, USA (deceased)
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Posted 2 Jul 2010 6:59 pm psg
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I lower #6 G# to a G and have been using a .020P for years. |
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Cal Sharp
From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN
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Posted 2 Jul 2010 10:57 pm
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I went back and forth for several years, and finally decided to use a plain 6th string.
Generally, a wound string requires more pedal travel and isn't as loud as a plain string, or as brilliant, but it's easier to get in tune. There's a bunch of cool licks that are played with the 5th and 6th strings together, and if the 6th doesn't match up, tonality-wise, with the 5th, you're going to lose something. A wound has always sounded muddy to me.
A plain string sounds more balanced with the other strings, in tone and volume, but has a lot of overtones and is harder to play in tune.
If you're experiencing tuning issues you might want to use a wound on critical gigs until you feel comfortable with a plain. I've heard that Lloyd used a wound, but AFAIK most guys use a plain. _________________ C#
Me: Steel Guitar Madness
Latest ebook: Steel Guitar Insanity
Custom Made Covers for Steel Guitars & Amps at Sharp Covers Nashville |
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richard burton
From: Britain
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Posted 3 Jul 2010 12:13 am
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I use a 22 wound, because I can't stand the tuning instability of a plain sixth.
I drop it a full tone, on some steels it takes a bit of 'tinkering' to get the travel, I remember it was quite a challenge to get the drop on my ZB ![Very Happy](images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif) |
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Erv Niehaus
From: Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 3 Jul 2010 8:29 am
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I use a 22 plain.
I drop that string a whole tone.
Even though the guitar might be capable of making the change with a wound string, the throw is sooooo long that I wind up in the next county. ![Whoa!](images/smiles/icon_omg.gif) |
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