C6 on a tricone

Kekoa Blanchet · From: Kaua'i

I want to try out C6 (low to high C E G A C E) on a tricone. What would be the right string gauges for this? I'm familiar with John Ely's string chart, but I presume that this is for electric guitars and shorter scales than a resonator. Anybody have gauges that work well for them on a tricone in this tuning?

Any other thoughts about C6 on a resonator guitar? Would I need to change the nut or bridge to accommodate the smaller strings?

Bill McCloskey · Posted 29 Jul 2010 6:14 pm

Personally never liked the sound of C6 on a resonator. If you are going that route, you would do better with something closer to G6.

Hugh Crumley · From: North Carolina, USA

I have strung a National tricone in C6, and I used John Ely's chart pretty much right across all strings (I went slightly heavier on the two highest strings.) The tension seemed just fine. I did not need to change my nut or saddle-- but I also did not ultimately keep the tricone in that tuning. I went back to a tuning more suited to playing older Hawaiian (Sol Hoopii, Sam Ku West) that sounded better on that guitar.

Anyway, give it a spin, you might love it!
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Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

To me a tricone sounds better with strings that are pitched lower than C6th tuning. I use open G tuning on my tricone and am very satisfied with it.

You might try A6 tuning, as the strings aren't too far off:

Kekoa Blanchet · From: Kaua'i

Thanks for the input, guys. It's very helpful to get the benefit of your experience.

What got me interested in trying C6 was a video that Basil Henriques had posted on YouTube some time ago, with Jerry Byrd on a resonator guitar backing up Marty Robbins.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_oaEw0p3js

It sure looks like C6 on that guitar. It appears to be a 7-string guitar, so maybe it has a string lower than a C, but I don't hear him playing that 7th string in the video.

But, maybe I should stick to something like A6 for now. Brad, is that 3rd string a G# or an F#?

Hugh, was it the pitch or was it the intervals of C6 that didn't work for you? What tuning did you end up with?

Bill, is your suggested G6 tuning like Brad's, just one step lower? I've also seen G6 as G B E G B D (low to high), but I do like the idea of using the same intervals as C6 -- shortens the learning curve. Would a standard string set work, or would strings 1-3 be too slack if the guitar was tuned G B D E G B (low to high)?

Anybody else have any observations or suggestions here?

Mike Neer · From: NJ

Kekoa, C#min7 tuning is my favorite for a Tricone. I've heard others use C6 and it was fine, but you lose some of the tone quality of the guitar. C#m7 is good for the styles of Sol Hoopii, Dick McIntire and swing stuff in general.

C#m7: E C# G# E B E

A6 would be a good choice, too. Although the notes are similar to C6, the fact that it is a lower key adds the perception of it being lower, when in fact the notes are higher than C6. Still, it is very useable and you can get a Hawaiian sound out of it. Also, by lowering string 5 you'll get B11.

A6: E C# A F# E C#
B11: E C# A F# D# C#

Another note: if you decide to try out C6, you can use the same string gauges for A6.
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Hugh Crumley · From: North Carolina, USA

Kekoa,

It was both the intervals and pitch (as Mike describes above.) I am pretty happy with high and low bass A and G; C#m7 is not very far away from low bass A, and in any of these (or other close variants) I think you'll be getting good tone from your tricone.

Cheers,
Hugh
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Hugh Crumley
http://www.enoislanders.com

Twayn Williams · From: Portland, OR

I use B6 (1/2 step lower than C6) on my PB Goldtone, no issues. I wouldn't hesitate to use the same thing on a tricone.
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Rick Stratton · From: Tujunga, California, USA

For Mike Neer - RE: C#m

I'm currently using Low-bass G on my Tricone (J. Pearce squareneck reso), but am curious to try C#m.
Prefered string gauges?
Thanks!

Mike Neer · From: NJ

Rick Stratton · From: Tujunga, California, USA

Thanks Mike!
After breaking 3 strings trying to crank these John Pearce's up to pitch, I think I'll stay with the Low-bass G on my tricone! (More of a Bob Brozman approach to Hawaiian playing)
By the way, the folks at National Resophonics were very nice about doing the custom sandblasting of the old-style palm trees on my Style-1 (see pic in previous post), like the Style-O single-cone.
For me, the best of both worlds!
I've got C#m on a Supro lap, and I used a set of strings closer to a standard (Medium) guitar set. I like the strings taut, so I upped the gauge of the high strings.
Seems to work well.

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

I did fine with low C6 on my tricone. But I eventually went to 8 strings. I'm currently using a wooden bodied single cone resonator until I save up for a good 8 string tricone.
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