String Changing Question

Allan Jirik · From: Wichita Falls TX

I recently changed the strings on my steel for the first time. I put on D'Addario Pro Steels and everything went well except for the 5th string, a .017. In non-technical terms it seemed to reach proper pitch too early- that is, it's loose, sloppy and buzzy. "Back in the day" I changed steel strings lots of times and never experienced this. Should I use a thicker gauge perhaps, or??? Thanks for your input. I bought three sets!

Ron Wright · From: Modesto,CA

those are what i use and have no problems at all
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Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

That's what I use too. No problems. Maybe it is the wrong gauge put into a .017 wrapper. Try another one. And make sure it is not actually an octave lower than it should be. I have had that happen when using a tuner and not being able to hear the string pitch.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting.

Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

It could be you have it a ocative low, Some tuners will not catch this. One of the handiest tools you can have is a dial caliper when dealing with a steel guitar. They are the thing to measure strings, movements, spring dementions,verifing part dimentions when you have to order rods, brackets or screws and bolts for replacement. Check Midway the sporting goods company. They have the best deals on a dial caliper I have found. Once you get one you will wonder how you done without it. Good Luck & Happy Steelin

Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

I hat a several sets from a popular string brand that had the wrong string in the assigned wrapper. Didn't notice until I tuned it up. In this case it was a .034 where the .026 should be for the 7th string.

Dan

Bobbe Seymour · From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.

I don't know how to say this without being just plain blunt, however you guys that are using D'Adderio strings are going to have a multitude of problems.
Steel guitar strings ARE different, standard guitars strings you are using just won't work like a professional steel guitar string that is made for steel guitars.
I recommend about anything else. Jags, Geo.Ls,GHS, and of course Cobra coil.

I can prove anything I say on this subject, I have many years of living with them all.

Bobbe Seymour
Steel Guitar Nashville

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Bobbe...

This is not to doubt what you say ('cuz I think you are right), but EXACTLY what is the difference between Steel Guitar strings and regular strings?
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting.

Bob Blair · From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Still, whether or not the strings in question are the best brand to be using, if the string is really at the correct pitch and is too loose, the most probable cause of such a problem is that it is the wrong gauge.

Bill Ford · From: Graniteville SC Aiken

Allan,
Is the string in question the same gauge as the one you replaced?
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Arthur Manning · From: Florida, USA

You stated, "In non-technical terms it seemed to reach proper pitch too early- that is, it's loose, sloppy and buzzy."

It sounds to me that you are tuned in a lower octave and that is the reason that string came to pitch too soon--is loose--and buzzy--(AS YOU STATED). Some tuners do not indicate what octave your in (1,2,3,4, etc.). Try tuning to the next octave with that string. This has happen to me. I don't know if that string is in the correct octave or not and if it is it could brake the string by going to that next octave. Hope This HELPS. Art M.

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

I agree with Bobbe, even the same gauge strings by different manufacturers have different tension.
Core size could be different, the number of twists, the way the string if finished..
I don't like to change brands once my steel is dialed in.

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

How could one possibly tune a string an octave too low, and not know it immediately? Maybe in the din of a noisy club, where you can't hear the string, and are relying only on a tuner, but otherwise?????

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

Definitely - make sure you're tuned to pitch before drawing any firm conclusions.

I don't think 'core size' can be an issue on a 0.017 plain steel string. I don't think D'Addario even make a 0.017 wound string. There's no separate 'core' - it's just plain wire.

Measure the string gauge with a micrometer - maybe it's not a 0.017. I've had wrong gauges in sets of various brands.

If it's really a 0.017p up to pitch and still buzzy, perhaps the twisted wire holding on the ball end is too long, which can be a problem. If that twisted wire comes up onto the changer finger, the string won't lay properly on the top of the finger, and can buzz - I've had that happen. As Bobbe says, there are differences between good pedal steel strings and many regular guitar strings, and that is one of them.

Of course, check to make sure the top of your changer finger isn't grooved and/or pitted. That can also cause string buzzing. There are a bunch of threads on how to deal with that.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Allan Jirik · From: Wichita Falls TX

Thanks for the suggestions, guys. I tune by ear, at least for now so unless I'm going senile the string isn't tuned an octave low. The guitar is a new Stage One so I don't think the finger is grooved or pitted... the string I took off worked fine. I'll put another .017 on it and see if that makes a difference. I guess I should say that the string isn't horribly sloppy, but just enough for me to know something isn't right.

Thanks again.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Alan, changing to another string should be the first move. I think it will solve the problem unless you got a batch of wrong or bad strings.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting.

Gary Richardi · From: SoCal, USA

Not all strings, even from the same manufacturer are equal. You may have just gotten a bad string.

Years back, my band did a gig at a show sponsored in part by a string company and we all got comped a pack of electric guitar strings. They sat unopened for a few months until I bought a used Epi Dot Deluxe and I put 'em on. I thought the guitar was bad and the tuners were all slipping. They were like rubber bands! I've been playing guitar since age 10, have restrung guitars countless times, and know how to stretch strings and what to expect but these strings NEVER STOPPED STRETCHING! I left them one for about a week or so and was thinking that I'd bought a defective guitar. Finally, I changed the strings out and the difference was instantaneous. The guitar and tuners were fine. The strings were defective. Never before or since have I experienced that.

So, my advice is get one new string.

Bo Borland · From: South Jersey -

My comment regarding core size was meant to be a generic comment.. Every brand of wound string is not the same for any particular gauge

Bobbe Seymour · From: Hendersonville TN USA, R.I.P.

Correct Bo!

Larry Bressington · From: Nebraska

I have never had a mis-matched string with the pro-steels, they last very good too, i like their gauge 13-38 in stainless for E9th, very balanced with the .020 on the 6th string vs the 0.22 on some of the other sets, hows your roller look and finger, iv'e had a lot of buzz from that before, hows the angle on the string pull over the roller and into the tuning peg??
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