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Topic: raising the strings non a resonator guitar |
Andy Keen
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 15 Jan 2012 1:04 pm |
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So I've been given a nice resonator guitar, and I was wondering if its possible to raise the strings on it. I'm not entirely sure what defines a "dobro", but I would like to play it using a steel bar without bumping into the frets or fretboard. Is there some kind of conversion process I can do to raise the strings? Any help is appreciated.
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George Macdonald
From:
Vancouver Island BC Canada
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Posted 15 Jan 2012 1:38 pm guitar nut
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| Hi Andy, Yes, there is a nut you can place over the existing nut to raise the strings so you can play it "Dobro" style. Go online to Stewart Macdonald and search on their web site for guitar nuts. The first one to come up is: "Slide guitar extension nut $3.77. I used a similar extension nut on my Grandfathers accoustic guitar about 55 years ago. |
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Lee Baucum
From:
McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier
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Andy Keen
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 15 Jan 2012 2:29 pm
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| Awesome! Thanks a lot, George and Lee. That's exactly the solution I was hoping for. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 15 Jan 2012 4:55 pm
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If you wish to raise it permanently, I'd recommend getting a new bone nut affixed. The metal doesn't sound near as nice.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Ronnie Boettcher
From:
Brunswick Ohio, USA
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Posted 15 Jan 2012 5:04 pm
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I did the same thing, but I made my own out of a piece of material that was on a cheap miter box. just cut it, and it sits on the fixed nut with a part that goes behind the fixed nut, so it won't slide off. took about a hour to do, and sounds as good as the fixed nut.
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Sho-Bud LDG, Martin D28, Ome trilogy 5 string banjo, Ibanez 4-string bass, dobro, fiddle, and a tubal cain. Life Member of AFM local 142 |
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Ken Pippus
From:
Langford, BC, Canada
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Posted 15 Jan 2012 5:10 pm
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The higher bone nut certainly sounds better than a metal "elevator." Be aware that the higher nut and heavier strings can give you enough tension on the neck to cause some issues.
KP |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 15 Jan 2012 5:27 pm
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Andy, one thing to be aware of after you have raised the nut; if you are planning on using the most popular dobro tuning, GBDGBD low-to-high, the typical dobro string set with a .056 as the sixth string might put too much tension on the neck and bow the thing if tuned up to G.
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Mark |
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Andy Keen
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 15 Jan 2012 6:46 pm
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Sorry posting this in "pedal steel" section. Habit I guess, I'll try to keep that straight moving forward.
Mark, that's exactly what I plan on doing (open g tuning). What size guage do you recommend to avoid the bowing? |
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Steve Lipsey
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 15 Jan 2012 9:08 pm
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there is also a solid cast nut extender available....
and you could consider using DGDGBD as the tuning...this is another common tuning and doesn't put as much tension on the neck...You can use a full set of Martin Resonator Bluegrass strings - they are designed for GBDGBD and will be a little less tensioned with DGDGBD....I've used that for a long time... |
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