Ronnie Boettcher
From:
Brunswick Ohio, USA
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Posted 12 Jul 2014 12:08 pm |
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I am new to the dobro. I have a average priced dobro. When I play it, the lower strings seem to sound clunky, or more dead than the higher strings. I have researched sets of strings for the Dobro. Straight GBDGBD tuning. It seems that most sets come with a .056 low G string. That is about the same size as a low E string for a regular acoustic guitar. Would it help to find a set of strings with a low G that is about .036. The A string for a regular guitar is about ,036, and that tunes one note up from the low G on a dobro. While playing the dobro, I have a tendency to want to push pedals, or knee levers. Have to re-program my brain. Any suggestions will be be welcome.
Thanks, Ronnie
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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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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 12 Jul 2014 1:26 pm
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Ronnie, the majority of the dobro string sets for high bass Open G tuning contain an .056w for a reason.
Were you to put a 36 on there it would sound pretty wimpy. Some players even go for a .059W on the 6th for Open G to give it more "beef."
Here's the obvious first question - how old are the strings? Dobro strings have a tendency to "die" faster than just about any other instrument in the guitar family.
Also, tell us a little about your average priced dobro? What is the instrument you own?
There is downward pressure on the spider bridge when plucking a string that "loads" the cone so it resonates or vibrates. A thin gauge string tuned to G isn't going to give the guitar the characteristic "growl" on the 6th string of a well set up dobro.
Just for the heck of it I grabbed my dobro off its stand a minute ago and tuned the fourth (.036W) string from D down to G to match the 6th string. It wasn't the worst thing I've ever heard, but let's just say it was lacking cojones.
Notice I said I tuned it down from D to match the lower octave on the 6th string. You will not be able to tune up a .036W to the G note that is the 3rd string. It will blow! the heaviest string just about anybody ever uses to tune the 3rd string to G, one octave higher than the 6th string , is a .030W.
We need more information - you have what sounds like are the correct gauges for dobro Open G, something else is amiss here - maybe old strings, it could be the overall setup of the guitar or since you are new, you just don't have a handle yet on the thing as compared to playing a pedal steel.
You have to hit the strings pretty hard to get the best tone out of a dobro - it can be a very "physical" instrument.
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Mark |
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