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Topic: Dead G String on my Dobro |
Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 6:19 am |
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I use nickel wound strings on my Dobro. I've tried phosphor bronze, bronze, flatwound you name it.
Regardless of type, my G string dies first. I only get about four gigs out of G before it starts sounding muffled.
Have any of you figured out what actually happens to a string to make it sound that way?
I theorize the winding portion breaks somewhere along the length and the resulting loss of tension propagates down the entire string. The loose winding kills some vibration mainly at higher frequencies.
Anybody know differently? |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 6:31 am
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Yes, the third takes a beating. If the playing style is more "contemporary" (ie aggressive) the death of strings 4-5 & 6 won't be far behind.
I change strings before & after every gig.
I am not alone 
I believe your theory as to the "why" is correct.
h
_________________
Howard Parker
03\' Carter D-10
70\'s Dekley D-10
52\' Fender Custom
Many guitars by Paul Beard
Listowner Resoguit-L |
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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 6:56 am
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| Tx Howard. |
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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 6:59 am
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What style strings have you been using Howard?
I've been happy with Martin Resphonics Nickel Wound.
Bonus - They are cheap at $3.15/set. |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 7:03 am
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I'm addicted to D'Addario EJ42 on my primary guitar. They sound glorious.
I use Beard "Special 28's" on my smaller body guitars.
I am not a nickle wound fan.
h |
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Dave Thier
From:
Fairhope, Alabama, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 7:51 am
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I'm not a fan of nickle strings either. I, along with most players I know, prefer phosphor bronze wound. My experience with string life is similar to Howard's. Those strings take a beating with metal fingerpicks, and bar not to mention the oils and corrosives from your hands.
I have Dunlops and D'Addario EJ42s in my string box at the moment. Strings are relatively inexpensive so try a few and see what you like. |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 8:27 am
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I'm not only not a fan of nickel wound, I despise nickel wound strings. I can't stand the way they sound even if they've only been on the guitar for 10 minutes.
I don't know the science behind why the 3rd string dies first, but whatever is behind the reason, since it is the lightest gauge of the four wound strings, it would make sense that it's the first one to go.
_________________
Mark
Last edited by Mark Eaton on 5 Mar 2015 8:58 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Greg Booth
From:
Anchorage, AK, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 8:55 am
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We all have to deal with the early death of the third string. I have killed one after only one song from playing too hard in a noisy jam. I agree with you Jim, the fine windings get damaged and begin to let go. After more playing you can hear that awful sizzling sound. I carry spare 28s to extend the life of my set when this happens. Also not a fan of nickel, hate the tone. Seems like most guys who use nickel are steel players first. I guess I'm an exception to that rule.
_________________
Greg
Kathy Kallick Band
www.youtube.com/user/aksliderdobro |
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Jouni Karvonen
From:
Helsinki, Finland
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 9:15 am
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| That's why my spare G is plain 28 for "Joshy" sound before putting a new set of strings before a gig. |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 9:19 am
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That doesn't help for 4-5 & 6 though 
Solid third, not a fan 
h |
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Nakos Marker
From:
Washington, USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 9:19 am
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Last edited by Nakos Marker on 11 Aug 2020 7:59 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Michael Brebes
From:
Northridge CA
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 9:59 am
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What causes the G to go prematurely is breaking of the small wire that is wound on the core. The wire is so small that metal picks can shred that fine wire. With the breakage of the wind, the placement of the break will cause the string to not vibrate equally throughout the length of the string and will kill overtones. This problem shows up on my regular guitars on the underside where they contact the frets.
I don't have the problem with my dobro because I play with my fingernails. It's times like this that my classical guitar background pays off.
_________________
Michael Brebes
Instrument/amp/ pickup repair
MSA D10 Classic/Rickenbacher B6/
Dickerson MOTS/Dobro D32 Hawaiian/
Goldtone Paul Beard Reso
Mesa Boogie Studio Pre/Hafler 3000
RP1/MPX100 |
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K Maul
From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 10:07 am
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Jim-
I use long lasting John Pearse Phosphor Bronze,but change out the G with a Stainless Steel .028. It seems to take the beating better and is sort of a cool transition from the unwound 1st and 2nd to the wound bronze 4,5,6. On one dobro of mine,I also swap the .038 bronze #4 for a stainless .036 because I frequently tune that up to E from D for "schwing toonz".
KM |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 10:58 am
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| the 3rd string is always the culprit for me. i'll change out to a new third just to get through a few more gigs. |
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Jim Pitman
From:
Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 11:01 am
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It's funny I was Dobro player first and I like the sound of Nickel on my Dobro. PB tends to sound almost over lively at first to me but then compared to nickel, within a short period, wears and sounds dull. I attack hard which may have something to do with it or possibly my Dobro brand Dobro with a quaterman cone just sounds better with nickel.
Kevin, I think we play in the same band once in a while, the StarLine Rhythm Boys, but not at the same time of course. Thank you and everyone for the suggestions. |
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Steve Branscom
From:
Pacific NW
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 11:08 am
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"With the breakage of the wind" Yes, I can see how that might be an embarrassing problem for some.
_________________
Steve |
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Mark Eaton
From:
Sonoma County in The Great State Of Northern California
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 11:20 am
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A lot of it has to do with the sound you are trying to attain.
Think of a roundneck resonator guitar for a second, like a National with a biscuit bridge. If you are playing bluesy sounding stuff, you might prefer that style of guitar over a spider bridge roundneck because the note has a quicker decay, doesn't typically have the "ring" that a spider bridge guitar puts out.
A Dobro brand guitar, be it from the OMI Dobro era or a pre WWII instrument has a different vibe than a large bodied modern guitar like a Scheerhorn, Clinesmith, Beard E model, Meredith, etc.
If you want the big sound along the lines of a Douglas or Ickes on a modern large bodied guitar, you are typically going to prefer phosphor bronze strings on 3 through 6.
Speaking of Rob Ickes, I'm leaving in a bit to head over to the Calif. Central Valley, I will be (stuck in) Lodi (again) on business tomorrow. This evening at the Black Oak Casino in the Sierra foothills it's a free show by Blue Highway, they were just up in Washington at Wintergrass. I'm staying at the hotel there and will catch the show. It's good to mix business with pleasure when possible.
_________________
Mark |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Spicewood TX 78669
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 3:30 pm
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| Michael Brebes wrote: |
With the breakage of the wind, the placement of the break will cause the string to not vibrate equally throughout the length of the string and will kill overtones.
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Michael, I break wind pretty much during every show I play. But I don't really notice how it affects my tone. Others may, however, but they haven't mentioned it to me.
| Howard Parker wrote: |
I change strings before & after every gig.
I am not alone. |
I have a toddy before and after every gig. Sometimes during the gig. But changing strings takes too much time and effort.
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 5 Mar 2015 5:21 pm
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i like you even more now, herb!
mark...cool they're having a free show out there!
i won s couple little bundles there years ago. i also lost a shitload. |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 6 Mar 2015 4:51 am
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For some reason I'm reminded of this quip:
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| Playing with good tone but playing badly is like farting in Sunday School and worrying about the tone of it. |
You ought to see Herb's shows. Funny man. |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 6 Mar 2015 6:40 am
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| Herb Steiner wrote: |
| Howard Parker wrote: |
I change strings before & after every gig.
I am not alone. |
I have a toddy before and after every gig. Sometimes during the gig. But changing strings takes too much time and effort. |
I see I have much to learn. Herb, could we spend some quality time together next weekend?
h |
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Tom Margulies
From:
Oregon, USA
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Posted 6 Mar 2015 8:14 pm
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| I started with plastic finger picks and could never get used to metal. I guess a benefit is the strings last a little longer....the 3rd included. |
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Greg Booth
From:
Anchorage, AK, USA
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Posted 6 Mar 2015 9:59 pm
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| Tom Margulies wrote: |
| I started with plastic finger picks and could never get used to metal. I guess a benefit is the strings last a little longer....the 3rd included. |
I'm pretty sure it's my thumb pick that's wearing out the 28. The way I play it's my thumb that's hitting that string most of the time with hard plastic, not metal. Kills it anyway.
_________________
Greg
Kathy Kallick Band
www.youtube.com/user/aksliderdobro |
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Howard Parker
From:
Maryland
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Posted 7 Mar 2015 6:34 am
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| Greg Booth wrote: |
I'm pretty sure it's my thumb pick that's wearing out the 28. The way I play it's my thumb that's hitting that string most of the time with hard plastic, not metal. Kills it anyway. |
Indeed. Thumb and bar.
h |
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