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Topic: ZB D 11 String Gauge Question |
steve takacs
From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
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Posted 23 Jul 2006 10:06 am |
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| What would be the optimal string guages for a ZB D-11 for both the C6 and E 9 tunings,please? Also, are there any preferred brands of strings to use? The guitar was built in 1979. Many thanks, steve |
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Chick Donner
From:
North Ridgeville, OH USA
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Posted 23 Jul 2006 10:20 am
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I played an 11-10 ZB for 30 yrs, and you can use just whatever you're comfortble with for the 1st 10. I had an E on the bottom which was an .052. Some say my string selection is too "light," but I've liked the sounds I get with these gauges. My entire string gauges are:
F# .012
D# .014
G# .011
E .015
B .018
G# .020 P
F# .026 W
E .030 W
D .034 W
B .038 W
E .052 W
On my D12 PP, I also have low G# at 11, and it's a .044. |
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steve takacs
From:
beijing, china via pittsburgh (deceased)
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Posted 23 Jul 2006 10:45 am
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| Wow, that was QUICK.Thanks for the answer, Chick. Any others wishing to comment would be welcome to do so. steve t |
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B. Greg Jones
From:
Middleport, Ohio USA
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Posted 23 Jul 2006 10:46 am
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Here is what Brumley uses on his 11 string E9th tuning, and so do I. But as Chick said, it is all on what you are comfortable with. Right now, I am using GHS Boomers.
F#--.013
D#--.015
G#--.011
E---.014
B---.016
G#--.020wound
F#--.026w
E---.030w
D---.034w
B---.036w
E---.050w
Greg |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 23 Jul 2006 10:57 am
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It's a brave man that will use a plain sixth on a ZB  |
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Mike Vallandigham
From:
Martinez, CA
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Posted 23 Jul 2006 1:10 pm
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I have a Plain 6th on my ZB and it's a total pain in the arse. I've often thought about puting a wound 6th, just haven't got around to doing it.
By B pedal is so lumpy, I never play the guitar.  |
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Wally Taylor
From:
Hardin, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 23 Jul 2006 4:57 pm
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OK guys, I am fairly new to both the steel guitar and my ZB, but what is wrong with a plain 6th string on a ZB? I have a plain 6th on my E9 neck. Should I have a wound 6th?
Thanks,
Wally |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 23 Jul 2006 10:45 pm
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Every ZB (and most other vintage steels)I've played had significant de-tuning on strings which are not being raised, but other strings are, eg, pluck your plain sixth, then activate the A pedal and the F lever.
If you don't hear the sixth string drop in pitch, you have an exceptional guitar !!
The usual term for this phenonemom is Cabinet Drop, I prefer to think of it as Axle Flex, but that's academic, the problem will still be there !
One way to stop the sixth string being so noticeably de-tuned is to use a wound sixth. |
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Pat Kelly
From:
Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 24 Jul 2006 12:14 am
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Well!
I read the last post (welcome back Richard) and said to myself "Self, you'll have to check this." So I did. The sixth stays the same when acivating the A pedal but the ear detects a slight change with A pedal and F lever. So I put the tuner on it. My tuner says it altered to sharper!
Where to from here?
Pat
ZB circa 1980 with plain 6th string.
Of course back to the question in hand: I have a 51 on the 11th E[This message was edited by Pat Kelly on 24 July 2006 at 01:16 AM.] |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 24 Jul 2006 12:59 am
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Pat,
Maybe somebody has at one time put an extra pull rod on the sixth, attached to the F lever, that very slightly raises the sixth, to keep it constant when the F lever is activated.
I had that on my ZB for a while, but it was difficult to set, what with everything else crammed into the same space, so I took it off and went to a wound sixth. |
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Pat Kelly
From:
Wentworthville, New South Wales, Australia
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Posted 25 Jul 2006 2:00 am
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Richard,
No extra pull rods. I don't get under there too much - only when something needs attention. but I know what's there. Generally, I don't tune the guitar all the way around - just set the Es and tune the other strings and changes to best fit. I'd never have noticed this phenomenon only I checked to confirm your observations in this thread.
pat
Sorry Steve. This thread seems to have gone off topic. I'd be most interested in hearing of options for the 11 string C6 set up. Mine is currently set to 10 string standard with G on top.[This message was edited by Pat Kelly on 25 July 2006 at 03:07 AM.] |
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Paul Redmond
From:
Illinois, USA
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Posted 3 Aug 2006 9:46 pm
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| The biggest reason many guitars detune so badly is that they (1)have too skinny a keyhead, and (2)there are not nearly enough screws holding the keyheads down tightly to the cabinet. They are usually held with 2 screws under or near the nut and one(!!) sometimes 2, at the outer end somewhere. I usually add 4 more #8-32 screws at convenient intervals in between the extremes. This means taking very accurate measurements before drilling in to that beauty, but the results will be worth the effort. I've solved many "cabinet drop" problems this way. The keyhead moves all over that body and placing a dial indicator on the end of a tuner shaft, the movement can be easily detected. When #3 is raised, the keyhead lifts, twists into an S-shape AND tries to move horizontally. Hope this helps. |
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Jim Peters
From:
St. Louis, Missouri, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 4 Aug 2006 3:57 am
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| Paul, aith all the cabinet drop discussions I've read here, that's a new idea! Anyone else verify? JP |
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