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Topic: Weissenborn Guitar, noisy strings? |
Todd McMakin
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 10 Apr 2023 9:45 pm |
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I'm not sure if this really fits here, but I wasn't sure where to post it. I have a Lazy River Weissenborn style guitar that I just bought used. I love the tone! When I got it, it had very old strings on it, so I put on a set of John Pearse Medium PB strings. I'm tuning to open D. As I said earlier, the tone is great! The issue I have is that my stainless steel slides make a "scratching" type of sound on the strings when playing slide. I don't notice this so much on the lap steel. Should I be using a different type of strings? What can I do to reduce this acoustic noise?
Todd |
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Brooks Montgomery
From:
Idaho, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2023 2:23 am
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Try a chrome plated steel and see if you like it better.
_________________
A banjo, like a pet monkey, seems like a good idea at first. |
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K Maul
From:
Hadley, NY/Hobe Sound, FL
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Posted 11 Apr 2023 4:00 am
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It could be a matter of muting technique. Practicing is the only way around that.
_________________
KEVIN MAUL: Airline, Beard, Clinesmith, Donner, Evans, Excel, Fender, Fluger, GFI, Gibson, Hilton, Ibanez, Justice, K+K, Live Strings, MOYO, National, Oahu, Peterson, Quilter, Rickenbacher, Sho~Bud, Supro, TC, Ultimate, VHT, Williams, X-otic, Yamaha, ZKing. |
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Chris Clem
From:
California, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2023 6:49 am
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Yes "John Pearse Medium PB strings" on a Weissenborn are a very lively/noisy strings. You can take some 400/600 grit sandpaper on the wound strings and that will help reduce the slide friction.That is the quick fix.
I found nickel wound Martin Monel strings work best on my Weissenborn, of course opinions we be all over the place on what is best. |
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Todd McMakin
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2023 6:55 am
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| Thanks for the heads up on this. I love those strings on my acoustic guitars, but it may be that they are not the best option for Weissenborn. Do coated strings help in this regard? |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2023 8:01 am
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| I string up my Weiss (a 1922 Maui Maid) with John Pearse Phospher Bronze Wound New D Tuning Set #3160 and play it with a Latch Lake stainless bar. I do not find the string/bar combo to be excessively noisy after the strings are broken in from playing for an hour or so. |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 11 Apr 2023 8:57 am Semi-Flat or Flat Wound?
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This may or may not seem suitable for playing that kind of guitar.
I use Flat Wound strings on all my lap steels because they are smooth and quiet, but most of all because I like the warmer tone.
Maybe try Semi-Flat or Flat Wound strings?
I get mine from juststrings.com because they sell them as both sets as well as individual strings. I don't like the gauges in sets because I use a little heavier strings on the bass side.
I get my pedal steel strings from the forum to help finance this great site.
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Brooks Montgomery
From:
Idaho, USA
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Posted 11 Apr 2023 10:10 am
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Todd, regarding my comment above about the tone bar:
I have a chrome plated scheerhorn bar and the same bar unplated in stainless.
The stainless bar has more friction and is noisier than the chrome plated, regardless of strings used. I much prefer the chrome plated tone bar.
_________________
A banjo, like a pet monkey, seems like a good idea at first. |
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Larry Allen
From:
Kapaa, Kauai,Hawaii
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Posted 12 Apr 2023 2:10 pm Strings
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On my Weissenborn I use John Pearce 3130HB..quiet BJS bar slides..great tone, long lasting.
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Excel steels & Peavey amps,Old Chevys & Motorcycles & Women on the Trashy Side |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 13 Apr 2023 1:55 am
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Try a coated bar like an EZ-Slide or Clinesmith and I'll bet you reduce your string noise considerably.
_________________
Steel Guitar Books! Website: www.volkmediabooks.com |
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Todd McMakin
From:
Texas, USA
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Posted 26 Apr 2023 11:51 am
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| Any additional recommendations for strings I can try that might be a little less noisy? |
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Gary S. Lynch
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2023 5:34 pm
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Todd,
I own a Bear Creek, Lazy River and a Celtic Cross Weissenborn.
I agree with all the comments posted.
Personally, I only use D’Addario Resophonic Flat Top Phosphor Bronze
EFT 13 on all three. A little pricey but we’ll worth it IMHO.
I also changed out the bone nuts on the Lazy River and Celtic Cross to Asher Tusq style.
That made a really nice difference. |
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Gary S. Lynch
From:
Maryland, USA
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Posted 28 Apr 2023 5:38 pm
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Here is the Bear Creek Koa.
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