What strings???

Ron Wendler · From: Southern Minnesota, USA

I'm in the final stages of my Pedal build and looking to get strings. I built a 6 string and I know the strings are not like on my acoustic. Can anyone tell me what sizes are used on a pedal? What brand is most common? Thank you
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A fine instrument is like a lady. Treat it nice and it will make lovely music.

Bill Ferguson · From: Milton, FL USA

Different people prefer different gauges on their pedal steels.

I assume you built an E9 setup.

If so, the most popular string gauges based on what people bought from me are:
1 12p
2 15p
3 11p
4 14p
5 17p
6 20p
7 26w
8 30w
9 34w
10 38w
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AUTHORIZED George L's, Goodrich, Telonics and Peavey Dealer: I have 2 steels and several amps. My current rig of choice is 1993 Emmons LeGrande w/ 108 pups (Jack Strayhorn built for me), Goodrich OMNI Volume Pedal, George L's cables, Goodrich Baby Bloomer and Peavey Nashville 112. Can't get much sweeter.

Fred Treece · From: California, USA

GHS is a good brand. Check on the forum store by clicking on the “Strings” button at the top of any Steel Guitar Forum page.

Certain strings, like the 6th string in E9 tuning, may require a decision on whether to use a wound string or a plain string, depending on the type of changer mechanism or the tuning changes that are applied to the string.

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Seeing it's only a 6 string, what is the tuning you put on it? I doubt it's really an E9. Providing some details will help people in making suggestions.
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Fred Treece · From: California, USA

I was wondering if that’s what the OP meant, Richard. It is a little unclear. After Bill responded, I figured he meant that he built a 6-string acoustic guitar, and knows that strings for a pedal steel are different. I guess we’ll see.

Ron Wendler · From: Southern Minnesota, USA

I think I am missing some knowledge about pedal steels. 1. building the instrument for a specific tuning. Can I not tune it to any tuning? 2. I am building the pedal steel and not a guitar. I have built and I do play a 6 string guitar and I do have favorite size strings for it, but the pedal steel, because 3 of the strings on it that will be stretched, I wasn't sure what size strings to put on it. I haven't a clue as to what tuning the guys with 6 string Pedal steels are using. Also what type of string or brand to use.
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A fine instrument is like a lady. Treat it nice and it will make lovely music.

Dennis A Brown · From: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

The Hudson six string pedal steels use a version of the E9 tuning as from this discussion thread from 2015:

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=285263
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Bill Ferguson · From: Milton, FL USA

Ron, I misunderstood.
I assumed you were building a 10 string pedal steel.

I don't even know anyone that owns a 6 string pedal steel.
I believe a forum member was building some for a while, not sure if they still are.

Once you know what tuning you are using, and what strings you are going to pull, it will be easy to determine the correct gauge.
_________________
AUTHORIZED George L's, Goodrich, Telonics and Peavey Dealer: I have 2 steels and several amps. My current rig of choice is 1993 Emmons LeGrande w/ 108 pups (Jack Strayhorn built for me), Goodrich OMNI Volume Pedal, George L's cables, Goodrich Baby Bloomer and Peavey Nashville 112. Can't get much sweeter.

Ron Wendler · From: Southern Minnesota, USA

Thank you guys. I refered to my build plans and there was information on the strings. It's set to tune to E9
_________________
A fine instrument is like a lady. Treat it nice and it will make lovely music.

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