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Topic: Which Dobro Strings? |
Grant Johnson
From:
Nashville TN
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Posted 21 Jan 2004 8:11 am |
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I just got my Dobro, The Scheerhorn upgraded Regal RD 45.
I am very impressed with the volume of this instrument, the bass strings are stronger and clearer than my old Dobro 60...
I used to use John Pearce strings on my Dobro 60, but my store no longer carries that brand. I play the Bluegrass G tuning.
Bluegrass Dobro'ers, what strings are you using??
Thanks!
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www.bigsmokey.com
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Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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D Schubert
From:
Columbia, MO, USA
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Posted 21 Jan 2004 10:45 am
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| Another vote for Beard Special 29's -- they sound great on my prewar squareneck. |
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Michael Johnstone
From:
Sylmar,Ca. USA
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Posted 21 Jan 2004 10:57 am
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| One alternative would be the polymer coated Elixir strings.They make a set for Dobro and they are smooth and quiet as silk under the bar.They're not quite as bright as a new set of bronze strings but they keep what brightness they have their whole life - and they last a long time. -MJ- |
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Orville Johnson
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 21 Jan 2004 11:02 am
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| i alternate between the John Pearse and the D'Addario Mike Auldridge set (J 42s i think). I never liked the elixers but i tried the d'addario coated set and liked those. |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Jan 2004 11:14 am
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And out of old habit I'll recommend the Newtone Nationals (.016-.059)... 
Steinar
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www.gregertsen.com
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David Ward
From:
White Rock, BC,Canada
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Posted 21 Jan 2004 7:07 pm
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| You can tell by the responses that you are going to have to experment. I like J-42s |
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Ron Bednar
From:
Rancho Cordova, California, USA
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Posted 21 Jan 2004 10:48 pm
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I really like Newtones! I had them make some custom sets of 18-66 for my reso. They made a mistake and did them as the Aloha style but in my gauges...turned out great, more mellow, I love'em!
If anybody has an old Oahu acoustic or a Weissenborn type I highly recommend Newtone Alohas...great strings! |
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Stephen Gambrell
From:
Over there
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Posted 21 Jan 2004 10:57 pm
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I either use the J42's, or make up my own set--.017, .019, .027, .035, .045, .056.
The bigger third lasts a little longer. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 22 Jan 2004 3:08 am
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| John Pearse Nickel. |
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Chris Walke
From:
St Charles, IL
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Posted 22 Jan 2004 6:50 am
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Ron - gauges 18-66? That 66 has to be a pretty big string. What tuning are you playing?
I've used a 59 on my 6th string and found that it barely winds around the post.
Just curious. |
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Russ Young
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 22 Jan 2004 7:03 am
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| Ron: I use Newtone Alohas on my Weissenborn-style and my mid-'30s Oahu (see "Buy and Sell") so I agree wholeheartedly, But I am curious what you mean by "made in the Aloha style ..." |
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Ron Bednar
From:
Rancho Cordova, California, USA
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Posted 22 Jan 2004 9:46 am
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Chris - I get about 2 1/2 wraps with the 66, but the wrapping peg did have to be drilled out to accept the string! I use open D tuning and really like the big bottom I get with the 66. If I was using G tuning I'd have to go liter for sure.
Russ - When I ordered the customs I also ordered a few of the regular Aloha sets. The customs also came packaged in the Ahloa wrappers. Its an assumption on my part that the Ahloha's are made of a different material or method than the other styles of strings. They have a distinctly more mellow or almost a "harp" like quality to them, to me. The customs I received also have that quality to them and are less punchy in the attack than others I have used of the same gauge. I just wrote Malcolm at Newtone asking him if there is in fact a difference in their make up or method of construction compared to the National style. Haven't heard back yet. I'll let you know what he says. But I really like them! [This message was edited by Ron Bednar on 22 January 2004 at 09:49 AM.] |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 22 Jan 2004 9:56 am
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Ron and Russ,- I asked Malcolm about this last time I ordered strings from him, and he said the main difference between the Alohas and the Nationals is that he use a thinner core in the Alohas to provide less tension for wood bodied Hawaiian guitars.
I love those strings, very 'harp' like as you say.
Steinar
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www.gregertsen.com
[This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 22 January 2004 at 10:22 AM.] |
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Ron Bednar
From:
Rancho Cordova, California, USA
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Posted 22 Jan 2004 11:23 am
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| Steinar - Thanks for that info! I figured it was something like that. Man, I really like them up in the heavy gauge I have, very different sounding on a resonator than regular strings. [This message was edited by Ron Bednar on 22 January 2004 at 11:24 AM.] |
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