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Topic: String guages for open D tuninig |
Bob Watson
From:
Champaign, Illinois, U.S.
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Posted 19 Nov 2006 5:29 pm |
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| I have been experimenting with open D (low to high - D A D F# A D )tuning on my Fouke Industrial lap steel. It has a 22.22" scale length. I have a .060W gauge string on the low D and I find it a little tricky to tune ( I find myself listening to the overtones and how they sound with the whole chord more than how it sounds in relation to the D an octave up from it). I know that the scale length has a lot to do with it, but I am curious as to what various gauges, especially on the low string, are the best to use for a Dobro,Weisenborn and lap steel in relation to the scale length of the instrument, when using an open D tuning? Any comments on tuning ( temper tuning or straight 440) would also be appreciated. I really enjoy this tuning and I would love to hear comments from any of you out there that are familiar with it. [This message was edited by Bob Watson on 19 November 2006 at 05:34 PM.] |
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Gary Lynch
From:
Creston, California, USA
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Posted 19 Nov 2006 6:05 pm
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Check this site;
http://cindycashdollar.com/site/tunings/
I use these on my 1955 Fender Champion short scale Lap for open D and they seem to work well.
D A D F# A D
18 20 28 38 49 60
[This message was edited by Gary Lynch on 19 November 2006 at 06:07 PM.] [This message was edited by Gary Lynch on 19 November 2006 at 06:34 PM.] |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 19 Nov 2006 6:08 pm
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Asher sells a set that's 15, 18, 28, 38, 48, 58 and they work well for open-D on my 25" scale Asher. On a 22,5" scale lap steel I would probably have replaced the two top strings with 16 and 20.
On my weissenborns I have used 15-56 for open-D up until now, but have ordered som fatter ones that I will try out as I feel their tension is a bit too low. So I will probably go from a 16 to a 59 or 60 on my Lazy Rivers.
Steinar
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"Play to express, not to impress"
www.gregertsen.com
Southern Moon Northern Lights
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 21 Nov 2006 5:49 pm
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| It's spelled "gauge". I used to make the same mistake myself. Spell it per the dictionary and you're going to find more matches. |
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Darryl Hattenhauer
From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Posted 30 Nov 2006 8:17 pm
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Gary,
Thanks for the link to Cindy.
Everybody,
Cindy has a link to John Pearse, and the guy has every string imaginable.
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"The less I was of who I was, the better I felt." -- Leonard Cohen |
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Lynn Oliver
From:
Redmond, Washington USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 1 Dec 2006 9:22 am
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You might also find the D'Addario string tension chart useful: String Tension Chart
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Lynn Oliver
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Gary Lynch
From:
Creston, California, USA
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Posted 1 Dec 2006 9:28 am
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| You can buy just about any gauge string right here on this site! b0b sells them, and it's quick and easy. |
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Brad Bechtel
From:
San Francisco, CA
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Posted 1 Dec 2006 10:25 am
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I would agree with Gary. I think that the string set b0b sells on this site for open E tuning (.015 to .054) would work just as well for open D tuning.
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Brad's Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
[This message was edited by Brad Bechtel on 01 December 2006 at 10:26 AM.] |
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Gary Lynch
From:
Creston, California, USA
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Posted 1 Dec 2006 10:28 am
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| Also, he sells any single string you will need. |
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Gary Stevenson
From:
Northern New York,USA
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Posted 1 Dec 2006 7:11 pm
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| Since I am repainting my second lap steel, I thought I would try tis set out:GHS brand Zakk Wylde boomers 11,14,18,36,52,70. I am curious to see what that 70 will sound like. and I use the open D tuning. |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 1 Dec 2006 7:43 pm
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Gary,- starting with a .011 in open-D is way too skinny I'm afraid, you'll need at least a .015 for that.
Steinar
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"Play to express, not to impress"
www.gregertsen.com
Southern Moon Northern Lights
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Gary Stevenson
From:
Northern New York,USA
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Posted 3 Dec 2006 9:56 am
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| Thanks Steiner on the feed back.What would you suggest? Go a 12or 13? Two 14's? Also I know you have a Lap King and was wondering what color?What song on your website features the LK? |
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Gary Stevenson
From:
Northern New York,USA
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Posted 3 Dec 2006 10:01 am
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| I have another question on the open D tuning. Can it be tuned to a higher octive with breaking strings. When I was first learning how to use my tuner, I broke a couple of strings because,I guess, I was to high an octive. My friend who has perfect pitch ability got me sorted out. |
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Gary Stevenson
From:
Northern New York,USA
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Posted 3 Dec 2006 10:03 am
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| Sorry Steinar I sent that post then saw your #15, in that case what do I bumb the 14 to? |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 3 Dec 2006 11:40 am
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| Well, here are some thoughts, do with them what you will. For a given pitch, a long thin string, sounds better (richer overtones, more sustain) than a short thick string. To hear this effect, play the same note on two adjacent strings by placing your bar at different frets. The thinner string at the longer fret will sing, and the thicker string at the shorter fret will sound more clunky. So in going down to a D tuning on a short neck, you are fighting physics. Higher tunings such as G or A, on thinner strings are just going to sound better on a short neck. And lower tunings, such as D or C, are going to sound better on a longer neck. The longer neck will allow you to stay with thinner strings even with a low tuning. Of course if you only have a short neck instrument, and want a low tuning, you can do it and keep the tension up with heavy strings. But like I say, you are fighting physics. [This message was edited by David Doggett on 03 December 2006 at 11:42 AM.] |
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Chuck Fisher
From:
Santa Cruz, California, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 4 Dec 2006 1:43 pm
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| I use standard D'addario 056- 013 set and just raise hi D to .014 |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 4 Dec 2006 1:57 pm
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| Quote: |
| Also I know you have a Lap King and was wondering what color?What song on your website features the LK? |
I'm sorry Gary, I missed those questions.. 
I had a Lap King Bel Aire for a while but sold it and am waiting for a "hyper-customized" Rodeo from Jason. The one I had was in the 'surf blue' color. Never got to use the Bel Aire for my CD so it's not on my website, but I recorded some simple demos of it that you can hear on the Lap King website.
As for the strings,- try starting with Chuck's suggestion and take it from there. You'll notice if the strings are too skinny, there has to be a certain resistance so you don't push them out of pitch when you play.
On the other hand, things can get too heavy too, I think Jerry Douglas says it well on his website (regarding resos, but I believe the principle is the same for most stringed instruments); "I do not like using anything heavier than .016 for the first string. Heavier = more thud. Thud = less tone"....
Steinar
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"Play to express, not to impress"
www.gregertsen.com
Southern Moon Northern Lights
[This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 04 December 2006 at 01:59 PM.] |
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