| Author |
Topic: High-Tension tunings on a Weissenborn- OK? |
Eric Kilburn
From:
Massachusetts, USA
|
Posted 31 Dec 2006 11:31 am |
|
I'm about to get a 20's Weissenborn and was wondering if these guitars can take a high tension tuning like GCECEG. This tuning works great on a Rick steel, but I'm nervous to try it on an older.lightly braced Weiss. If not a C tuning, can an A tuning work?
Thanks- Eric |
|
|
 |
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 31 Dec 2006 12:28 pm
|
|
| I have an A, high bass, tuning on my Weissenborn but I put on a set of special strings that are sposed to come to pitch with less tension. I beilieve they are made in England. I believe you should be extra careful when stringing up a Weissenborn as they are rather delicate. |
|
|
|
Gary Lynch
From:
Creston, California, USA
|
Posted 31 Dec 2006 12:40 pm
|
|
Don't get caught up in the 'thicker gauge strings are better' thing. Unless your best friend is a luthier and you plan on repairing your vintage guitar often, follow Erv's recommendations.
Last edited by Gary Lynch on 31 Dec 2006 4:48 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
|
Posted 31 Dec 2006 1:33 pm
|
|
| Definitely avoid high-tension tunings on a vintage Weissenborn; they weren't braced for that much tension. I had my Bear Creek specially reinforced to be able to take C6th tuning but in practice, I wound up using dobro strings to tune the C6th intervals a whole step down to Bb6th or a step-and-a-half to A6th. |
|
|
|
Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
|
Posted 31 Dec 2006 6:03 pm
|
|
| I know nothing about vintage Weisses. But I use the standard gages of strings to tune my Supeior to C6 with no problems. Am I taking a risk here? |
|
|
|
Ben Elder
From:
La Crescenta, California, USA
|
Posted 1 Jan 2007 9:04 am
|
|
Absolutely what Gary says.
WEISSENBORNS ARE NOT DOBROS! (Never mind who eats whom for lunch...)
Weissenborns' voice and response are different and more subtle. If you want something you can muscle with a .062-.018 set stretched taut while laying waste to the Walls of Jericho, then get a Scheerhorn or other fine custom resonator.
To reso-tize a Weissenborn or Kona is to miss its fundamental glory. (And possibly to create a restoration nightmare.) |
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 1 Jan 2007 9:38 am
|
|
I play a Superior Weissenborn and it has a tone absolutely it's own.
I have a Sunrise magnetic pickup located in the sound hole and a Baggs pickup under the bridge inside the guitar. The signal from the pickups goes via a stereo cord to a Marshall acoustic amp where I can dial in the tone on two separate channels.
I played at a Christmas eve service at our church and got some very favorable comments re the sound. 
PS: The strings I use are Aloha Newtone. I ordered a custom set by gauges from Guitar Gallery. Their website is:
www.guitargal.com/strings.html |
|
|
|
Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
|
Posted 1 Jan 2007 10:12 am
|
|
I am always complimented on my tone as well. But it looks like I'm going to need to quit using it altogether when my new electric Remington shows up. It'd be a shame to continue abusing such a beautiful instrument. Anybody know what a Superior in excellent to mint condition would fetch along with its ohsc? It also has a Fishman pu and has been altered to 1 7/8 inches at the nut and I think 2 3/16 at the bridge. Probably for sale in late Feb to early Mar.
By the way, Ben, we've met. I used to live in SoCal back in the late 1980's. Loved your radio show. Still doin' it? Still remember your license plate, too. |
|
|
|
Eric Kilburn
From:
Massachusetts, USA
|
Posted 1 Jan 2007 3:35 pm
|
|
Thanks for all the replies. Looks like I'll be playing around with different tunings and string guages to see what works.
Slightly off-topic, but where's a great place to buy a Sunrise pickup?
Thanks, Eric |
|
|
|
Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
|
Posted 2 Jan 2007 6:39 am
|
|
Eric,
If you want to see the dealers for the Sunrise pickup, just pull up www.sunrisepickups.com
Erv |
|
|
|
Edward Meisse
From:
Santa Rosa, California, USA
|
Posted 7 Jan 2007 10:00 am Back to the string question.
|
|
| "High tension strings," may be bad for vintage Weissenborns and even some makes of modern ones. But I emailed the makers of my Superior the other day. He says not to worry about mine. As I said, I've had no problem with my C6 tuning. The makers of my Superior say not to expect one. Everything is ok. |
|
|
|
Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
|
Posted 7 Jan 2007 1:29 pm
|
|
| You'll pull the bridge off if you add too much tension. Worse, the bridge could pull some of the table off too, creating an expensive repair job. I have an English-made Weissenborn where the bridge has started to lift, and I've downtuned it. |
|
|
|
