Strings for Weissenborns

Grant Johnson · From: Nashville TN

I have a Superior Weissenborn on its way. I am planning to use an open D or C tuning. Weissenborn gurus, what string brands and gauges would you suggest?
Thanks in advance.

Steinar Gregertsen · From: Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.

Newtone's "Aloha" (015-056) or "Resonator" (016-060) strings have worked fine for me (hard to find though), and D'Addario J42 (016-056) will also do the job. If you plan to tune to the open-C with a high E (CGCGCE, low to high) then I wouldn't use anything heavier than a 015 on top.

I still have a few sets of Newtone's "Resonator" strings left, but once I've used them up I'll experiment with lighter gauges, possibly as light as standard 'medium' strings (013-056). While heavy strings makes the instrument louder they don't necessarily result in better tone and sustain on an acoustic. Unfortunately our brain has a tendency to think "louder = better", which isn't always the case. All IMHO......

Steinar
_________________
"Play to express, not to impress"
Website - YouTube

Grant Johnson · From: Nashville TN

Thanks!
I am planning on tuning: (Low to high) C-G-C-E-G-C

Steinar Gregertsen · From: Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.

With such a low pitch you'll probably need something like 016-060. If you can't find the Newtones then John Pearse also has some sets that should be heavy enough for that tuning.

Steinar
_________________
"Play to express, not to impress"
Website - YouTube

Fred Kinbom · From: Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.

Todd Weger · From: Safety Harbor, FLAUSA

Steinar Gregertsen · From: Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.

Fred Kinbom · From: Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.

Sounds wise - I think I have a set of medium D'Addarios lying around. Might try that today as a re-string is due for my Lazy River. Still .056 for the bottom string though. I'm curious what a lighter bottom string would do to sustain and tone.
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www.fredrikkinbom.com - New lap steel album out now - listen here: fredrikkinbom.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-lap-steel-and-harmonium

Grant Johnson · From: Nashville TN

I found a set of Pearse 015-059 that I will try for a low C....
I'll report back...

Gary Lynch · From: Creston, California, USA

I like the .056 on the bottom end (for d tuning). You can dig in and get some nice bass runs with it being that stiff. But a .014 (or maybe even a .013) for the high string has quickly become my favorite.

Bill Blacklock · From: Powell River, British Columbia, Canada

Grant,

I like John Pearse Set# 3160 .015 to .060 on my weissenborn for a "D" shape down to a "C". Any thing less leaves to much bounce for my likes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOMP2MvuGeM

Bill

Erv Niehaus · From: Litchfield, MN, USA

I put Newtones on my Superior Weissenborn. They are supposed to come up to pitch with less strain on the guitar. The Wissenborn is such a light, delicate instrument, I sure didn't want to do it damage. I am really pleased with the strings and the sound I get from the guitar.

I put two pickups on it; a Sunrise sound hole pickup and a Baggs, under saddle pickup. I run a stereo cord to a Marshall acoustic amp and blend the sound with two separate channels.

Nick Mesenbrink · From: Golden, Colorado, USA

I decided to try some light strings on my Lazy River to try to minimize the "rattling" noise on the low strings when fretting. I bought a set of D'Addario EJ-16 strings, moved the .16 to the first string and bought a single .18 for the second string.
That left me with: 53-42-32-24-18-16

They sound decent but the "whistling" noise on the first string seems to be more noticible now and the low end rattle didnt get much better. They are not as loud but sound a little sweeter to my ears.
However, I will probably swap them out soon for mediums or resophonics since the lights are pretty floppy.

Gary Lynch · From: Creston, California, USA

Lights or mediums.....

"David Lindley's "A-Team" Hawaiians are two Weissenborn Style 2's, one Style 1, a thin maple and spruce Style 2, and a Kona Style 3. A Bronson Brazilian rosewood square-neck sometimes substitutes for the Kona. For strings, he uses Guild bronze lights or mediums, depending on the tuning. Instruments tuned with the sixth string lower than D have .059 Darcos ("I have a nice stash of these," he says) on the sixth string. Lindley's tunings include F (F C F A C F); G (D G D G B D); an open-G variant, G G D G B D (used on "The Jimmy Hoffa Memorial Building Blues"), with a mandocello sixth string tuned an octave below the fifth string; C6 (C G C G C A); and D6 (D A D A D B)."

http://www.goldtone.com/products/pages/weissenborn_article.asp

Fred Kinbom · From: Berlin, Germany, via Stockholm, Sweden.

I tried a set of D'Addario EJ17s on my Lazy River: I miss the sound and feel of the Newtone Alohas and will restring again shortly.
_________________
www.fredrikkinbom.com - New lap steel album out now - listen here: fredrikkinbom.bandcamp.com/album/songs-for-lap-steel-and-harmonium

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