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Topic: Question about string gauges for acoustic guitars |
Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
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Posted 21 Aug 2008 10:30 am |
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Hi folks,
I have a square neck acoustic "Hawaiian" guitar (acoustic lap guitar) that I want to change strings on and I'm not clear if the same gauges used for electric lap guitars also apply to bronze wound acoustic guitar strings. This guitar has a 25.5" scale. Currently it is tuned CEGCEG. I like this tuning, and I may keep it, or I may want to string the guitar for the same tuning in A (AC#EAC#E) or Dobro G (GBDGBD). I have seen John Ely's web page with string gauges, but I'm not sure if I should use those same gauges for bronze wound acoustic strings for a guitar with a 25.5" scale.
Thank you for your help!
Cliff |
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Lynn Oliver
From:
Redmond, Washington USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Aug 2008 1:00 pm
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Everything else being equal, phosphor bronze strings run about 5% higher tension than stainless round wound strings.
The most common strings used for Dobro G are the D'Addario EJ42 set, which has .016, .018, .026w, .035w, .045w, and .056w gauges. IIRC, these gauges are higher than those given in John Ely's chart. |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Aug 2008 1:59 pm
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Here's what I use for D and lowbass G - 13, 17, 26, 36, 46, 56.
For highbass G - 13, 17, 26, 36, 40, 46
Many players will use a heavier first string, like a 15, but I just buy regular medium sets and don't have any problems with the lighter 1st string.
_________________
"Play to express, not to impress"
Website - YouTube |
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Cliff Kane
From:
the late great golden state
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Posted 21 Aug 2008 2:16 pm
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Thanks for the help, guys! Steinar, just to be sure I undersatnd, low bass G is: DBDGBD (low to high), and high bass G is GBDGBD (low to high)?
Thanks!
Cliff |
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Steinar Gregertsen
From:
Arendal, Norway, R.I.P.
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Posted 21 Aug 2008 5:15 pm
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| Cliff Kane wrote: |
low bass G is: DBDGBD (low to high), and high bass G is GBDGBD (low to high)?
Thanks!
Cliff |
The 5th string in lowbass G is G, not B, like this:
Lowbass G - DGDGBD (low to high)
Highbass G - GBDGBD (low to high)
_________________
"Play to express, not to impress"
Website - YouTube |
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