C6th on Square Neck Dobro

Russell Baker · From: Owego NY, USA

Howdy...

I believe this may have been covered before
but I am wondering...

I am learning C6th on a Lap Steel

I was thinking of getting a Square Neck Dobro
and changing out the (GBDGBD) strings for C6th
strings.

I play in a Classic Rock/Country Band and some of the songs we do might sound better with the "acoustic"
sound of the Dobro rather than the "electric" sound of the Lap Steel.

I have heard that C6th on the Dobro sounds "thin".
Not sure what that means...

Particularly since I am not looking at playing Bluegrass on it.

I am frustrated enough with learning C6th so please don't suggest I learn open G on the Dobro!
_________________
R.E. Baker
There's lots more of me where I come from!

Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

Check out the guages:
http://www.steelguitarshopper.com/JP-L6C/

vs.

http://www.steelguitarshopper.com/JP-G-3000/

Thin describes the sound, but also the size of the strings for the two tunings. In general, 6 string C6 strings are too wimpy to "drive" a resonator cone to a decent sound. Not an issue on an electric lap steel, where the pickup is responsible for making you heard.

People have used G6 or more commonly A6 tunings to get around this issue, but I'm not sure that's going to leave you much less confused.

Leaving aside the whole issue of then having to amplify a resonator guitar.

Russell Baker · From: Owego NY, USA

I understand that I could put heavier strings on it
and tune it to the same intervals as C6th. I would just change what frets I was playing on it if I was reading tabs.

That would work ok.....

I have been playing acoustic and electric guitar for 40 years so I am not new to playing music.
_________________
R.E. Baker
There's lots more of me where I come from!

Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

Commercially available A6 sets tend to be as wimpy as the C6, because they end up with the same E on the top, the fifth in A. You could make up your own set with the third on top for either A6 or G6, and it might be worth a shot.

Russell Baker · From: Owego NY, USA

I did read someplace online about some players buying single strings and making their own sets for special tunings....
_________________
R.E. Baker
There's lots more of me where I come from!

Ken Pippus · From: Langford, BC, Canada

http://www.steelguitarshopper.com/categories/Strings/single-strings/

Jim Pitman · From: Waterbury Ctr. VT 05677 USA

I'm thinking one of the links listed in the responses is to a tension vs note string gauge guide but still it may not be helpful since Dobro benefits from such a heavy set that isn't typical, so:
.0.056, 0.046, 0.036, 0.026, 0.018, 0.016, are the GBDGBD Dobro guages, ie friggin heavy. I would think coming up with something similarly heavy for a 6th tuning would work for you. Use the gauges listed as a reference point but go heavier or lighter depending if the note in the same position in the your tuning is lower or higher.
I commonly buy individual strings for my GBDGBD tuning just for the fact many local music stores don't carry Dobro sets. It's more expensive but often my only choice.

Steve Green · From: Gulfport, MS, USA

Ken was right on. In C6th, the strings are too light to put enough pressure on the resonator cone for a decent sound.

I tune mine to G6th (same intervals as C6th)
Low to High: G-B-D-E-G-B

At reso expert Greg McKenna's suggestion, I purchase a standard set of reso strings, like D'Addario J-42's, and also purchase a separate 0.030 string for the middle E.
_________________
Some songs I've written

Noah Miller · From: Rocky Hill, CT

I picked up a National tricone square neck recently (not quite the same, I know, but similar) and I use A6 on it with excellent results. I used this string tension calculator to create a custom set with roughly equal tension (approx. 32 lbs per string on the treble side, 35 lbs on the bass side) and then ordered six single strings. The result needed only minor tweaking to achieve good volume, tone and balance between the strings. I'm currently set up with the following:

14-17-23w-27-32-47 for the tuning:
E-C#-A-F#-E-A

The same could easily be done for C6, or any other tuning. No particular tuning is "wimpy" unless the string tension is too low.

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

For C6 on acoustic steel, I use-14-18-24-26-34 and 45. That is what is recommended by the late Mike Auldrige. I use that for either wooden or metal bodies and for either single or tri cones.Works very well.
_________________
Amor vincit omnia

Russell Baker · From: Owego NY, USA

Let me see if I understand this.....

You are using on a Dobro

For C6 on acoustic steel, I use-14-18-24-26-34 and 45.

And tuning it to C6 and not to say...G6
works ok for you?
_________________
R.E. Baker
There's lots more of me where I come from!

Brad Bechtel · From: San Francisco, CA

Strings are cheap. Why not try a set of C6 strings and see if you like the sound? If not, consider trying a set of open G strings, but tune to A6 (three notes down from C6), like this:

1. C#
2. A
3. F#
4. E
5. C#
6. A
_________________
Brad’s Page of Steel
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars

Jack Aldrich · From: Washington, USA

I have 3 resonator guitars: a 8tring Dobro, and 8 string koa with spruce top, and a 6 string version of the koa guitar. I have my lap steel C6 on moth 8 strings (G E C A G E Bb G) on both 8 strings and the 6 string B11 on the six. For gauges, I use the one recommended by Jerry Byrd in his instruction method. I can't give them to you now because home is Seattle, and I'm in Tucson.
_________________
Jack Aldrich
Carter & ShoBud D10's
D8 & T8 Stringmaster
Rickenbacher B6
3 Resonator guitars
Asher Alan Akaka Special SN 6
Canopus D8

Russell Baker · From: Owego NY, USA

I'll try that when I get the Dobro...
(waiting on Tax Return)

I tried Dobro about 10 years ago
and never got anywhere with it.

I have been working with C6th Lap Steel
and I making much better progress.

I was just thinking that for some of
the music I play the acoustic sound of
the Dobro would sound better than the Steel.

And what the hell I will admit it...

I don't want to try and learn one more tuning
so I want to stay with C6th!
_________________
R.E. Baker
There's lots more of me where I come from!

Russell Baker · From: Owego NY, USA

Or A6th or G6th
_________________
R.E. Baker
There's lots more of me where I come from!

Jack Aldrich · From: Washington, USA

There's a wonderful CD from Dancing Cat Records that has Barney Isaacs and George Kuo. Barney plays an 8 sring Dobro for the whole album. It's beutiful! People and ffellow musicians love it when I play my resonator guitar at Hawaiian gigs. I prefer electric steel, but there are times when there is no electricity, so I haul out the resonator. I play 2 times/year at the Roeder House in Bellingham, where electric instruments are not allowed. I take both koa resonator guitars, the 8 string in C6, and the 6 tring in B11, and it works out well.
_________________
Jack Aldrich
Carter & ShoBud D10's
D8 & T8 Stringmaster
Rickenbacher B6
3 Resonator guitars
Asher Alan Akaka Special SN 6
Canopus D8

Todd Clinesmith · From: Lone Rock Free State Oregon

Hi Russell,
I play A6 on my 8 string resonator and have no volume issues.Then again, I am not playing with banjo player, or "competing" instruments.
Here are the gauges I use:
15 E
18 C#
22 A
26 w F#
30 E
34 C#
42 A
56 F#

Edward Meisse · From: Santa Rosa, California, USA

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