| Author |
Topic: Last Call for Tunings (hit to low) only 2 necks! |
Mark Helm
From:
Tennessee, USA
|
Posted 16 Oct 2019 4:10 am |
|
Gang:
Thanks for the feedback so far. I'm getting read to string up my '59 Stringmaster D-8.
One neck will be C6, but I'm still struggling over whether or not I should have a high "E" or "G".
Please weight in with pros and cons.
On the second neck, some folks say A6, others say the Leon E13.
Thoughts? Please offer string tunings H to L. REALLY appreciate it!
--Mark
_________________
Remington Steelmaster S8 w/ custom Steeltronics pickup. Vox MV-50 amplifier + an 1940's Oahu cab w/ 8" American Vintage speaker. J. Mascis Fender Squire Jazzmaster, Hofner Club bass, Ibanez AVN4-VMS Artwood Vintage Series Concert Size Acoustic Guitar. 1920s/30s Supertone Hawaiian-themed parlor guitar. Silvertone parlor guitar. |
|
|
 |
David M Brown
From:
California, USA
|
Posted 16 Oct 2019 5:08 am
|
|
You can change the C6 neck to A6 as needed ( or vice versa) so I'd go with an E on top, and the 2nd neck in E13.
I use several variations of A6 on one neck:
F# A C# E F# A C# E
E A C# E F# A C# E
G Bb C# E F# A C# E
to B11 version
F# A B D# F# A C# E
and C6
G A C E G A C E
I like this on my E13 neck:
E G# B D F# G# C# E |
|
|
|
Tim Whitlock
From:
Colorado, USA
|
Posted 16 Oct 2019 10:44 am
|
|
I agree with David Brown. I'd go with C6 with a 3rd (E) on top. This way you can easily retune to A6 to get your 5th (same E) on top.
So many variations of E13 - I'm still trying to decide for myself. I'm currently using one with a G# on top but I think it's too high and thin. Will probably try one with an E on top. |
|
|
|
Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
|
Posted 16 Oct 2019 12:50 pm
|
|
My staples are easily retunable C6 (3 on top) and A6 (5 on top) on a LOW-tuned neck, and something like Don Helms' E6 (G# on top) on a HIGH-tuned neck. But I generally set a doubleneck up as "multiply convertible" tunings; one has E on top (LOW tuning), the other would have F#/G/G# on top (HIGH tuning). For a 22.5" and 24.5" scales, this is, more or less, how I string them up - especially on lower strings, there's a fair amount of flexibility on the exact gauges without changing the tensions radically:
| Code: |
Convertible LOW 8-string tunings/gauges 22.5" scale (low-high)
Gauges> 52-58w 40-46w 34-36w 32-34w 26-28w 22p 17p 14p
Pref: 56w 44w 36w 32w 26w 22p 17p 14p
Convertible LOW 8-string tunings/gauges 24.5" scale (low-high)
Gauges> 50-56w 38-42w 34-36w 28-30w 24w 19-20p 16p 13p
Pref: 52w 40w 34w 28w 24w 20p 16p 13p
Tunings:
C6 F(4) A(6) C(1) E(3) G(5) A(6) C(1) E(3)
A6 F#(6) A(1) C#(3) E(5) F#(6) A(1) C#(3) E(5)
E6 E(1) B(5) C#(6) E(1) G#(3) B(5) C#(6) E(1)
B11 F#(5) A(b7) C#(9) D#(3) F#(5) A(b7) C#(9) E(11)
C#m7 E(b3) G#(5) B(b7) C#(1) E(b3) G#(5) C#(1) E(b3)
E6-v2 E(1) G#(3) B(5) C#(6) E(1) G#(3) C#(6) E(1) (same as C#m7) |
| Code: |
Convertible HIGH 8-string tunings/gauges 22.5" scale (low-high)
Gauges> 40-46w 34-36w 32-34w 26-28w 22p 17p 14p 11-12p
Pref: 44w 36w 32w 26w 22p 17p 14p 12p
Convertible HIGH 8-string tunings/gauges 24.5" scale (low-high)
Gauges> 38-42w 34-36w 28-30w 24w 19-20p 16p 13p 10-11p
Pref: 40w 34w 28w 24w 20p 16p 13p 11p
Tunings:
C6 A(6) C(1) E(3) G(5) A(6) C(1) E(3) G(5)
A6 A(1) C#(3) E(5) F#(6) A(1) C#(3) E(5) F#(6)
E6 B(5) C#(6) E(1) G#(3) B(5) C#(6) E(1) G#(3)
B11 A(b7) C#(9) D#(3) F#(5) A(b7) C#(9) E(11) A(b7)
C#m7 G#(5) B(b7) C#(1) E(b3) G#(5) C#(1) E(b3) G#(5)
E6-v2 G#(3) B(5) C#(6) E(1) G#(3) C#(6) E(1) G#(3) (same as C#m7) |
There are really 5 distinct tunings for the LOW and HIGH necks here; C#m7 and E6-v2 are the same notes functioning differently. And I see no problem getting David Brown's E13 on the LOW neck: E G# B D F# G# C# E, or something like G# B D F# G# C# E G# on the HIGH neck.
In parentheses are the tonal functions in the tuning. It's also possible to change notes in these tunings moderately, e.g., replace A(6) with G(5) or Bb(b7) in the C6 tuning, and so on. I like to have a HIGH tuning with the higher top note (F#/G/G#) availble, to have some hope of emulating pedal steel stuff, getting the Don Helms E6 vibe, and other things that want that high note.
I got the gauges using a string tension calculator to give reasonably even tension across the neck as well as some experimenting around to see what I preferred - I recommend that highly. Strings in the .019-.022 range can be either plain or wound without much change in tension. Note that these are fairly close to John Ely's string gauge chart suggestions, which is another good source for figuring out which string gauges to use. I realized pretty early on that I'd just have to get single strings, and I buy them bulk by the dozen per gauge from juststrings.com or some place like that.
There are lots of other cool tunings, but I like to be able to change on the fly without worrying about the strings either breaking or being too floppy. |
|
|
|
