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Topic: What strings to use on Weissenborn or Weissenborn copy |
Cliff Scholle
From:
Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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Posted 29 May 2002 1:43 am |
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| I'm interested in what strings you guys use on your Weissenborn or Weissenborn copy. On my electric laps, I use very heavy gauge strings, but I'm worried about lifting the bridge on my Weissenborn copy acoustic. It seems like a more delicate instrument than my regular acoustic guitars. I'd be interested in what gauge strings you fellas think is safe to use. Also, do you commonly tune down to open D or C to decrease the tension? Thanks for the help. |
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 29 May 2002 2:28 am
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| I've tried many variations including custom gauge phospher bronze strings for low bass & high bass C6th. I finally hit upon using a standard set of Dobro strings - either GHS or John Pearce. This allows me to tune to this inversion of A6th: C#,A,F#,E,C#,A (standard C6th ECAGEC tuned down a step & 1/2) as well as open D or E with reasonable tone & string tension. It's been my experience that open D tuning seems to make my Weissenborn really "come alive" more so than in any other tunings. |
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Bill Leff
From:
Santa Cruz, CA, USA
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Posted 29 May 2002 6:00 am
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| When I got mine I used a standard Dobro set except I was tuning to low bass G (instead of high bass) for a long time, and those worked well. Since then, I've been using a phosphor bronze light guage acoustic guitar strings for the 6, 5, and 4 and 3rd strings, and heavier for the 2nd and 1st strings (18 and 15 respectively). This gives me a lot of flexibility to tune the guitar high (A tuning for playing Sol Hoopii stuff). I'm sure tone-wise it's not an optimal setup, but I'm not performing with the guitar and I like the flexibility of being able to tune to A, E, C#m etc and play along with the old stuff. |
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Cliff Scholle
From:
Santa Barbara, CA, USA
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Posted 29 May 2002 10:11 pm
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| Thanks Andy and Bill. I guess a straight set of Dobro strings is what I'll use. The sets I've been looking at are about 16-52. Since I won't be playing out with anyone (I'll use the electrics for that), I don't think I'll take it up to E. The open D or A6 will be fine. Thanks again for the input. |
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Pete Grant
From:
Auburn, CA, USA
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Posted 30 May 2002 1:42 pm
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I use a .066 on my low D on my John Pearse Weissenborn, my Koa pre-Depression Stella, and my 30's Regal. I use a .016 on the top.
You can do the same; just be willing to reglue the bridge from time to time. |
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