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Topic: C6 gauges on a Dobro - Heavy enough? |
Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 21 May 2004 7:31 pm |
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The new Gold Tone/Beard Dobros are looking pretty good to me. I haven't seen one in person nor have tried one out.
If I did get one I would tune it to C6 and use C6 gauged strings (.36 -> .1 . Do you think these gauges are heavy enough to get a decent tone out of a wooden Dobro with the standard spider bridge?
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
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Andy Volk
From:
Boston, MA
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Posted 22 May 2004 3:06 am
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| I've used standard Dobro strings on my Bear Creek for several years. You can get Bb6 or A6th with proper tension and great sound. C6th is too much of a strain. The Bear Creek's scale length is about the same as my Dobro. |
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Rick Aiello
From:
Berryville, VA USA
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Posted 22 May 2004 5:10 am
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I have C6/A7 on my 80's OMI Dobro ...
I had taken it to Paul Beard last year (he lives about 45 minutes north) ...
He did his upgrade ... I left strings for him to use/install ...
E = 0.017
C = 0.018
A = 0.020 P
G = 0.022 P
E = 0.032 FW (flatwound)
C# = 0.038 FW
When I picked it up ... he commented how unusual the tuning (with the C#) and string selection .was ..
And said he really liked the tone that was produced ...
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www.horseshoemagnets.com |
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HowardR
From:
N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville
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Posted 22 May 2004 7:18 am
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I recently posted a thread with regard to a G6/E7 tuning for the purpose of using heavier strings to give me a "heavier" sound.
I have three guitars in 6th tunings.
One is an 8 string standard size Benoit in G6 with gauges lighter than the standard 6 string G.
Another is my 7 string "Phoenix" which is a standard size guitar with a lower teardrop bout that has a third sound grille. It is tuned to C6/A7.
The third guitar, my "Selmernator" is an 8 stringed jumbo size, same size as as the Selmer guitar used by Gypsy Jazz guitarists. It's tuned to C6/A7 with A on the bottom.
The Selmerator is the best sounding 8 string that I have played and tried. I wouldn't think to change the string gauges.
The other two, although sound great, are just a bit on the light side. When I can get to it, I will try G6/E7 with heavier strings to see if I can beef up the tone a little.
It seems to me, that the size of the body is a large factor in the sound.
I've never heard an 8 string (live) with the sound of a 6 string and I think that it's an apple to oranges comparison. Since I don't play Bluegrass on 7 or 8 string, I don't want that exact 6 string sound, but something maybe in between.
It seems that we are all a nomadic group when it comes to sound and gear. |
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Garry Vanderlinde
From:
CA
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Posted 22 May 2004 10:02 am
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For acoustic C6th dobro I find that Bronze Wound strings really sweeten the tone. They also help the notes in the lower register stand out by increasing the volume and punch. I use 80/20 Bronze Wound Medium Gauge guitar strings because they are easy to get and are relatively cheap. Add a .022 plain for the A string and don't use the low E provided.
E = .013
C = .017
A = .022P
G = .026W
E = .035W
C = .045W
[This message was edited by Garry Vanderlinde on 22 May 2004 at 02:54 PM.] |
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Craig Prior
From:
National City, California, USA
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Posted 23 May 2004 8:32 pm
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I keep my Dobro in C6 and up to now I had thought my string guages are pretty light:
1 .014 E
2 .017 C
3 .020p A
4 .024 G
5 .032 E
6 .046 C (which can be raised to C# for C6/A7)
I also outfit that guitar with a Hipshot Trilogy so I am able to swap tunings pretty quickly. The lighter guage strings seem more amendable to having their tunings changed while staying in tune.
Having said that, I plan on swapping out the .020p with a wound string. That plain A is just TOO darn light.
Gerald, your question is whether these guages are heavy enough to get a decent tone out of a wooden Dobro with the standard spider bridge. I guess a lot depends on the meaning of "decent," but I find these light guages give the instrument a nice harp quality.
I like the way it sounds.
Craig. |
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Gerald Ross
From:
Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Posted 23 May 2004 8:54 pm
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By decent tone I mean.
1. Loud enough to play with an acoustic band.
2. The strings are heavy enough that you feel you are vibrating the entire body of the guitar (am I making any sense?).
3. Heavy enough and downward pressure enough to vibrate the cone.
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Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
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Craig Prior
From:
National City, California, USA
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Posted 24 May 2004 9:18 am
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Gerald:
1. Yes, with amplification. A little quiet acoustically. But I've played small acoustic combos where - provided you're in a quiet spot and everyone's playing softly - it can be heard.
2. Yes. These string guages are far more than adequate to utilize the entire cavity of the guitar.
3. Yes, absolutely. More than enough to vibrate the cone. In fact, the sound is very pleasant.
As I had mentioned, I had always thought I was on the light side of things, but I see from this thread that some very experienced players are using even slightly lighter guages. My results have always been more than satisfactory.
Craig. |
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