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Topic: Kayton Robert’s tuning and string guages |
Ben Godard
From:
Jamesville NC
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Posted 7 Jan 2024 11:26 am |
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Does anyone know what string guages that Kayton Robert’s used on his Fender he played with Hank Snow.
I’m told that his tunings are
——Back neck———
From high to low
E
C
A
G
E
C#
A
A low octive
——Front neck———-
F
D
A
F
G
Eb
C
F |
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Ben Godard
From:
Jamesville NC
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Posted 7 Jan 2024 11:50 am
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| Also was his guitar 24.5” or 22.5” scale legnth |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Andy Gibson
From:
Tennessee USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2024 1:15 pm
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I studied with Kayton for years and used his tunings and licks throughout my career playing 8 strings.
He played a Dual Professional and 22.5 is the only scale fender made it in.
C6th:
E .015
C .018
A .020p
G .022w
E .030
C# .034
A .034
Low A .070 or .068
The reason for the .034 on the 7th is because he tuned it UP to F for his chime tuning and de-tuned the low A keeping it out of the way with a hook screwed on the body to keep from hitting it.
Dminor 9th or F9th
F .015
D .018
A .022p
F .036w
G .030
Eb .038
C .044
F .054
No kidding…..The reason he tuned his outside neck like that was to get chimes on the 4 chord when chiming in the key of C. Ain’t that neat? I tuned it one step down to C#minor 9th ….
E
C#
G#
E
F#
D
B
E
or it can be called E9th. Which ever you choose to call it he didn’t know what it was. He came up with that tuning and flipped the F and G (E and F#)because of Jerry Byrd’s “come a little closer”. And makes the grips a little easier to do.
I have custom made Dunlop string sets with Kaytons gauges $40 for a case of 12 in both tunings.
Last edited by Andy Gibson on 7 Jan 2024 8:07 pm; edited 5 times in total |
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Andy Gibson
From:
Tennessee USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2024 1:24 pm
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Kayton Roberts 7 string chime tuning….
E
C
A
G
E
C#
F (that’s right, higher than the C#)
Used on Bells of St Mary and other chime songs |
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Ben Godard
From:
Jamesville NC
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Posted 7 Jan 2024 2:15 pm
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Thanks for that priceless info. Kayton is one of my favorites for sure
I have a question however. I plan to use his tunings on a 24.5 scale. Do I need to go down a tad in the string guage thickness |
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Andy Gibson
From:
Tennessee USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2024 5:32 pm
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| Probably but 22.5 is the way to go |
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Joe A. Roberts
From:
Seoul, South Korea
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Posted 7 Jan 2024 5:42 pm
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What do you mean dismantled the A string with a hook screw?
Like the ball end of the string is threaded through a hook screw behind the bridge?
What about the string being wound upon the tuner shaft? |
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Andy Gibson
From:
Tennessee USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2024 7:59 pm
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| Sorry, I meant to say….In the chime tuning, the low A is not used so it is de-tuned all the way and then kept out of the way with a small hook he screwed into the body. So you don’t hit it while doing chimes |
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Joe A. Roberts
From:
Seoul, South Korea
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Posted 7 Jan 2024 8:14 pm
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| Thanks for the clarification Andy, I understand it now, interesting! |
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