How do you tune your tri-cone?

[Jack Hanson]

I know there are at least a few guys here who own and regularly play their original square-neck National tri-cones. It would be interesting to know your favored tunings, and the gauges of strings you use for them.

I’ve used high-bass A since I got my ’28 Style-1 in the ‘80s. Went to a Brozman seminar once and he told me low-bass G was better, but I didn’t change. Now, I’m ready to experiment.

It would be helpful to know the plusses and minuses of various 6-string tunings as they apply to old tri-cones.

[Brad Bechtel]

I have a 2002 National Style 1.5 tricone. I use standard open G tuning (bass to treble G B D G B D) without any problems.

I have been experimenting with low bass G on a Anderwood weissenborn guitar. It's a nice tuning, but I like having the same three notes in different octaves.

One of the nice things about low bass G is that you can easily switch to open D tuning:

D D
B A
G F#
D D
G A
D D

[David Matzenik]

I started with open G - 2 triads, when using Stacey Phillips Hawaiian guitar books. Then I went to low bass G when I got BBs DVD.

Those tunings are really just "kinder" A tunings. If I were to try something else, I think it would be C#m7 as I think it was the next development in Hawaiian guitar tuning.

[David Knutson]

I also have a '28 Style 1, and these days it is usually in low bass A tuning (EAEAC#E-low to high). I'm using it mostly for blues type tunes in my current trio, so that tuning suits well. It's strung up with D'Addario medium phosphor bronze (13-56). It handles those strings well and sounds great.

[Jouni Karvonen]

I'm using this "what shall I call it" tuning for faking jazz:
http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopi ... c&start=75
I guess it wuold sound sweeter 3 half steps down.

[Jean-Sebastien Gauthier]

I want to tune mine to C#m, anyone can suggest strings? I would like to learn Sol Hoopii songs.

[Brad Bechtel]

A standard set of resonator guitar strings would work, or you could use a set of regular gauge acoustic guitar strings.

[Edward Meisse]

I tuned mine to E-C-A-G-E-C from top to bottom before I went to 8 strings (Greg McKenna). I found it very versatile. Unless you want to sound like Hooppii, you don't need to play in C#m7 just to play his songs. I always recommend that players use the tunings that were developed later. They were developed for a good reason......unless you prefer the older sound.

[Michael Maddex]

Jack, I have a Republic square neck tricone copy. The last time it made a public appearance, it was tuned to minor Spanish: D G D G Bb D and it was a surprise big hit. Strings are John Pearse bronze 3100: .016" - .059". HTH.