Scotty's Semi-flat Strings? & C6 to A6 Tunings

Lap steels, resonators, multi-neck consoles and acoustic steel guitars

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Mark Helm
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Joined: 20 Nov 2016 8:52 am
Location: Tennessee, USA

Scotty's Semi-flat Strings? & C6 to A6 Tunings

Post by Mark Helm »

Hey, All!

Have any of you guys tried Scotty's semi-flat wound strings? They seem like a great solution for eliminating string noise (which I don't like). I just ordered a C6 set for my '61 Fender Deluxe 8.

One more question: What's the best C6 tuning that I can also re-tune for A6 if I'm going to be playing mostly pre-pedal steel country and Western swing?

Thanks for your input, as always. You guys rock!
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.
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David Knutson
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Joined: 25 Mar 2004 1:01 am
Location: Cowichan Valley, Canada

Post by David Knutson »

I really like those strings. I use the A6 8-string sets - they sound great, stay in tune, and last long. Who could ask for more?
David K
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Noah Miller
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Joined: 19 Oct 2009 1:34 pm
Location: Rocky Hill, CT

Post by Noah Miller »

I use the A6 packs too, on all my steels. They feel more like roundwounds than semi-rounds to me, but I wouldn't call them noisy. And I agree that they last a long time.
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Bill Groner
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Location: QUAKERTOWN, PA

Post by Bill Groner »

I tried a couple of other brands, but always come back to Scotty's.
Currently own, 6 Groner-tone lap steels, 1953 Alamo Lap steel, (a gift from the late Stu Schulman) Recording King Phil Leadbetter Dobro, Roland Cube, Roland Mobile Cube, Fender Champion 40
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Mark Helm
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Joined: 20 Nov 2016 8:52 am
Location: Tennessee, USA

Hey, David and Noah!

Post by Mark Helm »

The reason I got the C6 set is because I understand it's pretty easy to re-tune to A6 (I only have the single neck Fender Deluxe).

Is the A6 set just as easy to re-tune to C6?

Also what A6 tuning do you use? Thanks!
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.
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Ben Alt
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Joined: 5 Feb 2019 7:55 am
Location: Austin, Texas

Post by Ben Alt »

I also use these after testing a bunch of different string sets, including groundwound/half-rounds, full flatwounds and bunch of different roundwound brands. The noise and grit reduction is noticeable.

You should be able to retune the C6 (w/ a high E) set to A6 without any risk of breaking a string or anything like that, and they'll sound great. There's a great videos online of Alan Akaka demonstrating a bunch of tunings on a single guitar, retuning in real time, not seeing to care too much about string gages.
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