Acoustic Square neck high G?

[Adam Kerby]

I’m sorry if this type of question has been asked before…
I just picked up a “Columbia Conservatory” square neck acoustic on Reverb for what seemed like a good price. Only had it a day and enjoying it so far; similar to an Oahu type parlour guitar.
For years, I’ve mostly only played in low g and mostly on bottleneck so I wanted to try high G, as I’m focusing more on steel guitar lately.
I can try it out on my electric sometime but I was wondering if the old acoustic could handle a higher tuning like a dobro? Maybe with lighter strings?
I’ve just started getting into C6 on my electric 6 string so I was hoping to to out high G and high A on something else.
I also have a Chinese made Twisted Wood Weissenborn style guitar that explicitly says not to tune it in anything other than low D or low G and only use medium strings. Is it the same with the Columbia square neck I just got?
Or could either acoustic handle a higher tuning with lighter strings?
I do remember a string gauge calculator mentioned in another post somewhere.
Thanks!

[Jeff Highland]

Do you mean High bass G GBD gbd Low to high
As opposed To low bass G DGDgbd Low to high?

[Chase Brady]

What matters is the overall tension. Dobros (square neck resonators) are built to take more tension than flattops. So a set of high G dobro strings would be too heavy for your guitar. You can, however, buy individual strings and make up a suitable set. John Ely has a handy chart on his website with string recommendations. If you go on the lighter side, you should be good. https://www.hawaiiansteel.com/learning/gauges.php#chart

[Adam Kerby]

Thank you! I thought so but wanted to be sure.
And also yes, I do mean high G as in GBDgbd vs low G DGDgbd

I guess the square neck on the acoustic doesn’t necessarily mean it can handle more tension just easier to build than carving a round neck suppose?

Thanks again

[Brooks Montgomery]

It’s the bridge on the squareneck acoustic that is the problem. That is a lot of tension. You can tune down to FACFAC (low to hi) which is a tuning that both Rob Ickes and Jerry Douglas use on occasions on recordings. It allows you to play the same intervals and patterns (or as I call them, “constellations”) on the fretboard.

And you can capo 2 for G if need be.

[Greg Forsyth]

Rob Ickes uses and sells these Nickel/Bronze D Addario strings. Open G set (high G). I haven't tried them yet but would like to hear from someone who has.'

https://robickes.com/product/daddario-n ... s-16-56-2/

[Brooks Montgomery]

I like them. They are IMO less “sparkly” then some of the phosphor/bronze strings that I’ve bought,

[Steve Lipsey]

On my Oahu Parlor squareneck, the bridge lifting is the common issue, as described...

I use a standard dobro set but insert a .026 for third string and move strings 3,4, and 5 from the set to strings 4, 5, and 6 on the Oahu, discarding the .056 set 6th string....only requires buying one extra string and reduces tension a lot...( I currently actually use a .017 instead of a .018 for 2nd string, but only because I had it laying around).

I still get pretty good volume out of it, fine for playing along with standard guitars, but not a cannon for sure....lovely tone!

Now if only someone could come up with a good idea for all my extra .056s...

[Glenn Wilde]

I've never had much luck with high bass tunings on wooden steels, I have my Oahu 66 in low bass G# right now, I tried to get it to A but I could feel that it didn't like it. I have seen plenty of guitars that are all warped from too much tension and, while they still play, they just look sad to me. Use the string tension calculator and if in doubt, always go lighter.

[Jack Hanson]

Now if only someone could come up with a good idea for all my extra .056s...

In a pinch, they make pretty good pipe cleaners.