String tension on Oahu acoustic

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 5 Jan 2006 12:58 pm

Hi folks,

Happy new year 2006 to everyone!

I have a concern regarding my 30s Oahu acoustic (round neck). I have strung it with .014 gauge Asher strings, and the top is "bellying up". It is tuned in open D. The top was warped with .012 gauge strings as well, but possibly a bit less.

I think the warped top is a permanent feature of this old guitar, and hopefully it is stable like it is, but to make sure, I wanted to check here if anyone here has any wisdom to share on this subject?

Would it be advisable to string it with .013 gauge strings instead? (The thing is, I really like the heavier Asher strings!)

Or could dropping the tuning to D-flat or C be a good option, to be "on the safe side" with the .014 gauge strings?

Any advice would be much appreciated!

Many thanks!

Fred

Ron Bednar · Post by **Ron Bednar** » 5 Jan 2006 3:58 pm

Fred,

I have had a few of those old Oahu's, the best sounding one has a very warped top...Don't know what came first the great sound or the warp, but it doesn't really matter. What I use on all old guitars and Weissenborn's are Newtone Aloha strings. I tune mine to open D with no problem.
The deal is these strings reach pitch with a lot less tension than any other strings. IMHO they are the only strings to use on delicate or old guitars. Oops, just notice you are in the UK, that's where they are made! Give Malcolm a call.
http://www.dwmee.34sp.com/mechanics.htm
Cheers, Ron[This message was edited by Ron Bednar on 05 January 2006 at 03:59 PM.][This message was edited by Ron Bednar on 05 January 2006 at 04:01 PM.]

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 5 Jan 2006 5:26 pm

Thanks Ron!

What type/gauge would you recommend? .013 to .056 Masterclass?

Thanks!

Fred

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 5 Jan 2006 5:42 pm

Fred,- the Newtone Alohas are specially designed for Hawaiian guitars, and the gauge is .015 - .056. I use them without any problems on a '30s May Bell parlor guitar, but I started a bit carefully by tuning the open-D shape down to C, then brought it up to D after a little while.

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 5 Jan 2006 6:37 pm

Just to help me understand a little more, when did the Hawaiians start using the "D" and "G" tuning variants ?
Please !!
Baz

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 5 Jan 2006 7:05 pm

Not sure I understand where you're going with that one Basil,- the Alohas are supposed to work well for both lowbass-A and open-E as well as G and D (but I wouldn't recommend such a high pitch as A or E for an old acoustic with a warped top like Fred's). From what I understand lowbass-A is the original Hawaiian tuning, and if someone decide to lower it to G - or use the 151351 shape of open-D or E - are you saying there's anything "wrong" with that?

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 6 Jan 2006 5:04 am

Steinar....Whilst the D and G tunings are used nowadays on Hawaiian Guitars, I was NOT questioning that, what I said was regarding the "Hawaiians" (players)
When did THEY adopt the tunings.. My understanding is that the A major and variants and the E major and variants were the ORIGINAL tunings used by the "Hawaiians" and the D, G and similar were developed by USA based blues players..

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 6 Jan 2006 5:14 am

Fred.Sorry for "hijacking" the subject.. I'l take my questions to a new subject..
Baz
Happy New year Mate..

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 6 Jan 2006 7:56 am

Thanks for the advice Steinar! No worries Basil.

Any other opinions on strings for an old Oahu?

What is the general opinion on Newtone .015 vs. Asher .014?

This guitar is so much fun to play! It will keep me busy while saving up for a custom Weissenborn.

Cheers,

Fred

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 6 Jan 2006 8:30 am

Basil,- aha, I get it..

Steinar

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www.gregertsen.com

[This message was edited by Steinar Gregertsen on 06 January 2006 at 08:30 AM.]

Alan Hamley · Post by **Alan Hamley** » 31 Jan 2006 4:19 am

Gidday Fred. I too have the same problem with my Oahu Square neck. At present I have it stringed with Martin SPs 12 54s tuned to D and sometimes Eb. The guitar is happy at that. I don't think I can go any heavier without some carnage. It is such a great old instrument I would be very unhappy if I pulled the bridge off it. I will try the Newtone Aloha strings if I can find somewhere to purchase some packs in Australia. If you remember me Fred, my Weiss is very close to being finished. I have promised "George" the old Oahu he won't be forgotton when the new guitar arrives. Cheers Alan

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 31 Jan 2006 4:29 am

Hi Alan,

I've tuned down my Oahu to low C to be on the safe side, still with the Asher strings. It sounds great and seems stable - even though the warped top always looks a bit worrying, I think (and hope) it will stay the way it is.

Great that your Weissenborn is ready soon - it would be great to see more pics and hear some soundclips when you get it!

Take care!

Fred

basilh · Post by **basilh** » 31 Jan 2006 4:56 am

As a matter of interest Fred, what type of music are you playing on this Oahu?
Baz

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 31 Jan 2006 6:22 am

Baz,

I'm fooling around with all sorts of things on the Oahu, trying to improve my skills. Mostly "rootsy" stuff at the moment. The low C tuning has a nice growl to it.

Fred[This message was edited by Fred Kinbom on 31 January 2006 at 06:23 AM.]

Andy Sandoval · Post by **Andy Sandoval** » 31 Jan 2006 8:18 am

Hi Fred, I bought an old Oahu square neck and had to re enforce the top which was tryin to bow on me and had some cracks too. Also the fret board had begun to separate and needed some attention. I removed the top and and rebraced it from underneath and fixed the fretboard and restrung it C6 with some light gauges just to mess around on. I was really impressed with the sweet "ole timey" sound that came out of it. So far it's been holdin up fine so I might try a little heavier gauge on it sometime.

[This message was edited by Andy Sandoval on 31 January 2006 at 01:03 PM.]

Ron Bednar · Post by **Ron Bednar** » 31 Jan 2006 9:56 am

Hey Fred,
Something I just thought of...you might consider installing a "Bridge Doctor" in the guitar to stablize the top. It was mentioned on another forum and I thought of your guitar. I might try it myself. Here's some info on it.
http://www.jldguitar.net/

Cheers Ron[This message was edited by Ron Bednar on 31 January 2006 at 10:00 AM.]

Bill Blacklock · Post by **Bill Blacklock** » 31 Jan 2006 12:01 pm

Hi Fred,

I just finished a rebuild on an old Oahu I bought back in the fall. The bridge was lifting and pulled, the top and sides were cracked and it was warped around the sound hole. I braced under the cracks and the sound hole, filled the top cracks with spruce tooth picks (tapered on the edge)and wedged open the side cracks to take glue. I tightened down on the inside nuts for the bridge over a period of several months (careful not to crack the bridge) and that pulled the bridge down and took the hump out of the top. I strung it up a couple of weeks ago with light gauge Martin stings and tuned to "E". I sounds wonderful and is staying in tune (bridge is not lifting). I think Ron's idea about the bridge doctor is the way to go and I might add one to my old Oahu, just incase. They really are a wonderful little guitar.

Fred Kinbom · Post by **Fred Kinbom** » 31 Jan 2006 4:03 pm

Ron, Bill,

That seems very interesting. The problem is, my Oahu has an aluminium bridge, and the strings are attached to the bridge externally (they do not go through the top). Does this mean the bridge doctor can't be installed on my Oahu?

Cheers,

Fred[This message was edited by Fred Kinbom on 31 January 2006 at 04:05 PM.][This message was edited by Fred Kinbom on 31 January 2006 at 04:06 PM.]

Tim Grice · Post by **Tim Grice** » 31 Jan 2006 4:19 pm

Here's another vote for the Newtone Alohas. Alan, Jacksons Rare Guitars stocks them sometimes, but you can also order them in bulk directly from Malcome Newtone.

Alan Hamley · Post by **Alan Hamley** » 31 Jan 2006 5:48 pm

Hi Tim,

Thanks for the tip where I may buy Newtone Aloha strings in the land of oz. I think they would be a good thing for my new Weissenborn as well. Would you agree with that statement?

Cheers

Alan

Ron Bednar · Post by **Ron Bednar** » 31 Jan 2006 6:37 pm

Fred, I would give the guys at JLD a call and ask them about the aluminum bridge. From what I hear they are very helpful and it's said they won't sell one if they don't think it will benefit the guitar. Always good to run into a decent product with honest folks behind it.
Cheers, Ron

Bill Blacklock · Post by **Bill Blacklock** » 31 Jan 2006 7:03 pm

Fred

I have the same bridge set up, strings on the outside. My idea (I have lot's of them and they don't always work) was to add a brass plate inside and attach it (bridge doctor of my own making)from the two bolts that hold the bridge in place. The brass plate would have a post coming down in the center to make a T shape under the bridge. From a hole in the bottom of the "T" I was planning to run a peice of small allthread back to the end block. At the conection at the bottom of the "T" I was planning to put two nuts to ajust the tension.

Hi Ron

Tim Grice · Post by **Tim Grice** » 31 Jan 2006 7:04 pm

Hi Alan. I'm a firm believer of finding the right strings to compliment the guitars natural tone. On the weissenborns that I have tried Alohas seem to be a great match and they seem to last longer than normal strings, too.

Ron Bednar · Post by **Ron Bednar** » 31 Jan 2006 7:07 pm

Hi Bill, good to see you! I like your idea, it would probably do the job. Without the where fore to do metal work though, I'm going to go with the wooden JLB setup, tried and proven.
[This message was edited by Ron Bednar on 31 January 2006 at 07:13 PM.]

Bill Blacklock · Post by **Bill Blacklock** » 31 Jan 2006 7:22 pm

Hey Ron,

Wood is probably a better way to go, you could play outdoor's and not have to worry about lightning storms.
Cheer's