That darn 3rd string on a dobro

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 25 Feb 2014 8:38 pm

I find my 3rd (G) string on my dobro goes dead about twice as fast as the other strings, regardless of what brand I use. This string justs gets worked harder. I know some players that use a different, more robust string for the 3rd string. Anybody else have a good solution to this? I wish a set of dobro strings came with a second .027w in the set, so I could change it twice vrs the life of the rest of the set.

Brian McGaughey · Post by **Brian McGaughey** » 25 Feb 2014 9:11 pm

I purchase extra 28s and change the 3rd string out halfway through the life of the full set. Actually it usually works out that I break the 28 about halfway through the life of the full set!

What brand of strings are you using Tom? I see it's a 27? I've been using Dunlops (as recommended by Greg Booth) and they come with a 28 as the high G string. Like I say it usually breaks before it goes dead. It does sometimes start sounding a little wierd before it breaks, though.

I always keep extra 28s in my gig bag cut, bent and ready to go.

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 25 Feb 2014 9:14 pm

Been using John Peasre Phos bronze sets. But I'm ready to try something else.

Your solution sounds like a great idea. Smashing good idea.

Greg Booth · Post by **Greg Booth** » 25 Feb 2014 9:17 pm

Usually by the time my 3rd goes dead the rest aren't far behind. Sometimes if I'm playing really hard at a jam or loud situation I'll shred the windings on the 3rd string and need to replace it. I use Ernie Ball PB 28s in a six pack to supplement my 3rd string supply. They are good strings. The pack of 6 is $6.60 here: http://www.webemusic.com/products/Ernie ... 18815.html

Brian McGaughey · Post by **Brian McGaughey** » 25 Feb 2014 9:25 pm

I bought those EBs as per your suggestion, Greg. Work well.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 25 Feb 2014 9:39 pm

I use the old Gene Wooten guages which has a 0.30 for the third. Yes, I notice it seems to go quicker than the others. I attribute it to two factors, one being it being the lightest of the wound strings, and the other, more importantly, in a bluegrass setting, it gets whacked more often in the rolls.

Brian McGaughey · Post by **Brian McGaughey** » 25 Feb 2014 9:40 pm

I'm curious Clyde, what guages did Gene use? (Risking a hijack here I know).

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 25 Feb 2014 9:48 pm

Hijack away. I'm all ears. Greg, besides the EB spares, what is your baseline set? What are you using on your maple Scheerhorn L-body?

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 25 Feb 2014 11:19 pm

Gene had his own D'Addario signature set in stainless steel, hasn't been available now for a number of years since his passing.

The gauges were in Josh Graves territory in their beefiness - I know for me i wouldn't like an 18 for a first string, I'm a 16 or 17 man:

18-20-30w-38w-48w-56w

Some people like to tune up the fourth string now and then from D to E to get the 6th chord sound - never gonna happen with a .038w - that baby will blow!

Olli Haavisto · Post by **Olli Haavisto** » 25 Feb 2014 11:51 pm

I wrote to Dunlop and suggested that they would include two 28`s in their set instead of two 18`s like they do now.
They thanked me and sent a free set, so maybe we will see a set like that in the future, who knows.

Greg Booth · Post by **Greg Booth** » 26 Feb 2014 1:09 am

I like the Dunlop DOP1656 set, but I also use GHS 1650s. Some folks have had problems with breakage of the Dunlop 3rd string, but I've only broken one since I've used them.

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 26 Feb 2014 6:01 am

Thanks everybody. Olli, I hope they heed your advice but companies like this usually ignore user requests. It would certainly give them a competitive edge.

I tried a 28 for the first string. A bit too "clanky" for my reso.

Howard Parker · Post by **Howard Parker** » 26 Feb 2014 6:29 am

Tom Wolverton wrote: I tried a 28 for the first string. A bit too "clanky" for my reso.

Third string (I hope)?

fwiw I'm a phosphor bronze kinda guy and put up with dead thirds towards the end of a gig. I figure that's just the way the game is played.

They sound so glorious out of the package....

I use D'Addario EJ42's or Beard "Special 28's", depending on the guitar.

So many good choices. Try them all.

h

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 26 Feb 2014 6:48 am

Yike, that's a typo. I meant 18 on the first string.

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 26 Feb 2014 3:02 pm

For those that asked about the Gene Wooten set, it's D' Addario stainless round wound, 0.18, 0.20, 0.30W, 0.38W, 0.48W, 0.56W. He wanted 0.58W for the 6th, but 0.56 was the largest they wound on that particular core, he settled for the 0.056. We would also use phosphor bronze in the same guages. He felt that some dobros sounded better with one or the other. I miss Gene.

Jim Bates · Post by **Jim Bates** » 26 Feb 2014 7:20 pm

Don't forget to open up the bridge slots a little to fit those bigger strings or you may get a dead string quicker as it gets pinched by the smaller groove.

Thanx,
Jim

Clyde Mattocks · Post by **Clyde Mattocks** » 26 Feb 2014 7:50 pm

I actually had to open up the 6th string hole in the tailpiece to accomodate the 0.56.

Tony Dingus · Post by **Tony Dingus** » 26 Feb 2014 7:59 pm

I buy extra 28 wounds also. Greg, how much is shipping on a pack of 28w ?

Tony

Tom Wolverton · Post by **Tom Wolverton** » 26 Feb 2014 8:16 pm

I just ordered some. About $6 for shipping.

Tony Dingus · Post by **Tony Dingus** » 26 Feb 2014 8:31 pm

Thanks Tom.

Tony

Chris Walke · Post by **Chris Walke** » 27 Feb 2014 8:26 am

I like Paul Beard's "Special 29s" but they get mixed reviews here. I've never had a problem with them.

Webb Kline · Post by **Webb Kline** » 27 Feb 2014 10:11 am

Greg Booth wrote:I like the Dunlop DOP1656 set, but I also use GHS 1650s. Some folks have had problems with breakage of the Dunlop 3rd string, but I've only broken one since I've used them.

I'm in the middle of an experiment. I bought a pack of every manufacture I know of. Unfortunately for the Dunlops, I broke the 3rd string on the very first song I used them on (luckily, it was at a rehearsal). So, my first impression when I put them on was that I liked the tone, but it's going to take a long time to get over breaking a string on the first song, the first time I ever used them, since I never break strings.

I'm on the Black Diamonds now. A little on the bright side for me at first. I'll know better after a full gig tonight.

Mark Eaton · Post by **Mark Eaton** » 27 Feb 2014 10:23 am

Can't quite place my finger on it, but I'm not a real big fan of the Beard 29s.

I'm not "married" to any brand of strings unless someone wants to offer me an endorsement deal, which isn't going to happen in this lifetime. I like to switch around. I will say that I've gone through more D'Addario than anything else.

Speaking of Black Diamonds and endorsements, I do really like the Ferrell Stowe strings, the set has an .028w 3rd, and the 1st is an .017, my personal limit on size for that one:

Bryan Bradfield · Post by **Bryan Bradfield** » 27 Feb 2014 5:26 pm

I buy separate 0.026" plain strings for my 3rds.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 27 Feb 2014 10:06 pm

mark...i'm not a real dobro player...but gotten lots of work bits with it..and love accompanying appropriate songwriters.
i find myself always coming back to the jerry d'addarios after trying something else. their sound works with my dobro clunker well. plus i know where to get them.

due to my medical leave all the strings out in this room have rust or corrosion. specially my fat steel guitar strings. i saw them in the sunlight the other day and was shocked.