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Post new topic string gauges for C6/E9
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Author Topic:  string gauges for C6/E9
George Rout


From:
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Post  Posted 16 Jan 2019 6:49 am    
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Is there one set of strings to accommodate a combo C6/E9 tuning on a lap steel??? if so what are the gauges please.

It's probably a stupid question but it's not for me!!!!!

Geo
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"I play in the A Major tuning. It's fun to learn and so easy to play. It's as old as the hills....like me"


Last edited by George Rout on 16 Jan 2019 7:35 am; edited 1 time in total
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Andy DePaule


From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
Post  Posted 17 Jan 2019 7:39 pm     Same set?
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Hi George,
If your C6th has the third tone E on the top string and your A6 has the 5th tone, also E on top then the same set will work for both.
You only need to retune 4 strings a half tone to go from one to the other;

Top down A6th;
E C A G E C A G or F Bottom string.
To This C6th;
E C# A F# E C# A F#

You just raise the 2 C's to C# and Lower the two G's to F#, so easy.
This is handy for me because I prefer A6th for tone and the high 5th tone on top.
But now and then someone will post tab and it's almost always for C6th with the E on top.
Gauges will depend on string length? Bob sells a good set on the forum sale pages that will be perfect, or you can get custom set from him also buying individual strings.
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project.
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William Rosen

 

From:
Washington, USA
Post  Posted 18 Jan 2019 12:34 pm    
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I would be interested in an answer to the original C6/E9 question.

Bill Rosen
Seattle
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Andy DePaule


From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
Post  Posted 18 Jan 2019 2:21 pm     Too early
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Ooop's, thats what I get responding too early in the morning with Jet Lag!... Embarassed Laughing
Okay not C6th to A6th.

I can't imagine any good way to go from C6th to E9th because they are such different tunings.
I have my old 8 string Morrell strung up E9th (With added 6th) for pedal like changes with slants.
Like this top down; F# C# G# E B G# F# E/D*
*I sometimes change the bottom to a D when I need that note in line.

The strings are a standard heavy gauge E9th set sans the bottom two strings.
All but two strings are plain.
Hope that is a help?
Very Happy

ps. On the old Morrell I replaced the nut and bridge to make it wide enough to get better slants. Also posted some simple basic tab about using E9th without pedals for pedal sounds and chords a few months ago.
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project.
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Francisco Castillo

 

From:
Easter Island, Chile
Post  Posted 19 Jan 2019 6:48 am    
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Hi. I think a standard C6th set would do ok for both tunings, even for A6th, B11th and C#m9 as all notes involved are 1 or 2 semitones apart from original C6th. So no risk of string damage if going up, and its not going to lose too much tension when detuning is needed.

C6th C E G A C E
E9th B E F# G# B E
A6th C# E F# A C# E
B11TH C# D# F# A C# E (low C# or B as prefered)
C#m9 D E F# G# C# E

Hope it helps.
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David Venzke


From:
SE Michigan, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jan 2019 9:22 am    
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As Francisco pointed out, a C6 set should work, as will Scotty's SIT E7 strings (BDEG#BE).
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Andy DePaule


From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
Post  Posted 19 Jan 2019 3:56 pm     Missing the D or the F#
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That tuning is missing the D or the F#?
If it is missing those it's not an E9th.....
If it just has the D it's E7th
If only the F# I'd guess it's an added 9th?
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project.
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William Rosen

 

From:
Washington, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jan 2019 5:36 pm    
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Is B D E G# B E an E9 tuning?

How would that work with a C6 string set?

Thanx.

Bill Rosen
Seattle
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David Venzke


From:
SE Michigan, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jan 2019 6:55 pm    
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Hi, Bill. From low-to high:

B D E G# B E is an E7 tuning
(SIT E7 gauges: 38, 34, 30, 22, 18, 15)

B E F# G# B E is an E9 tuning (the E7 string set might work better here)

or

D E F# G# B E is an E9 tuning (the C6 string set with a lighter 6th string to tune up to the D might work better here)

C E G A C E is the C6 tuning
(SIT C6 gauges: 36, 30, 24, 22, 18, 15)

Hope this helps.

-Dave

William Rosen wrote:
Is B D E G# B E an E9 tuning?

How would that work with a C6 string set?

Thanx.

Bill Rosen
Seattle
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William Rosen

 

From:
Washington, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jan 2019 8:00 pm    
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David:

It sure does.

Thank you so much.

Bill R.
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William Rosen

 

From:
Washington, USA
Post  Posted 19 Jan 2019 8:01 pm    
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David:

It sure does.

Thank you so much.

Bill R.
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William Rosen

 

From:
Washington, USA
Post  Posted 3 Feb 2019 3:25 pm    
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I’m risking overthinking this subject a bit, but am I correct in calculating, using the “2 fret maximum difference” rule, that a 6 string E9 set can be tuned to either C6 or E7 and that a a C6 set can only be tuned to E9 and not to E7?

Thanx in advance for your patience and information.

Bill Rosen
Seattle
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