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Post new topic Short scale (22 1/2") String Gauge questions
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Author Topic:  Short scale (22 1/2") String Gauge questions
Don McClellan

 

From:
California/Thailand
Post  Posted 13 May 2016 11:38 am    
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Hi,
I have a 22 1/2" scale lap steel and I want to know what the right gauges are for the tuning I use. I use a 10 string B6th tuning and the notes are (High to low), C#,Bb, Eb, B, G#, F#, Eb, C, A, F.
Thank you, Don
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Andy Volk


From:
Boston, MA
Post  Posted 14 May 2016 2:12 am    
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http://www.hawaiiansteel.com/learning/gauges.php
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Don McClellan

 

From:
California/Thailand
Post  Posted 14 May 2016 4:43 am    
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Thanks Andy. This is very helpful.
Now I need to know who sells a wide range of strings because I want some that my local stores don't carry.
More importantly, I know of one source for gauged roller nuts but I am curious to know if there are other makers of gauged roller nuts that you might know of? Thanks, Don
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Scott Duckworth


From:
Etowah, TN Western Foothills of the Smokies
Post  Posted 14 May 2016 5:49 am    
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Don, B0b sells individual strings in the forum store. Just click "Strings" at the top of any forum page, then "single strings".

I just ordered a set for E7 lap steel from him. VERY reasonably priced, as well as the shipping.
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Bo Parker

 

From:
Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 14 May 2016 6:05 am    
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Don McClellan wrote:
Thanks Andy. This is very helpful.
Now I need to know who sells a wide range of strings because I want some that my local stores don't carry.


I've had good results from stringjoy.com. I have two 8-string steel guitars, one in high-G C6 and one in McAuliffe E13. I use the Ernie Ball string gauge chart

http://b0b.com/include/StringGauge.pdf

to translate from pitch to gauge and then order them as custom 8-string sets from stringjoy. Works great, no complaints at all.
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David Mason


From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
Post  Posted 15 May 2016 12:02 pm    
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The non-PDF version is here:

http://www.b0b.com/infoedu/gauges.htm

This is amazingly useful, especially if you fidget with a lot of tunings, six-string slide etc. I believe this is for the 22.5-ish scales, it runs REALLY heavy for a six-string, but the gauges are still correct in a relative way. Choose a starting point at a gauge you know, then work out the rest. Cuts down a bit on the thrill-seeking aspect.
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Bo Parker

 

From:
Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 16 May 2016 5:33 am    
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David Mason wrote:
The non-PDF version is here:

http://www.b0b.com/infoedu/gauges.htm

I believe this is for the 22.5-ish scales



The one I linked to has columns for 22.5, 24, and 25.5 inch scales. I like 22.5 inch scales, and I tend to like the strings fairly stout, sort of like what medium gauge flattop strings feel like, so the 22.5 inch scale column works great for me.

There's also a .jpg version of that chart somewhere.

Cheers
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Rick Wheeler

 

From:
Lubbock, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 7 Apr 2020 12:57 pm    
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I have tuned my six shooter down to D .
what gauges strings do I need to make it
sound best
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Allan Revich


From:
Victoria, BC
Post  Posted 7 Apr 2020 10:11 pm    
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Rick Wheeler wrote:
I have tuned my six shooter down to D .
what gauges strings do I need to make it
sound best


Everything you need is either here http://www.hawaiiansteel.com/learning/gauges.php

Or here https://b0b.com/include/StringGauge.pdf

I’ve found that there is a lot of wiggle room on the middle 4 strings, but on a 22.5” scale a 62 is perfect, a 60 will do, and anything smaller is not so good on the low D.

A 15, or 16 seems best on the high D.

All of my guits are 22.5, so can’t speak to the longer scale lengths.
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Current Tunings:
6 String | G – D G D G B D
7 String | G9 – D G B D F A D
https://papadafoe.com/lap-steel-tuning-database
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Rick Wheeler

 

From:
Lubbock, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 7 Apr 2020 10:16 pm    
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Thanks to all, willtry to figure it out
Tuned A D. F# A D. F#
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Rick Wheeler

 

From:
Lubbock, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 7 Apr 2020 10:20 pm    
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I know this sounds silly, but what does the W by the
string sizes. mean
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Tom Snook

 

From:
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2020 2:35 am    
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Whatever Whoa!
ALOHA
Wound
Plain
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Rick Wheeler

 

From:
Lubbock, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 8 Apr 2020 8:20 am    
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Thanks Tom
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