Weissenborn Guitar strings
Sat Mar 27, 2021 4:15 pm
Hermann Weissenborn designed and made the first Weissenborn guitar in the early nineteen twenties. It was made for playing Hawaiian style slide guitar, which was popular at the time.
One of the big concerns for early guitar makers was Volume. Hermann solution was to extend the body all the way up to the peghead. It is this hollow neck that makes Weissenborn owners worry about the sting gauges that they can use. Also, the original Weissenborn were mass-produced and the quality was not that good. Interestingly, the factory made a number of different instruments with different brand names including Konas. Kanas were a kind of Weissenborn guitar with a solid neck. Choosing the right strings for Weissenborn guitars is not straight forward. You have basically two types of guitar, old or new and of course, there is not a standard tuning. The available string range is actually quite large. But most are American and relatively expensive. The two brands, that I know about, that are made in the UK and possibly a cheaper option are, Newton's Aloha Phosphor Bronz 015-056 for G tuning. The Aloha string set is said to have a lighter round core to reduce tension. The lower tension would make them suitable for older instruments, but with a possible loss of tone. Next up is Alchemy strings. 014-056 using a standard round core. To be used for open D or open G tunings. Higher tension than the Aloha, but still a medium gauge set, so would still be safe on the older guitars. Another possibility, not made in the UK but widely available is D' Addario EJ17. Not actually intended to be used on a Weissenborn, but they are medium gauge 013-056 Phosphor Bronz round wound on a Hex core and some players recommend them.
One of the big concerns for early guitar makers was Volume. Hermann solution was to extend the body all the way up to the peghead. It is this hollow neck that makes Weissenborn owners worry about the sting gauges that they can use. Also, the original Weissenborn were mass-produced and the quality was not that good. Interestingly, the factory made a number of different instruments with different brand names including Konas. Kanas were a kind of Weissenborn guitar with a solid neck. Choosing the right strings for Weissenborn guitars is not straight forward. You have basically two types of guitar, old or new and of course, there is not a standard tuning. The available string range is actually quite large. But most are American and relatively expensive. The two brands, that I know about, that are made in the UK and possibly a cheaper option are, Newton's Aloha Phosphor Bronz 015-056 for G tuning. The Aloha string set is said to have a lighter round core to reduce tension. The lower tension would make them suitable for older instruments, but with a possible loss of tone. Next up is Alchemy strings. 014-056 using a standard round core. To be used for open D or open G tunings. Higher tension than the Aloha, but still a medium gauge set, so would still be safe on the older guitars. Another possibility, not made in the UK but widely available is D' Addario EJ17. Not actually intended to be used on a Weissenborn, but they are medium gauge 013-056 Phosphor Bronz round wound on a Hex core and some players recommend them.
Re: Weissenborn Guitar strings
Sat Mar 27, 2021 5:52 pm
John Pearse Strings...LaBella maybe and Pyramid Strings in Germany. Nice fat one for low c tuning are needed 0.064".
I have an account with D'Addario. Their phosphor bronzes go up to 0.070" I have to put in an order for some polishing cloths and other stuff - if you need some heavy wound 5th and 6th strings I could get them for you. I'd have to give them to you because I pay OEM prices - much less than the shops. If you pm me with the gauge you want - limit of 4 strings per person I can order for 5 people and not feel it in my back pocket
First come first served.
I have an account with D'Addario. Their phosphor bronzes go up to 0.070" I have to put in an order for some polishing cloths and other stuff - if you need some heavy wound 5th and 6th strings I could get them for you. I'd have to give them to you because I pay OEM prices - much less than the shops. If you pm me with the gauge you want - limit of 4 strings per person I can order for 5 people and not feel it in my back pocket
First come first served.
Re: Weissenborn Guitar strings
Sun Mar 28, 2021 10:36 am
PeteHowlett wrote:John Pearse Strings...LaBella maybe and Pyramid Strings in Germany. Nice fat one for low c tuning are needed 0.064".
I have an account with D'Addario. Their phosphor bronzes go up to 0.070" I have to put in an order for some polishing cloths and other stuff - if you need some heavy wound 5th and 6th strings I could get them for you. I'd have to give them to you because I pay OEM prices - much less than the shops. If you pm me with the gauge you want - limit of 4 strings per person I can order for 5 people and not feel it in my back pocket
As far as I know, neither La Bella nor Pyramid sells strings for Weissenborn guitars. Both do sell phosphor bronze sets for more conventional guitars, but not ideal and relatively expensive. John Pearse actually sells the largest range of Weissenborn guitar stings. Most can only be bought from their American web site, and also the most expensive. John Pearse is not a very popular brand, personally, I have never used them so I'm not too sure why.
The recommended max string tension for Weissenborn 165Ib. That is what most manufacturers recommend, but some players will go way over that, but to use strings set a lot over .058 range would be considered risky by many.
Re: Weissenborn Guitar strings
Sun Mar 28, 2021 7:45 pm
I made and played Weissenborn's. The construction is incredibly rigid. I think Bob Brozman used a 0.074" for the low C on his Weiss.
I know I'm new here and although I no longer make guitars, when I did I made instruments that were meant to take odd string gauges and I worked with a company who could do that. I needed my heavy strings for the harp guitars I built the pre-war catalogue guitar reproductions and I built. When I had skin in that game I had access to resources that enabled me to come to practical solutions rather than theoretical ones.
I feel I'm being dismissed as some know-nothing upstart. That's OK. However I am in the business of making musical instruments, have a degree in it, have 45 years experience making musical instruments, have curated a historic fretted instrument collections, have seen and played many of the weird and unusual lap steel guitars like the Lyon and Healy bell shaped guitar (only two known to be in existence), played every thursday night during 1989 in Akron Ohio my mate's ladder braced Kalamazoo with its original 1948 Black Diamond strings... I have been round the block. But of course, this does not matter.
So here's the deal. I'll recuse myself from comment - which you clearly find offensive and threatening your place at the top table and say goodbye. You really have missed the opportunity of having a different voice to add to your knowledge base.
I know I'm new here and although I no longer make guitars, when I did I made instruments that were meant to take odd string gauges and I worked with a company who could do that. I needed my heavy strings for the harp guitars I built the pre-war catalogue guitar reproductions and I built. When I had skin in that game I had access to resources that enabled me to come to practical solutions rather than theoretical ones.
I feel I'm being dismissed as some know-nothing upstart. That's OK. However I am in the business of making musical instruments, have a degree in it, have 45 years experience making musical instruments, have curated a historic fretted instrument collections, have seen and played many of the weird and unusual lap steel guitars like the Lyon and Healy bell shaped guitar (only two known to be in existence), played every thursday night during 1989 in Akron Ohio my mate's ladder braced Kalamazoo with its original 1948 Black Diamond strings... I have been round the block. But of course, this does not matter.
So here's the deal. I'll recuse myself from comment - which you clearly find offensive and threatening your place at the top table and say goodbye. You really have missed the opportunity of having a different voice to add to your knowledge base.
Re: Weissenborn Guitar strings
Mon Mar 29, 2021 9:47 am
PeteHowlett wrote:I made and played Weissenborn's. The construction is incredibly rigid. I think Bob Brozman used a 0.074" for the low C on his Weiss.
I know I'm new here and although I no longer make guitars, when I did I made instruments that were meant to take odd string gauges and I worked with a company who could do that. I needed my heavy strings for the harp guitars I built the pre-war catalogue guitar reproductions and I built. When I had skin in that game I had access to resources that enabled me to come to practical solutions rather than theoretical ones.
I feel I'm being dismissed as some know-nothing upstart. That's OK. However I am in the business of making musical instruments, have a degree in it, have 45 years experience making musical instruments, have curated a historic fretted instrument collections, have seen and played many of the weird and unusual lap steel guitars like the Lyon and Healy bell shaped guitar (only two known to be in existence), played every thursday night during 1989 in Akron Ohio my mate's ladder braced Kalamazoo with its original 1948 Black Diamond strings... I have been round the block. But of course, this does not matter.
So here's the deal. I'll recuse myself from comment - which you clearly find offensive and threatening your place at the top table and say goodbye. You really have missed the opportunity of having a different voice to add to your knowledge base.
I don't know if you will read this, and have no idea what your post is about. But It doesn't seem to have much to say about Weissenborn guitar strings. This site is short of active members, especially on the lap steel threads. I for one would be sorry to see you go. But you really have picked up the wrong end of the stick and waved it about.
Re: Weissenborn Guitar strings
Mon Mar 29, 2021 11:38 am
I would have said you are a sensitive little flower Pete...but that I think would be too offensive. We can all pontificate about our prowess in many fields if we chose to, but most don't. Coming on strong on this site doesn't help and many a picker here are very fussy as to string gauges and such. Newtone Strings make some wonderful strings and are more than helpful in the area of sorting strings. They have a good selection and make signature sets for some of the leading lights in UK and elsewhere.
But not that many use his strings...WHY? I haven't a clue, but some on this site have been certain strings for years and swear that their choice is the best. If you dish it out to have to learn to take it...I will give you the benifit of the doubt, and put it down to you having a bad day with your health. What you have isn't nice, but many of us do have equally bad health.
Take a tip from a difficult old sod...take a deep breath, think about your thoughts of leaving the BSS and spend some time going through many of the items and questions more carefully.
My uke is now 68 years old and has a lovely tone...unfortunately my racing accidents have stopped me playing it and Spanish guitar so I went down the road of making 6 / 8 string steel guitars. I also learnt the hard way on this site...but I do back all to help when help is needed and that help always comes with more info than you need.
But not that many use his strings...WHY? I haven't a clue, but some on this site have been certain strings for years and swear that their choice is the best. If you dish it out to have to learn to take it...I will give you the benifit of the doubt, and put it down to you having a bad day with your health. What you have isn't nice, but many of us do have equally bad health.
Take a tip from a difficult old sod...take a deep breath, think about your thoughts of leaving the BSS and spend some time going through many of the items and questions more carefully.
My uke is now 68 years old and has a lovely tone...unfortunately my racing accidents have stopped me playing it and Spanish guitar so I went down the road of making 6 / 8 string steel guitars. I also learnt the hard way on this site...but I do back all to help when help is needed and that help always comes with more info than you need.