String gauges for C6 tuning ?

[Tawpick]

Hello....This is my first post on here.. I bought my first lap steel last week end ( an Asher Electro Hawiian Junior ) and i am not at all sure about the best string gauges to use for C6 tuning on this guitar.

I see that GHS do a couple of sets ranging from 15-36 so I assume that to be about usual for this tuning. Is that correct ?
The only difference between the 2 sets would seem to be that one set has a wound 24 and the other set a plain 26 gauge for the 4th string. Are there any advantages of using a plain 26 on the fourth string or is it (as i suspect) just down to personal preference ?.

[Tony Russell Davis]

I use - 012 016 018 022 028W 032W 038W 050W - for an 8 string (hi-lo GECAGECA) so I reckon that, for a 6 (ECAGEC ?) the gauges of the 2nd through 7th is about right. Yours are not seriously different. I have a wound 28W for the note you mention, but it depends on tone preference, your technique and scale length. You might find the wound string tight if the scale is long, or a plain one slack on a short scale guitar. Scales are generally from around 22.5in to 25.5in. and occasionally you'll find one outside those dimensions - my 8-plank is in the middle at 24in. Try one set and see if you find any string too slack/tight, wrong tone etc.
By the way - welcome! Tony

[Tawpick]

By the way - welcome! Tony

Thanks for the welcome and the info Tony. The scale length is 25" I will put on a 28 wound and see how we go.

Dave

[Brettus Maximus]

Hello fellow n00bie!

Before I'd even discovered this fine forum, I chanced upon this website and bought myself the following set:-
http://www.eaglemusicshop.com/details1. ... d/255/name

At the time the convenient string gauge chart wasn't on there, so I had no other reference point and had to go on blind faith that they were right for the job. Pleasingly, they were!

Interesting that now the charts are on there, they don't include the classic C-E-G-A-C-E tuning. As you can see though, the alternative tuning provided as the 'best match' for this particular set is darn well close enough anyway.

Happy sliding

A Major Low Bass-----E C# A E A E-----------.015 .017 .022 .030 .044 .056
A Major High Bass-----E C# A E C# A --------.015 .017 .022 .030 .034 .042
A6th --------------------E C# A F# E C---------.015 .017 .022 .026 .030 .036
B11---------------------E C# A F# D# C#------.015 .017 .022 .026 .030 .036
E Major-----------------E B G# E B E------------.015 .020 .024 .030 .038 .056
E7th ------------------- E B G# E D E or B---------015 .020 .024 .030 .036 .056 or (B=.038)
C#minor ---------------E C# G# E B E----------.015 .017 .024 .030 .036 .056
C#minor 7--------------E C# G# E D B or E ---.015 .017 .024 .030 .036 .038 or (E=.056)
C6-----------------------E C A G E C--------------015 .018 .022 .024 .030 .038
C6/A7-------------------E C A G E C#------------015 .018 .022 .024 .030 .036
D9-----------------------E C A F# E C#----------.015 .018 .022 .026 .030 .036

[Tawpick]

Very useful info James thank you for posting

[Brettus Maximus]

I have totally bookmarked this thread now.
Awesome, thanks James.

might as well give you for 8 strings eh ?

A6--------------E C# A F# E C# A F#-------015 .017 .022 .026 .030 .036 .042 .050
B11-------------E C# A F# D# B F# B------.015 .017 .022 .026 .032 .038 .050 .056
C6th/A7E ------C A G E C# C A-------------015 .018 .022 .024 .030 .034 .036 .042
C13-------------E C A G E C Bb G or C------015 .018 .022 .024 .030 .036 .040 .048 or (C=.060)
C#m9-----------E C# G# F# E D B G#------015 .017 .024 .026 .030 .034 .038 .046
D9---------------E C A F# E C# A G ----------015 .018 .022 .026 .030 .034 .042 .048
E7---------------E B G# E D B G# E-----------015 .020 .024 .030 .034 .038 .046 .056
E9----------------E B G# F# D B G# E--------015 .020 .024 .026 .034 .038 .046 .056
E9----------------E B G# F# E D B G#---------015 .020 .024 .026 .030 .034 .038 .046-
E13---------------E C# B G# E D B G#--------015 .017 .020 .024 .030 .034 .038 .046
F#9--------------E C# G# E A# F# C# G#-----015 .017 .024 .030 .040 .050 .062 .068

& a bit more as well