Tuning and string gauges

[Ted Nesbitt]

Hi Folks, need some help ..... Just aquired a Hofner Artist 115 lap steel (1963) It needs a new set of strings. My question (1) What is the most popular tuning for a 6 string lap steel. (2) What are the gauges? Im a pedal steel player, so this is all new to me. Can anyone give me a valuation on this model?
Appreciate any help.

[Ken Byng]

Hello Ted
I had one of those Hofner lap steels back in the 60's. I bought a set of 6 medium Gibson Sonomatic strings, and tuned the guitar to the same as that of my mentor's - Kealoha Life. (Any 6 string medium guitar set with a 0.10 or 0.11 first string would do the job). It was an E7 tuning (from bottom B - D - E - G# - B - E. It's easily changed to E13 by taking the high B up to C#. For me as a guitar player the basic E7 was very navigable with the top 2 strings the same as my guitar. My Hofner was covered in mother of toilet seat plastic, and got me on the road to playing PSG. In terms these days of popular lap steel tunings, I guess it would be either C6 or A6, or even an open Dobro G tuning. I buy my guitar strings from a factory in China.
Regards Ken.
p.s.
Hope this storm hasn't caused you any structural issues. I thought of Ivor's pylon in his garden as being vulnerable.

[Ken Byng]

Value wise I would say £75 - £100. These are fine lap steels.

[Ken Byng]

My Hofner was the same as the one below.

[TonySalter]

I’ve just made a lap steel

I couldn’t really find info on string gauges so I have fitted Dunlop electro nickel 13/56 and tuned to open G (gbdgbd). A bit terrifying with the very over tuned 5 and 6 string but it seems to work OK.

I’m a newbie with lapsteel so any additional advice would be more than welcome

[simon_f3]

Hi all, from what I gather it's all about getting the same tension on each string, so they feel correct (balanced) when you apply the bar. This site has a calculator to work out just that:
https://www.stringtensioncalculator.com/

I would suggest starting with the tuning you require (e.g. CEGACE for 6 string C6th), then picking one string with known size, e.g. .010" for the top E, and noting the tension. Then put in the notes of your other strings and adjust the string gauge until it shows approximately the same tension. I recall doing this from first principles some years ago, but as there is a handy calculator available I would recommend giving it a try.

Hope that's a help

[JohnS]

Hi Ted,

Good information available via John Ely’s website : https://www.hawaiiansteel.com/tunings/my_tunings.php

As Sid said, sixth tunings give you Major and their relative Minor chords with straight bar.

C6 are A6 being most popular tunings, as lots of learning instruction, video and tab available.

Blues players use mostly open Major chord tunings, simply two stacked major triads. Often open E
Similarly Open G or D for bluegrass. they also avoid the “sixth bomb”

Hope this is useful.

John Stafford