string recomendations ?

[malaz]

Hi Basil,
For an open D tuning on a lap steel, would you recommend the following strings?:
D - .016
A - .021
F# - .026
D - .034
A - .042
D - .060
Or would you recommend others?
I have a nut to bridge length of 22.5".
Thanks,
Michael Z

[malaz]

Oh, I forgot to ask - roundwound or flatwound?

[Basil Henriques]

Hi, I'm presuming that with that particular tuning you're going to be playing blues, or at least non Country or Hawaiian. If that's the case the plain strings are a couple of 'thou too light, AND stay with wire-wound rather than flat-wound: You need the sound that nickel wound strings impart when you slide, for that particular genre`
I reckon John Davis could do you a good price on a special set.. Keep it in the circle of friends..

[malaz]

Hi Basil,
Thanks for your answer. Actually I play in a church combo, What tuning would you recommend? I played in an open A tuning until now, but after reading up a little, I thought I'd try the open D.
Dusenberg lapsteels are factory-tuned to open D with the following strings (nickel wound):

http://shop.duesenberg.de/zubehor/duesenberg-saiten/duesenberg-guitar-strings-7.html#

What would your recommendations be?
I don't have any prefabricated opinions, so I'm open to all suggestions!
Michael Z

[malaz]

Hi guys,
What are the advantages of C6 over open D tuning?
Michael Z

[Basil Henriques]

OK in a nutshell, straight bar minors, minor sevenths and many more "partials".
Transition from minor thirds to major third intervals without slants, 9th and 7th chords intimated. Et al.
There is no comparison. The two tuning are for entirely different purposes and stylings.
Most of the D,G,A etc style tunings are not for musically complex usage, and would be limited to a more chordal style of basic changes as per Blues, Gospel, Old time Country, Bluegrass.

[malaz]

Hi Basil,
You mean like this?


Michael Z

[Basil Henriques]

NO NO NO, a rubbish teacher, he can't even play in tune and his sense of harmony is completely flawed..
He doesn't know the tuning he's playing in. Most of what he's "Trying" to do can be achieved with STRAIGHT bar, the slants just show he doesn't know his positions..
And the bar UGH That's for Resonator guitars.
I'll tell you what, I'll knock up a video of the exact notes he's TRYING to play, and show you where they should be. Give me a day or so as I'm mixing a couple of TV Show soundtracks at the moment.
Meanwhile stay away from BAD BAD advice..

[malaz]

Hi Basil,
Thanks, I appreciate all the advice I can get! I'm honestly not that good a player, mostly due to lack of practice (22 years pause! )
That's the type of music I play, though sometimes a little more uptempo. I also tend to play the 'fiddly bits' and harmony on my Fender Strat, and that's the kind of stuff I would be looking to play on my lap steel. So I guess I'm looking at C6 tuning, right?
Did you see my thread re the lap steels on offer ('Anyone know these lap steels?')? Which would you recommend, if any?
Yours gratefully,
Michael Z

[Basil Henriques]

This man DOES know what he's talking about, my Friend Mike Neer. And his advice is FREE..


The tab is here..


Full page HERE