The British Steelies Society

I've just come into possession of an old Guyatone 8-string. The strings haven't been changed in about a decade by my reckoning, but I'm having a devil of a time finding replacements. Any pointers are welcome! Every search that I do seems to point to 8-string sets for shred guitars or multiscales rather than the heavier gauges that would suit a steel guitar.

Thanks!

Hi Antonuzzo,
A quick google for Strings Direct will lead you to a set of John Pearse 8 string C6 tuning.
Or, if your using another tuning you could get single strings, of the relevant gauge, from Gerry Hogan's site.
Hope this helps, good luck!

Hi Danny, thanks for that! That didn't come up when I searched their site on my phone, but it has now I've looked at it in a proper browser

This site might be worth a look, for different tuning ideas.
https://www.hawaiiansteel.com/learning/gauges.php

Thanks all, I've managed to acquire some. This is a bit of a project: I'm mounting a Roland GK pickup on this, which will feed into a Boss GR-55. This opens up access to the PCM synth engines, but also the guitar and amp models and in particular, the ability to change tunings on the fly. And, with a couple of expression pedals, to emulate pedal-steel sounds.

The challenge is that the Roland pickup only covers six strings, so that means making some choice about which ones I track. The spacing is also different – I saw one person getting around this by taking the pickup apart and mounting each pole piece individually. My own solution is to simply mount the pickup at an angle – I've tested this with a temporary mount and it works fine. Roland usually specify mounting the pickup as near to the bridge as possible, which isn't going to be possible here, but it's not going to be an issue; the reason they advise that is to minimise the impact of players bending strings on regular guitars, which can move them out of position. obviously not a problem on a steel guitar!

I'll post updates regarding this once it's all up and running.

I have a job getting strings although there is a link somewhere for a UK company that can supply any guages you want. The annoying thing is that you have to know which C6 tuning you are using. I go from high G but bought a set of Bob Pearce only to find that his have the highest string as an E. Also be careful of scale length. Most are designed for 23" scale so they pull a lot tighter if I try to put on the Remington at 24 1/2" scale.

I'm looking at getting a Fender Stringmaster D8 and want to tune one neck to standard C6 (A C E G A C E G low to high) and the other to Don Helms E6/11 (A C# E G# B C# E G# low to high).

Where can I get the right strings? What gauges should they be? I'm told the D8 I'm going to look at has been strung using SIT pedal steel strings, so reckon the gauges will be somewhat out of whack with what would normally be used.

I'd really appreciate the advice of those in the know so that I get started on the right foot.

Thanks,
Will

I have recently gone to buying strings individually from Strings Direct for my lap steels. I am now using Ernie Ball and use their string guage chart for the sizes. When buying packs, make sure the tuning is printed on the pack. I bought a set of John Pearce only to find the highest string was an E and not the G that I use. The pack just said C6 - 8 string.