Re: Tunings and string gauges
Originally Posted by
HQentity
Hello everyone! Hope you're keeping well.
I've been playing tenor guitars for the best part of a year now (after 14 years of ukuleles), but have been having a couple problems!
I have a Cromwell 1935 archtop - from bridge to nut is 23", with strings 11, 14, 22w, 32w. The A string never lasts more than 3-4 re-tunes. It breaks between the tuning peg and nut. The nut is clean and lubricated.
I have 2 other tenor guitars:
1930 National triolian, 23" scale, 10,13,24w,30w, CGDA
Tonewood T-1, 20.5" scale, 10,14,22w,32w, CGDA
I have found that on both these instruments, the D string 2nd/3rd fret is ALWAYS sharp by as much as 5Hz. I tend to tune the string down to counter this, but wondered if i'm doing something wrong with gauges?
Any advice appreciated!
On the National and Tonewood, I would have a knowledgeable person / guitar tech check out your nut and saddle. My guess is that the either the saddle is not compensated (and maybe it needs to be) on your D strings or the nut slot is cut too shallow on the D string (which makes the lower fret notes to play sharp) and one of those is what is causing the out of tune D string.
On the Cromwell (and the National), presuming you are using CGDA on each, just use a well-planned tenor banjo set designed for 23" and CGDA, such as the D'Addario EJ63 set 10, 16, 23 wound, 30 wound. The 10 should stop the breaking on the A string. You could go down to a 9 too.
John Liestman -
Eye new ewe wood lye kit!
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