New guy here. I've played guitar for over 60 years. I also play Tenor Ukulele and Electric Bass. A while back I bought a '67 Vega Wonder Plectrum Banjo, and being a guitarist, tuned it Chicago style (DGBE). But then I got a Mandola (Eastman MDA315, CGDA) and subsequently a Tenor Banjo (Goldtone IT250R set up for CGDA). I'm enjoying 5ths tuning! So now I'm thinking I want to set up my Plectrum as an Irish Tenor tuned GDAE when capoed at the 3rd fret.
The Plectrum has 22 frets and a 27" scale. So if I tune it open at E B F# C#, It would be G D A E capoed @ the 3rd fret. If I capo it at the 3rd fret, that leaves 19 frets and a 22.75" scale.
So, could anyone recommend a proper set of string gauges to accomplish this? I'm thinking maybe .012p .016p .024w .036w might do it.
Wait - that's exactly the gauges of the D'Addario EJ63i Irish Tenor set!
Assuming they're long enough, if I tune them down a minor 3rd in open position (@ 27" as proposed above) the tension should be OK!
My local fretted instrument tech, Glenn Nelson of Mockingbird Music in Berlin MA, says that should work.
They're not expensive; I'll include them in my next string order.
And I'll post my results in this thread.
Oh, and glad to be here!
~ Tom Karol
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