Tuning question ???

Subject: Tuning question ???
From: GUEST,erbert
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 11:47 PM

Hello, I often see sets of guitar strings advertised with an "Extra high E string"

so how would that extra high E string be tuned then ?

one or two, or maybe even three octaves up from standard tuning ?

What kind of weird music would you play with that odd specialised tuning ?

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: GUEST,999
Date: 07 Jan 10 - 11:52 PM

I am guessing what you have already considered. It would maybe be a way-far lighter guage string that can then be tuned an octave higher than the normal high e-string. It would likely be used by lead guitarists to hit extremely high notes in solos.

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 12:01 AM

If you divide up the words like this "an extra high-E string" you will find the solution (as would checking the pack of strings). You will have seven strings, two of which will be high-E. Provided to allow for more frequent breakage on the lightest-gauge string.

Ross

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: GUEST,999
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 12:03 AM

LOL. Dang, did I miss on that or what? Thanks, Ross. LOL.

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: michaelr
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 12:08 AM

Jeez, guys...

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: GUEST,999
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 12:10 AM

Jaysus, Michael, the 1960s, ya know? LOL

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: GUEST,999
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 12:14 AM

Don't ya love it when yer a complete idiot. LOL.

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 11:08 AM

Yeah,but usually when I break a string, it's the D. A guy in a music store said that's because it's the string we play the most.

What's your experience?

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: greg stephens
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 11:17 AM

I am with Leeneia on this. When I buy a set, I get an extra D to be on the safe side. I never break top E strings(in fact, I suspect I very rarely play that string).

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: beeliner
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 11:20 AM

"It would maybe be a way-far lighter guage string that can then be tuned an octave higher than the normal high e-string."

The break point would be the same regardless of the gauge.

But poster Ross is correct, it's an additional string - the wording IS somewhat ambiguous though.

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: olddude
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 11:23 AM

Took my old Alvarez to get a new saddle put in, the guy said you don't want those real heavy strings ... I said no I want Martin Medium gage. He said, yea those are the really heavy ones why would anyone use them !!.. I said it is an acoustic guitar and I finger pick, what is "Heavy" about a Martin medium that is recommended by the guitar manufacturer. Mine you, this was a local repair guy cause I didn't want to drive an hour and half to the guy who did my Martin ...

I figured I better just take the guitar back home, he wasn't going to help me any ... Good grief ...

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: Will Fly
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 11:24 AM

I always buy strings in singles - and get extra Gs and Ds. Luckily my local supplier does Elixirs in singles.

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: The Sandman
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 11:45 AM

with breaking strings ,is it not more a question of which strings you retune are the most likely to break.
I have one guitar tuned in standard and also use this for drop d,and another guitar tuned either dgdgbd dgdgcd dadgbd,if you switch between dadgad dadeae,my experience tells me the g string is in danger of snapping.

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 12:59 PM

I've always put string breakage down to it being the string with the thinnest core - i.e. the plain steel part of the string. I tend to break "Gs" which have a thinner core than the top "Es". I suspect those of you who tend to break "Ds" are using very light sets with unwound "Gs".

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: DonMeixner
Date: 08 Jan 10 - 01:09 PM

Yup, what Ray said. I use Martin Bronze lites. Basically the 80/20 bronze strings on My FG 180, Guild F -30, Martic JC 16, Alvarez D something or other, and Blueridge BR 43. I have not broken a guitar string in easily 10 years. All this instruments have been used in a band setting so I have worked those strings hard.

I am more likely to brak a banjo or bouzouki string and I break less than one a year of those.

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: alex s
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 07:15 AM

Will, I break (very occasionally) the G string and I use Elixirs too - who is your single string supplier, please.

P.S. to others:
check out Will's playing on Youtube - he's an ace!

alex s

Subject: RE: Tuning question ???
From: kendall
Date: 09 Jan 10 - 07:30 AM

Remember when Mapes gave you extra high E, B and G strings?
They were crap but it looked like a deal.