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07 Feb 08 - 04:14 AM (#2255709) Subject: Can I Use Light Gauge From: scouse Can I use light gauge guitar strings on my old Gibson Tenor Guitar and tune it up to 440?? As Aye, Phil. |
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07 Feb 08 - 05:11 AM (#2255738) Subject: RE: Can I Use Light Gauge From: mandotim As always; depends! Are you using a CGDA tuning? How old is the guitar? Is it an archtop or a flattop? Are the top braces in good condition and properly attached? Are there any signs of top sinkage? Is the neck straight? Pictures? I'll help if I can, but I need a bit more info! Tim |
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07 Feb 08 - 05:46 AM (#2255752) Subject: RE: Can I Use Light Gauge From: nickp As Tim says it'll depend on what you want to tune it to. There's a thread about a month ago about the new tenor guitar from Hobgoblin which I have and am using in octave tuning (GDAE) rather than tenor and the gauges I'm using (which are just a touch heavy) 40 - 30 - 20 - 11. I may go for a fraction lighter next time. here's the other thread See if there's anything there helps Nick |
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07 Feb 08 - 05:58 AM (#2255758) Subject: RE: Can I Use Light Gauge From: scouse It's a big old 1935 Gibson archtop Model TG75. In perfect condition with it's original case. It has a truss rod. I could Email you some photo's. Everything about it is perfect.I Would tune it as per a normal guitar DGBE!! Is that possible?? As Aye, Phil. |
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07 Feb 08 - 08:29 AM (#2255839) Subject: RE: Can I Use Light Gauge From: GUEST,Ian cookieless Those very nice people at Oakwood instruments gave me (many years ago) a small chart listing string length, pitch and appropriate gauge. I have found it invaluable when figuring out the right gauge strings for alternative tunings. Perhaps they might give you one, too? I've just had a look for you to see if there is such a thing on the web, but didn't find anything really helpful. |
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07 Feb 08 - 08:52 AM (#2255850) Subject: RE: Can I Use Light Gauge From: mandotim I've done a bit of looking; and I came up with this It's a string gauge/tension calculator. Enter the gauge and the note the string is tuned to, and it will calculate how much strain you are putting on the guitar. Gibson archtop tenors used the same bodies as the six-string versions, but with a four string neck. I'm guessing that yours is one of the tenor versions of the L7, which was a big jazz guitar built to take enormously heavy strings. (This was to produce the volume needed to play unamplified with jazz bands)Legend has it that some of the old jazz guitarists played bottom E-strings that were .075" ! Strings for real men! If the guitar is in good condition and has no bracing issues, I can't see any reason why it wouldn't handle four strings tuned to the top four strings of a 'standard' guitar. Wouldn't be my choice though; I think the 'voice' of the tenor needs a tuning in fifths, preferably CGDA...but I would say that, I'm a mandolin player and I like fifths! Good luck with your choices. Tim |
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07 Feb 08 - 11:23 AM (#2255998) Subject: RE: Can I Use Light Gauge From: GUEST,Jim Hi Scouse, Jazz player Tiny Grimes tuned his guitar DGBE as did folky Nick Renolds. I think your guitar would easily handle light or even medium guage strings. |
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07 Feb 08 - 11:51 AM (#2256017) Subject: RE: Can I Use Light Gauge From: Mr Happy Check the nut, if there's wear you may get a rattle with lights |
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08 Feb 08 - 05:17 AM (#2256611) Subject: RE: Can I Use Light Gauge From: scouse Thanks Guys for your swift help. I will try it!! as Aye, Phil. |
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08 Feb 08 - 05:58 AM (#2256627) Subject: RE: Can I Use Light Gauge From: Sugwash There is a Yahoo group dedicated to the tenor guitar http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/tenorguitarregistry/ which discuss, often a great lenght, string guages and tunings. |