Strings for your Steel

Exploring the beauty and tone of Rickenbacker Lap Steels

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loverickbass
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Strings for your Steel

Post by loverickbass »

I've got an Electro lap steel with understring pickup coming in the next few days and I know nothing about lap steels.

What strings do I use? I'm guessing regular guitar strings. Does it matter what gauge? It's a 6 string btw.



Cole
rshatz
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Re: Strings for your Steel

Post by rshatz »

What tuning are you planning to use?
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jingle_jangle
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Re: Strings for your Steel

Post by jingle_jangle »

My Electro is a short-scale, so I use Rick short scale strings...Oh, and open G tuning.
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doctorwho
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Re: Strings for your Steel

Post by doctorwho »

When I had my Model 100 steel, I looked for some Internet sites about steel guitars and found that there were a few out there that discuss tunings and other aspects ... I don't have links, but it you do an Internet search, you should be able to find some.
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca
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jingle_jangle
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Re: Strings for your Steel

Post by jingle_jangle »

The best I've found is Brad's Page of Steel:

http://www.well.com/user/wellvis/tab.html
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doctorwho
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Re: Strings for your Steel

Post by doctorwho »

jingle_jangle wrote:The best I've found is Brad's Page of Steel:

http://www.well.com/user/wellvis/tab.html
I remember seeing that one, it looked really good.
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca
rshatz
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Re: Strings for your Steel

Post by rshatz »

You first have to decide what tuning(s) you want to use. Brad's Page of Steel is an excellent resource for this. Once you decide on your tuning, then you need to decide on string gauge. I usually tune to D,E or G and my preference is D'Addario half round medium jazz, 13-56. If you choose C6 tuning you'll need to use a lighter #6 string.
Those are the ones I've tried. There are lots more. Have fun.
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loverickbass
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Re: Strings for your Steel

Post by loverickbass »

Thanks for all the replies guys. I'll show her off when she gets here.

Cole
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sloop_john_b
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Re: Strings for your Steel

Post by sloop_john_b »

I'm in C6 tuning all the time and use flatwounds on my B6. I think they're an old set of Chromes. I'm either going to try Pyramids or TI's soon as these are pretty battered.

Richard, how often do you change strings?
rshatz
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Re: Strings for your Steel

Post by rshatz »

I have only used one set of flats (Pyramid), which are said to be louder and fatter than other brands. I didn't like the way they sounded. I use half-rounds out of habit acquired many years ago when I first started playing before my bar technique improved. I think I would probably be fine with round wounds now.

I only change strings when they start sounding dull. As soon as I do, I wonder why I didn't do it sooner.
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sloop_john_b
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Re: Strings for your Steel

Post by sloop_john_b »

Thanks Richard, I think I'm gonna go with the strings you suggested. I like the flats but they're a bit "farty" on the lower strings.
nbfanca
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Re: Strings for your Steel

Post by nbfanca »

I've always liked the GHS-1600 semi-flat nickel.

http://www.beardguitars.com/Merchant2/m ... ry_Code=S3

As with anything like this, YMMV.
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