Open A String Gauge

[bluesky636]

Nov 5, 2017 0:31:55 GMT Pickers Ditch said:

Those are standard string tensions for hexagonal core strings - contact Newtone Strings and check their tensions for their ROUND CORE Michael Messer strings and you'll find them to be perfect for what you need!

FROM THE MICHAEL MESSER WEBSITE

"Michael Messer National Guitar Strings® established in 1992

The ultimate strings for all National® and National-style resonator guitars

National® is a registered trademark of NATIONAL RESO-PHONIC GUITARS INC. OF THE USA.

Michael Messer National Guitar Strings® are handmade from the finest materials for extra volume, sustain and purity of tone.

These strings are designed to have perfect tension on National® and other resonator guitars whether you play in regular or in open tunings.

At first sight these gauges seem very heavy. By utilising a principle used in the 1920s that uses a round core rather than the more modern hexagonal one, greater string life and easier playability can be achieved.

All guitars sound better with heavier strings, the problem is playing them! Michael Messer National Guitar Strings® tune to pitch at lower tension than other strings of the same gauge. They make resonator guitars sound amazing, ^{and because they tune to pitch at lower tension there is no strain on the neck or cones.}

Michael Messer National Guitar Strings® are available in phosphor bronze or nickel and come in three standard gauges:

13.17.26w.36.46.56.
15.17.26w.36.46.56.
16.18.27w.39.49.59.

Sets of custom gauges are available by order

Michael Messer National Guitar Strings® are handmade in England by Newtone Strings®

Michael Messer ELECTRIC SLIDE Classics®

These nickel strings are designed to have perfect tension on electric guitars for open-tuned slide or regular playing. For D and G tuning we recommend the heavy set, and for E and A tuning we recommend the light set. These gauges may appear heavy, but wait 'til you play them - they are amazing electric slide strings.

MM Electric Slide Classics® are available in two standard gauges:

.15 .17 .26w .36 .46 .56
.13 .15 .22p .32 .42 .52

Order direct from [e-mail]

Newtone Strings GB
Unit 12A Brookfield Way
Tansley, Matlock
Derbyshire, DE4 5ND"

PD

Yes, I have read all of the advertising for these strings. I am familiar with the differences between round core and hex core strings. There are many threads on other forums discussing the pros and cons of each.

Just Strings list four MM Resophonic string sets in phosphor bronze but only lists the high and low E string gauges:

www.juststrings.com/new-nat6-pb-1256.html

www.juststrings.com/new-nm-ml-p.html

www.juststrings.com/new-nm-m-p.html

www.juststrings.com/new-nm-h-p.html

[bluesky636]

Nov 5, 2017 8:50:02 GMT @stanford said:

I used Elixir light 12 - 53,Elixir medium 13- 56, and Elixir resonator 16 - 56 strings on my honey dipper. All were great. Gretsch said the mediums are fine on the guitar.

There's a Gretsch forum that you might find useful -
www.gretsch-talk.com/
There's also a review of the honey dipper special that's interesting
www.in2guitar.com/reso.html

I found the Gretsch forum less than helpful.

Thanks for the link to the review. I'll read it later today.

[bluesky636]

Nov 5, 2017 12:05:58 GMT @deuce said:

Nov 4, 2017 22:29:29 GMT bluesky636 said:

Not sure where to go from here.

How about use 13-53 for open A for a start.
TT

My current strings are .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053. What's the difference?

[bluesky636]

Nov 5, 2017 14:19:34 GMT orbital said:

Hi Bill,

As with most things resophonic its all about the set up of your guitar.
A well built resonator guitar should be able to comfortably handle a variety of alternate tunings.
I have recently started playing in Open A (spanish) tuning on my MM Blues with Newtones MM Pb 15-56.
An important factor will be the break angle on your guitar, (from saddle to tailpiece) whichever strings you decide to use.
Might be helpful if you post a few photos of yours so others more experienced than me can advise you further.
Too steep a break angle can cause problems in higher tunings.
I'd recommend trying Newtone MM resonator strings and don't be put off by the gauges.
As already stated, they have a different core and tune to pitch at lower tension. Enjoy your new guitar!

Orbital.

I haven't had the chance to take any photos but here are some from Sweetwater:

www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GrchResMtlRnd

[Deleted]

Nov 5, 2017 16:20:19 GMT bluesky636 said:

My current strings are .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053. What's the difference?

Very little - just get on with it.
TT

[Pickers Ditch]

Nov 5, 2017 16:18:33 GMT bluesky636 said:

Nov 5, 2017 8:50:02 GMT @stanford said:

I used Elixir light 12 - 53,Elixir medium 13- 56, and Elixir resonator 16 - 56 strings on my honey dipper. All were great. Gretsch said the mediums are fine on the guitar.

There's a Gretsch forum that you might find useful -
www.gretsch-talk.com/
There's also a review of the honey dipper special that's interesting
www.in2guitar.com/reso.html

I found the Gretsch forum less than helpful.

Thanks for the link to the review. I'll read it later today.

Bill, I would read that review pdq if I were you, particularly the final couple of paragraphs......

This is not the first time I've read about Gretsch cones collapsing.

If you are desperate to tune your resonator to A Spanish I would respectfully suggest you change the guitar or cone from Gretsch to another one that is man enough to do the job using a set of MM PB 13s as per:

www.juststrings.com/new-nm-ml-p.html

whos gauges are:13.17.26w.36.46.56.

Your decision.

[bluesky636]

Nov 5, 2017 17:05:05 GMT @deuce said:

Nov 5, 2017 16:20:19 GMT bluesky636 said:

My current strings are .012, .016, .024, .032, .042, .053. What's the difference?

Very little - just get on with it.
TT

As an engineer, I need a good reason to change something.

[Deleted]

I trained as an engineer too.
I'm a musician now.
TT

[bluesky636]

Nov 5, 2017 17:09:53 GMT Pickers Ditch said:

Nov 5, 2017 16:18:33 GMT bluesky636 said:

I found the Gretsch forum less than helpful.

Thanks for the link to the review. I'll read it later today.

Bill, I would read that review pdq if I were you, particularly the final couple of paragraphs......

This is not the first time I've read about Gretsch cones collapsing.

If you are desperate to tune your resonator to A Spanish I would respectfully suggest you change the guitar or cone from Gretsch to another one that is man enough to do the job using a set of MM PB 13s as per:

www.juststrings.com/new-nm-ml-p.html

whos gauges are:13.17.26w.36.46.56.

Your decision.

I'm not "desperate" to do anything. Just trying to gather information on something new to me.

[Pickers Ditch]

... and I posted the suggestions based on my experience as an old retired engineer and chemist who has now taken up trying to play resonator guitar in my dotage.

....particularly the one about Gretsch cones collapsing.

I can't add any more, I'm afraid.

[bluesky636]

Thanks for all the information. I think I will stick with my current strings and standard tuning until I get more proficient with my guitar.

[creolian]

Nov 5, 2017 18:39:59 GMT bluesky636 said:

Thanks for all the information. I think I will stick with my current strings and standard tuning until I get more proficient with my guitar.

I'll venture out there and tell you that if your guitar cannot handle a set of thirteens in open A, Something is wrong with the guitar.   I can understand and appreciate being cautious ( on yours and responders parts .).  This might be an issue with an older irreplaceable national, but I wouldn't sweat it with your Regal.

When I joined this forum about a year ago I had the one reso.  A cheap Johnson woody. (and around a dozen electrics) I now have 4, two wood and two metal body resos.   Subsequently,  I've tried a bunch of different string sets including 12s Da Addario flat wounds, Pearse PBs, DR sunbeams, Martin Life Spans, and Newtone Heritage.  Still a work in progress, I've found that 12s just don't get the cones resonating to their potentials on any of my guitars.    It's been enlightening to find just how different varying brands and gauges make each guitar sound.   I've mixed gauges and even am using a flat wound G on one guitar...  Be aware that the first string gauge can be misleading, ie, the martins have a blugrassy voice due to lighter gauge middle strings.


Live Dangerously, Have Fun! blow a few ducats On a variety of strings and experiment !  Your Regal is a nice Guitar, with the right strings, maybe a little action work it will make you want to play it . If you get the virus like I have, be prepared to lose a few pounds due to Reso GAS.

All best,

Jeff

p.s. a popular subject for sure, I'm not an engineer but I've owned a few guitars...

[Deleted]

If you've got a resonator then put Newtone 15-56 on and get on with it!

[Michael Messer]

Hello Bill

Welcome to our forum.

Open A tuning is a strange one because it puts more strain on the G string than open E tuning.

Most resonator guitar players (National-style resonators) use slack low bass tunings - DADF#AD and DGDGBD, and capo for EBEG#BE and EAEAC#E. Dobro-type spider-bridge guitars are different and will take more tension.

I know very few National-style players that use open A tuning. It is the wound G string that doesn't like it, so you will need to use a plain third (G). John Hammond uses open E and A tunings, and I think he uses something like 12 to 52 or 54 with a plain third. Something along these lines... 12/13 15 22p 32 42 52/54 would do it. In fact, the strings your guitar came with should be fine.

High tunings on a National-style resonator guitar really rely on everything being properly set up with a low break angle from the tailpiece to the bridge saddle.

I have tested my own brand of guitars with EBEG#BE, EAEAC#E and GBDGBD with 13 17 26w 36 46 56, and they can take those tunings with no problems at all (except for the fact that a would G usually breaks when tuned to A). However, I do not offer any kind of guarantee that an MM Guitar will be fine in those tunings, I only did it to test my products because I have to know what they can withstand.

High tunings on Dobro-style spider-bridge guitars is a whole different thing and with the right gauges a Dobro-style guitar can easily be tuned to high bass A, which is AC#EAC#E.

You will not find any manufacturer of resonator guitars that guarantee their guitars will be okay in high tunings. If you get any problems with your guitar and tell the manufacturer that you were tuned in open A, I am pretty sure they will not honour their guarantee.

My advice is to use light gauge strings and see how it feels. You can tell if it is choking or damaging the guitar. It is similar to not changing gear in a car, you can just feel it straining the engine.

I hope that and all the advice offered by other forum members is helpful

Shine On
Michael

[slide496]

Just to note if you are planning on buying from Juststrings.com call them to make sure they are in stock, their inventory does not automatically update, I usually get my MM Newtones from stringsdirect.co.uk - the price and order time is about the same, if they or stringsandbeyond.com are backordered.

Harriet