8-String Dobro Resonator Resophonic Guitar

Date: Sun, 15 Dec 2002 19:14:03 -0600

wonder if you would send me the tuneing for the 8 string. i have a 8 string Dobro but am not sure what tune is used. Thank you very much..Doyle Walker

Greetings Doyle,

The 8-String Dobro can be tuned in most any way you wish...

Now, personally, I believe you'd want to tune to the standard open G as follows:

from high to low: D B G D B G D B

And, there are many tunings used by legendary players...experiment and you'll find the tuning possibilities are infinite. This could very well open new creative horizons...and unexplored realms of Dobro worlds.

Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2002 15:22:08 -0700 (US Mountain Standard Time)

Mickey,
Do you have access to 8 string dobros other than the Beard? It is out of my price range. I have a Sho-Bud 12 string single neck, 3 foot pedal, 4 knees, that I am going to sell or ?. It is too heavy for me to lug around. It is in perfect condition. I thought that I would tune the 8 string dobro like the 8 little strings on the Sho-Bud. (E9 chromatic) I think it will work. What do you think?
Thanx,
Gene, retired in AZ

Greetings Gene,

Sorry, we do not have access to a reasonably priced 8-string dobro...I'm not too sure about the tuning...it seems that it should work.

I did find the following tunings laid out for 8-String Steel:

http://home.swipnet.se/bigtony/slide/Tunings.htm

I'm not sure how these would work on an acoustic 8-string dobro...

Here's what Paul Beard had once written to me on the 8-String and the 7-String:

Just for your info, I do build an 8 string instrument as well as an 8 string. I have a 7 string in stock at this time for immediate sale. It is a thicker than standard body and its made from highly figured quilted mahogany. The nice thing about a 7 string over an 8 string is that I am able to put full standard string spacing on the instrument. Also, 8 strings tend to load the resonator so much that typically 8 strings never sound quite as good as a 6 string. The 7 string is a compromise between the two. You certainly can tune the instrument to any tuning that you would like. You can place a high G on top on a standard G tuning or a low D or you can turn the fourth string to an E for a G6.

I have set up quite a few of the Flinthill/Regal guitars as a 7 and 8 string instruments. This modification works great and it is an expensive way for a customer to get his hands on a 7 or 8 string.
Thanks again, Paul

My suggestion would be to contact Paul at Resophonic Outfitters about the possibility of tuning the 8-string like your Sho-Bud...

Hope this helps somehow...Mickey