Dobro: Choice of Strings

Subject: Resophonic strings
Date: Thu, 5 May 2005 13:53:09 -0500

Mickey:
Had the pleasure of working with Tradd last year in acquiring my first reso (a Morgan Monroe roundneck single cone with the Quarterman upgrade), and have been teaching myself blues slide with help of his video and more recently book/cd from Bob Brozman. I have two questions:

1. I would welcome your opinion on strings for this guitar. I have been reading quite abit about the Newtone Michael Messer National strings from England (round versus hex core, come up to tone at lower string tensions, supposedly superior sound and durability). Brozman and others recommend upgrading to a heavier weight set in range of .16-.59 to maximize the tone and volume for traditional bottleneck blues slide playing (I lean more toward traditional blues styles than bluegrass, so this set up is appealing to me). The Newtone medium and heavies would achieve this, and also come in Phosphor Bronze versus Nickel.

a. Do you have experience/opinion on the Newtone's relative to other brands? I have also heard that the John Pearse strings in this gauge are also very good.

sorry, I haven't played these myself...

b. Any thoughts on the PB versus Nickel wound?

I personally love phospher bronze...for the added brightness and the less deadness of tonal range after hours of play...many seem to prefer the nickel wound...I believe the nickel is more traditional.

c. Should I have any concern for using this heavy gauge of string set on my guitar (I tune to Open G almost exclusively at this point) re: damage/warpage?

Well, there will be more tension...I would watch the neck carefully by eying like a rifle scope on its side...if you're not seeing any movement, you should be safe. Additionally, be careful to store it in its case when not using it...to ensure that weather doesn't accelerate any damage due to the higher tension of heavy gauge strings.

d. What gauge do you typically use with your roundneck reso's during initial setup?

I would use a medium set...this way the bass doesn't sound so thuddy...I like definition in the bass while still retaining some low end as offered by the medium gauge strings.

2. I monitor your website often for updates, and have noted that you have "National coming soon" on your dobro page for some time. Can you give me an update on this addition to the FOTW product line. My dream is to someday acquire a National (I tend to think the tricone Style 1), and would certainly look to work with you guys again on any such purchase if possible.

Yes, this is still on the agenda...we've just been so buried down with other details for now...it looks like this may come about within the next 3 months...all things go as planned.

Thanks again for a great customer experience and for your very informative website. Chuck

You're most welcome Chuck...I appreciate your staying tuned in with us...Mickey

Charles D. C.
Springfield, IL

Subject: RE: Fwd: Resophonic strings
Date: Mon, 9 May 2005 16:08:55 -0500

Thanks for your help Mickey. I emailed the London Resonator Centre (cool website) and they highly recommend the Newtones, favoring the .15-.59 for roundnecks, .16-.59 for squarenecks, though haven't seen any problems with even the .16 on roundnecks. Only US vendor I've found yet is National Resophonic themselves----they apparently supply Newtones as original equipment on their guitars now. Will sell them to you at $10 a set + shipping (no bulk rate for multiple sets though).

I'll keep in touch regarding your move to be a National vendor.
Chuck

Subject: dobro strings
Date: Sun, 2 Jan 2005 21:32:36 -00

Dear Mr. Cochran;

What are the proper strings to use on a square neck dobro?

sincerely, Roy M.

Greetings Roy,

You'll want to fit your Dobro with strings that are gauged properly for the standard G B D G B D tuning...

This can be done separately, one string at a time, or in pre-packages made specifically for squareneck.

1. GHS Dobro for Open G
2. Beard Special 29s

Are my two favorite sets being made today.

Mickey

Subject: Resonator strings
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 21:42:53 -0600

Can you explain the different kind of strings available for resonator guitars? Is there a "flat wound" string that reduces the bar movement noise?

Thank you
Frank Jessee

Greetings Frank,

Yes, you can use the flat wound strings...GHS makes a string that's pretty close called a rollerwound:

Here's what's available:

Bright Bronze GHS G Tuning Rollerwound: Cat. No. RB1600
Pure Nickel GHS G Tuning Rollerwound: Cat. No. 1600

Hope this helps, Mickey