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June 2007
Posts: 20
Location: SE Minnesota | I recently purchased an Ovation Longneck. It came with light strings tuned to D. I know the Longneck can be tuned lower, but to do so requires different strings.
What gauge strings should I use if I want to tune it down a fourth (B) or fifth (A)? |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I've got an Adamas LongNeck, and I've got D'Add EJ18(Heavy's) on it. I predominantly keep it tuned down to D, and these strings work well at that tuning. Periodically, I'll tune it down to B, but the low string'll "rattle" a bit on the three lowest frets if you don't finger it "just right" (which was painfully evident on the one solo tune I played at the OFC Jam).
I've often thought of procuring a set of "baritone" strings and giving them a try . . |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 20
Location: SE Minnesota | I tried a set of D'Addario EXP23 baritone strings, but the E string was too large to fit through the saddle. I e-mailed Ovation, and they replied that while the guitar can easily be tuned down to B or even A, it was not designed for Baritone Strings. They indicated Baritone Strings required a even longer scale. |
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November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | I tried the baritone strings and it was like playing on rope. The EJ18's seem to work the best for me. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Try a set designed for Resonator guitar, such as the John Pearse 3200 set. The gauge is (from memory) 16 to 59. They'll go through the bridge holes no problem and have enough mass and tension to go down to C but they'll get sloppy any lower. A or B needs something around a 70 for the 6th string. The Ovation longneck is not really a baritone, the scale length is a little too short. That said, Matt Smith manages to do the baritone thing just fine on a standard scale length. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | What Paul said!
The guitar was designed to use regular lights but you can go with mediums or whatever you want that's heavier. |
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August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | I use Baritone strings on mine ... juststrings.com has a number of different choices. I think I have the Pearse on there right now. I've got mine tuned down to B, and the rumble is fantastic. I believe the strings are 15 - 62. I've had no problem getting the strings through the bridge although I did need to file the nut for the 5th string just a tad. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | The John Pearse Resonator strings are 15-68.
The EXP23's are 15-70.
The EJ18's are 14-59.
Interesting that a 68 would fit but a 70 is too big.
I think I might need to get a set of the Pearse 3200's and give them a try. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Originally posted by stephent28:
The John Pearse Resonator strings are 15-68.
The EXP23's are 15-70.
The EJ18's are 14-59.
Interesting that a 68 would fit but a 70 is too big.
I think I might need to get a set of the Pearse 3200's and give them a try. Ok, I'm in my warehouse so I can confirm the guages on the Pearse reso sets. We stock Set 3000 (Nickel wound) and 3100 (Phosphor bronze) and both sets are guaged 16-59.
They also do sets designed for Weissenborn and Lap Steel guitar which are heavier. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | THANKS Paul!!!
I'll look into those.
I'll have to get 'em online as I seriously doubt anyone around here has 'em readily available . . . |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Those are all nice but I just keep the normal set of 1818 or the Dad EXP equlivent on the 2080D.
That way I can go to all those places, it's in D for that stuff, drop the bass down and do all that, 5,4 &3 strings up for open D and all the open tuning and slide stuff is there, go back to regular tuning and put a cappo on 2 and play with the band in E. Gotta love it! |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | It's a "Beautiful Thing"! . . . |
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August 2006
Posts: 2804
Location: ranson,wva | ive got my adamas tuned down D TO D its a totaly different sound...jason |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Paul, I believe the specs I quoted were from the 3200 series. I like the idea of 16-59 better than the 3200 series 15-68......that just seemed a bit fat on the low "E" for my taste.
I will have to check out the 3000 or 3100. Any preference from your experience? |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 20
Location: SE Minnesota | The 70 itself fit, but the winding attaching the ball end was too large to fit through the saddle.
I finally found someone at Ovation who was willing to help. He suggested I try to medium heavy strings. I stopped at a GC, they didn't have any medium heavy acoustics (nor heavies), so I picked up a set of D'Addario EJ17 mediums (13-56). I put them on last night and tuned the guitar to B. They are light enough to fingerpick, can be strummed without buzzing (unless I use a stiff pick and REALLY lay into it) and the guitar is remarkably in tune all the way up the neck. I will try a set of EJ18s next time just to experiment, but for now I'm happy! |
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June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | That is one guitar I still have to get in the herd. (here we go again) |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | The sound of a baritone is remarkable.
I love them |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | My 2080D is my main Ovation. It resides closest to my guitar playing chair. |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 2
Location: Providence, RI, USA | GHS makes a set of bronze baritone strings -- 60 to 14. I actually use these on a standard-scale acoustic tuned BEADF#B... and it works fine! Considering that the strings are designed for a guitar of the longneck's scale length, you should be fine with them.
Best yet, they're only $6.50! |
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Longneck Question
