Setup for DADGAD + Standard Tuning
If I play both DADGAD and standard tuning on a particular guitar 50/50, which would be the best setup for the "health" of the guitar? (Cedar top) I know alot of you will reply to buy another guitar, but that's not really an option right now.
Light Strings setup for DADGAD Light Strings setup for standard DADGAD Strings setup for DADGAD (13-17-24-32-42-56) DADGAD Strings setup for standard (13-17-24-32-42-56) Thanks in advance. Edit: I think alot of people are misunderstanding my question. I'm not asking what kind of strings to put on this particular guitar. I'm asking what kind of strings to put on the guitar AND if the guitar should be setup in standard or DADGAD with the recommended strings. Setup as in taking the guitar into the shop for truss rod adjustment, intonation, and possible saddle adjustments. |
The True/New medium type sets work great for both standard and DADGAD. I've come to prefer them for standard.
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Please consider a Bluegrass set (light top, medium bottom).
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On guitarvideos.com whenever the guys like Stefan Grossman, Fred Sokolow, or Woody Mann down-tune to open D, open G, or dropped D, they simply tune down whatever they already have on the guitar, and I do know that Stefan Grossman uses standard lights - 12-53 D'Aaddarios. If you've just got one guitar and you normally use lights, then I would use those and down-tune when you need to. My feeling is that you're better to be a bit too light with a guitar than too heavy for sheer playability. Even medium lights, 12.5 - 55, in standard can really take it out on your fingers.
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I've never used new/true mediums before, but do you find that the string tension on these sets stay more uniformed when you tune down? Does it feel any different in standard? |
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I use a set of 13-56 80/20 bronzes, I play in standard, DADGAD, even CGDGAD. The guitar was set up for standard, but this works fine for me. CGDGAD is a little bit low though (low C especially), but DADGAD won't be much of a problem I'd say.
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Cedar tends to be softer than spruce, so many are not designed to handle the tension of medium strings - check with your builder.
My guitars are all intonated for standard tuning. This does mean that the bass notes tend to fret a little sharp in dropped tunings. I get round this by fine tuning the low D or C depending on the particular song - depending on the key the song is in, some rely more on a perfectly tuned open string, some more on a particular fretted note. Not perfect, but it works quite well. |
My experience only: I've a McIlroy A25c that now resides in a C-tuning. When I previously kept it in DADGAD, I never noticed a problem with .012-.054 sets.
My suggestion: Write Dermot McIlroy and ask what he suggests. You'll hardly be the first person he's encountered who's using one of his guitars in DADGAD, and Dermot is always friendly and quick to respond. But he does brace his tops quite lightly, and while I'd love to say that that the top/bridge ought to hold up under a .056 in low-E (we're not talkin' a Martin here), I wouldn't risk it myself. But Dermot is obviously the expert; go to the McIlroy site and shoot him an e-mail -- and then please report back here with your findings, just because I'm curious! Btw, these McIlroy guitars are amazing! Congrats (and good on you for the wisdom to buy one) on your planned purchase... |
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