Tuning your archtop to DADGAD
Is it modernisation......or a heinous act of vandalism?
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Go for it.
That said, I can't be moving the notes around and still play the way I want. |
Agree with Mr. Beaumont...Sure! Why not?
I am not familiar with archtop players who have used alternative tunings with the exception of Johnny Smith and Mundell Lowe who used drop D tuning. But, why not go for it? Would be very interested to hear the output, if you decide to record some tunes in DADGAD on your archtop. |
I think that if people realized an archtop is just a guitar, it might get more love. Tune it how you want! Every one of my archtop guitars benefits from the lower tuning, enhances bass response a lot, and the lower tension opens up the sound. I can't imagine why, if you like DAD tuning, you wouldn't like it on an archtop!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPXu6PuLZ7E |
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I tuned an old Applause 6 string flattop fixed bridge to all 5ths F-C-G-D-A-E. I don't recall the string gages used, but since I have a 26" mandocello tuned C-G-D-A-E I relied mostly on those sizes. The low F is tough, I think I used a .074 or something huge. Still is too floppy. But the C-G-D-A-E all sound good. Its great for slack key. The symmetry of 5ths tuning makes creating and transposing chords very easy.
When making a change like this you need to change the string gage, putting together a custom set. You'll likely need to re-slot the nut and possibly bridge, as well as adjust bridge position/angle to make this work on an archtop. Also if you're going to go low the holes on your tuner posts may not accomodate strings thicker than around .066. |
I'm playing with DADGAD on my Framus archtop, partly to differentiate it from the dreadnought which is in Drop D and partly because I need one of them for tunes and riff based backing (Irish trad) and the other for more chords based songs.
Sounds great, specially with the lower tension which requires a lighter touch. |
I play some slide guitar on all my archtops, L48 is always tuned to an open tunning, usually open G.
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