Dedicated Nashville Tuning Guitar

bil · #1 10-20-2019, 02:38 AM

I’m searching for a dedicated NT guitar, preferably inexpensive as it likely won’t be used a lot. Any suggestions out there?

bil · #2 10-20-2019, 02:41 AM

Oops, sorry all. I should have searched first [emoji20].

B. Adams · #3 10-21-2019, 03:49 PM

I have a Taylor GS Mini in Nashville tuning. I like it. I got a deal on it, so it fits the bill just fine.

Padma · #4 10-28-2019, 08:02 PM

wechter nv-5431ce. Great little guitar, but not too loud.

Brucebubs · #5 10-28-2019, 08:56 PM

This topic was covered not long ago - I think Wade Hampton made a great suggestion with a Seagull Folk guitar with a cedar top?

Found the thread; https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...ight=Nashville

jaymarsch · #6 10-29-2019, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Padma

wechter nv-5431ce. Great little guitar, but not too loud.

I had one of these and agree - pretty quiet. I ended up selling it and now keep either my 00 or parlor in Nashville tuning. I like the John Pearse High Strung strings the best as they are a bit beefier and you get a fatter tone from them than the D'Adarrio's or GHS.

Best,
Jayne

Brent Hahn · #7 10-29-2019, 10:46 AM

A friend with a 12 he doesn't use much took off the fat E/A/D and turned it into a 9-string. Like a Nashville-tuned 6 only more so. Might be one way to go.

Gordon Currie · #8 10-29-2019, 12:22 PM

We have an old Gurian at home that we strung with a Nashville set. It was chosen because the guitar does not have strong bass. Strong bass is unneeded when your lowest note is essentially second fret on a D string.

jim1960 · #9 10-29-2019, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bil

I’m searching for a dedicated NT guitar, preferably inexpensive as it likely won’t be used a lot. Any suggestions out there?

I own an Ovation Celebrity Deluxe GC-38 that I bought specifically for that purpose. I think that guitar, and Ovations in general, are well-suited for that.

Brent Nelson · #10 10-29-2019, 01:10 PM

I have a 60's Harmony Sovereign 1203 that I keep in Nashville tuning, and it does this VERY very well. Old wood just chimes. You can find these cheap.

hotroad · #11 10-29-2019, 01:30 PM

I have never used Nashville tuning on any guitar. What is the purpose of Nashville tuning? Is it just to get a different tone, more treble, than normal A440 tuning? Can't any guitar be tuned to Nashville tuning and if not, why?
I have an Alvarez that might fit the bill and I would like to try this out.

Brucebubs · #12 10-29-2019, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotroad

I have never used Nashville tuning on any guitar. What is the purpose of Nashville tuning? Is it just to get a different tone, more treble, than normal A440 tuning? Can't any guitar be tuned to Nashville tuning and if not, why?
I have an Alvarez that might fit the bill and I would like to try this out.

Take the 4 skinny octave strings off a 12-string guitar and put them on a 6-string with the normal 1E and 2B strings.

Tune 1E and 2B as normal - then 3G, 4D, 5A and 6E are all tuned 1 octave higher. (like on a 12-string guitar)

The D'Addario set gauges are; .010 - .014 - .009 - .012 - .018 - .027

Only the 6th string is wound.

It's a haunting kinda melancholy sound - I like it.

GHS, D'Addario and Martin sell Nashville string sets.

hotroad · #13 10-29-2019, 02:06 PM

Thanks Bruce for the good explanation of Nashville Tuning. I will try it asap.

Brucebubs · #14 10-29-2019, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotroad

Thanks Bruce for the good explanation of Nashville Tuning. I will try it asap.

No worries, I should have added that it takes a little discipline to play cleanly - those super skinny strings are easy to accidentally bend out of tune - you just have to be neater with your fretting.

ljguitar · #15 10-29-2019, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotroad

I have never used Nashville tuning on any guitar. What is the purpose of Nashville tuning? Is it just to get a different tone, more treble, than normal A440 tuning? Can't any guitar be tuned to Nashville tuning and if not, why?
I have an Alvarez that might fit the bill and I would like to try this out.

Hi hotroad

Yes, any 6 string acoustic (or even a 12 string) can be tuned to Nashville tuning. I've never looked for a tiny guitar to string that way, though I did once string a Baby Taylor (22¾" scale) in Nashville tuning just for fun. So can an electric guitar be strung this way for that matter.

I've strung a Mini-jumbo, Dreadnought, and several OMs that way.

As to purpose, I've played Nashville-strung guitar for a second guitar comping chords in a different range than the main rhythm guitar.

I've messed around with a guy who was a very solid chord playing friend, who never varied his chording any time he played his own songs. I had him record a track with his guitar and the had him record a Nashville strung guitar and repeat it. Then I panned the tracks hard left/right and it sounded like we were surrounded by a 12 string guitar.

I've also used it just to change up the sound of backing tracks when playing along with another guitarist (so we were not just doubling each other). It makes for some nice variations for traditionally fingered 9th chords, or other inversions. One can get some very closely spaced intervals with the bass strings an octave higher.

When I owned/operated an acoustic studio, we kept a dozen sets of high-strings on hand ready to go. We just ordered individual strings in the appropriate weights and then made them up ourselves. I've played them with both wound-3rd and plain-3rd.