scale length - tuning question

Trad Strings
1

Is there any way to determine the shortest scale length that would sound good with GDAe tuning, or does it depend on the instrument?

I’m asking because I’ll soon have a stringed instrument that has an 18.75" scale and I’m trying to determine what size strings to get to try tuning it DAe (it’s a 3-string rather than 4, so I’m leaving out the low G), or if it just won’t work…

The instrument looks more/less like a mandola/octave mando, but with only three single strings (not double). It’s inbetween a mandola and octave mando in scale length.

If you have any ideas or suggestions, let me know. For now I plan on trying some octave manolin strings 32w/22w/12.

-brett

2

With the highest string in steel, you could tune it as high as d- the 4th line on treble clef- a whole step lower than a mandolin. Going much higher than that and you’ll get a lot of breakage.

A tuning like the 3 lowest strings of a violin gda (or the top three of a viola) would work better, but that doesn’t fit a lot of tunes. c-g-d would also work. If you tune it 7 steps below its breaking pitch it will probably sound tubby. You could perhaps tune it to cgd and then capo it at the 2nd fret.

Is it a balilaika or sumpin?

3

try using Tom’s string calculator:

http://www.strothers.com/string_choice.htm

While it was set up primarily for mountain dulcimers, it’s based on the physics equations for metal strings, so it should give you at least a starting point. I, personally, think it gives a bit too “light” of suggested string sizes, but that’s because I play a bass dulcimer and get teasesd about using bridge cables for strings!

4

Cool! Thanks Missy. It said I should use:

28-19-12 for DAe tuning. That sounds a bit light to me too…

By the way, the instrument is being made by Wendell Powell (DulciAddict). It’s not quite done yet, but here’s an in progress photo:

http://faculty.ivytech.edu/~bpfingst/instrument.jpg

-Brett

5

The gauge calculator seems like a neat tool but I was unable to get it to respond. I would take the input , but i was unable to get any out put. I just tried sample numbers as I haven’t actually measured my Guitar as yet, an that is the rest of the story. I have a Yamaha Guitar that has really light gauge strings and I want to tune it one full step low to a D tuning so that I can play music with my daughter ( she plays clarinet). When I tune it down, it sounds really flabby and I want to replace the strings with something just t a bit beefier so that I can keep it tune permanently one full step low. If any one can help I would appreciate it.

6

It only seems to work with Internet Explorer for me. With FireFox I got no results…

-Brett

7

You might also try this one from Graham McDonald - http://www.mcdonaldstrings.com/stringxxiii.html

You’ll need to scroll down a bit.

Hope it helps.

8

Here’s one: http://www.windworld.com/tools/fretcalc.htm

I’ve used it and I know it works. They also handle ‘unusual’ tunings.