Official Luthiers Forum!

I planned on using a 24.9 scale for slack key (open G) tuning. To compensate for the looser strings I was going to use medium strings instead of the usual medium lights. What changes in bracing are required to handle the heavier strings? Will this compromise sound?

_________________
A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

Rich,

The heavier gauge strings will by and large compensate for the lower tuning (and shorter scale length although you don't say if 24.9" is your standard scale in standard tuning). In my view you don't really need changes in bracing to "compensate" for this. It's only the first, fifth and sixth strings that are tuned down anyway in Open G. A set of 12-53's on a 25.4" scale length guitar in standard tuning have a total tension of 163.4lb compared with 162.4lb for a 13-56 set in Open G on a 24.9" scale guitar.

On my 24.7" scale length ladder braced concert guitar I often play in Open G and DADGAD with a set of 12-53's with no issues on tone, volume or intonation.

_________________
Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Dave, I misspoke the tuning is taropatch DGDGBD. Thanks for the info. I've been having angst about building a short scale guitar for slack key because there is an active topic discussing longer scales for alternative tunings. I would want the guitar to be able to handle the heavier strings in standard tuning as well. My Taylor 414 requires light gauge (12-52). I don't want to overbuild the top so that it stifles the sound.

_________________
A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

DGDGBD is Open G as well as taropach so you spoke well.

As I said in that other thread, I've made longer scale length guitars to play in open tunings - 25.75" scale length as well as a 24.7-26" fan fret - but I've also played them on shorter scale instruments where they suprised me and work just as well. A lot will depend on your playing style. If it were me I'd build it for 12-53's and would also buy in some 13 and 17 singles to put on the top two strings if I was going to be in taropatch for a long period of time - if not you can make it easily playable with the 12-53's in taropatch with some small adjustments to your playing style.

_________________
Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Dave, where did you post the sound clip?

_________________
A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I play 14-58's in standard tuning on ordinary guitars and I only adjust the truss rod to compensate should I alter my bracing in my current build to allow for that?

John

_________________
Formerly JJH

I learn more from my mistakes than my successes