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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | This goes out to the OFC members that own or play baritone ovations or other brands.......
Most 6 strings are tuned B - B but it seems most of the 12 strings I have played are F# - F#. Is this true with most of you or have I just played ones tuned different from normal (they all belong to one fellow and his friend so naturally they would be tuned the same).
Also....anyone have a good source for sets of strings for the 12 string baritone or do you just use a regular set? |
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December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | Questions that come to mind:
Is the Instrument designed for a particular tuning or pitch?
Should you select strings and tune to match your voice?
I had found a set of Extra Heavy 12 string, strings at one time. Set them up on a Pacemaker and went C-C. I'll try to source them. |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Woody, good questions.....
I assume the ovations we (your custom order and my twins) are getting would be built and tuned to "D" scale since ovation refers to them as "D" scale guitars. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I've got a couple LongNeck Adamases of cwk2's "Wintering" at my house.
The 6-string (I refer to it as the "LongLegg", as Adrian Legg used to tour with it) I just restrung last night w/D'Add EJ17 meds.
It'll go down to B, but my fingering abilities tend to pull the notes "out" a bit . . . someone more adept would probably do better. I usually keep it tuned to D, but lately I've been doing some stuff in DoubleDropC that has me giggling like a little schoolgirl . . .
The black LongNeck Adamas 12 has been recently strung with my usual staple of D'Add EJ38's. Takes a bit of getting used to, as it's strung "Rickenbacker".
AWESOME instruments!
In the past, I'd often capo-ed "up" to either simplify fingering and/or get a different "voicing" to compliment another guitar playing with me . . .
NOW, I'm able to do that at the OTHER end of the spectrum by going "down", and some of the results can be really cool . . .
I'm HOPING t'get something "in the can"(ShutUpWitko!) in time for the OFC/CD2 utilizing these guitars . . . |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | I think it more depends on the strings. The "D" Ovations are sposed to use just the regular strings and at a 28+" scale the tension is the same, just tune it to D-D. Use heavier and go C-C
I've got a National and they say either C-C or B-B and it's a 26" scale but the strings are about a 70something to 18 I think. John Pearse makes them. I find the heavier strings on the shorter scales harder to play, but then I am very partial to the Ovation design. It's an absolutely Brilliant design that is perfect in every way. Pure Genius. |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Well maybe not THAT perfect, but pretty good. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | Kudos to th'guy who "thunk it up" . . . |
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November 2002
Posts: 1300
Location: Madison, Wisconsin | I've been using EJ-19's, Heavy guage, tuned down 1 whold step to D. I tried the EXP 23's but they were like fingering rope. |
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March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | I think I'll go "heavier" on the next string change . . . |
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December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | When you start with the .074" from a Mando you can make a regular guitar into a Poor man's Baritone and B-B. On a Baritone it may go A-A which will finger the same as a Papoose! |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | It gets to where the string is so big it's more like playing a bass which you do differently than a guitar, more the flat of your finger than the tip. I just find it hard to make 6 string chords with those telephone wires. |
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February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | Big strings down way low is a great sound, but it becomes a whole new instrument and needs a completely different approach. Almost like the difference between a mandolin and a mandocello. Playing Bill's Longneck 2080 with regular strings was a revelation to me. That's a good way to go, very versatile in terms of tunings, easy feel, killer sound. I didn't think it would work, but it does. |
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December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | I would probably go Heavy-Mediums and see were your playing range is comfortable. |
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July 2002
Posts: 1900
| I tune my 1767 down to D and C and use
med-lights/med's and it plays just fine. I love the 'heart' of the lower tunings.. |
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February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Funny I just started work on a whole new set With some Neil Young and we've added Led Zeppelin's, Gallows pole and Paul M's Blackbird. I have 7 songs now that are tuned a whole note down and so far my Adamas 6 & 12 are handling this tuning real well. And the e is dropped to the low "C" for the Young stuff. Interesting sound and Wow does this boooom with the low end of the eq set up for this throught the Amp! Great sounds. I have just been looking at the double neck barritone guitars and others. Man I am already using four tunings on stage now and these small gigs I do, I just do not have the room now for what I am bringing. I want to add the PK-5 pedal hooked to my little Micro Korg to do the keys on a bunch of songs like "Thank You" and some of the Floyd. I have never played a LOW fretted guitar like this. Possiblities must be endless!
Randy |
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January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Using "guitar" strings and down tuning works just fine as you guys are saying. I have always had a very heavy right hand and if I take a 52 down to C it will flap and make all kind of noise. If you learned to play correctly you can pull it off.
Mediums work just fine too and they are in the mid 50's range I believe. When you get the guage up in the mid-upper 60's ("bass" string range)you start to change the instrument as refered to by Temp.
These lower tunings are fun and do give another spectrum to what you can play. I'm still in love with my 2080D and it's going on 3 months now, almost a record! |
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December 2003
Posts: 13987
Location: Upper Left USA | :) |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Hopefully my 2080D 6 & 12 will show up before Christmas....HO HO LOOOOOOOOOOO :D |
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September 2006
Posts: 54
Location: Kingston Ontario | I picked up a Dano electric baritone a few years ago. It is tuned to B. When I go out to a new jam and take it along, nobody can understand why my chords and their's don't agree. My E fingering is their B.
If you get tired of playing it as a baritone, you can capo it at the 5th fret. Now you have a regular guitar. It will rattle anything not tied down in the house. |
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February 2004
Posts: 2487
| Yep I have to find one of these now. Ohh God will it ever end????????? |
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April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Randy, if you just want to tune down to a "D", any of the older Adamas guitars really hold their tuning well and sound terrific. Maybe the newer ones hold their tune as well, but I don't own any of them to test. |
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February 2004
Posts: 2487
| I am tunnnig down one whole note now to a D already. I have songs that were recorded in this tuning so this is needed. I love the way I can play bar chords now for the Jethro Tull songs with a Capo. the strings are so soft I do not kill myself after "Living in the Past" is done.
I am experimenting with some original songs in alternate tunings that test the bottom end of these Adamas's now. So I think a barritone would be a great way to experiment with something new.
I can't do anything until I sell my 1769 Custom Legend though. And buy an Adamas 2 that I need very much! Then I have to find more things to sell and I will go for a deep toned guitar. |
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September 2006
Posts: 54
Location: Kingston Ontario | I have a Dano electric baritone. It's good for some material but not full time. The neck is so long that my left arm gets tired pretty quickly.
I usually capo it at he 5th fret so that it plays like a normal guitar, then remove the capo for the baritone sound.
The rest of the guys won't look at me when I play it since it is tuned to B and they sometimes forget it which leads to some interesting sounds. |
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Baritones
