I was given a ply Kay archtop from the states as a birthday present and have decided to have a play around with it and do a bit of work on it (floating pickup, fretboard might need some sanding/ planing from the 14th fret, frets etc). I'm planning on chucking some D'Daddario XL Chrome 52s (Flatwounds) on it. Would it be inadvisable to string up a guitar like this from the sixties with 12s to 52s?
Stu
String Tension on Archtop
- needsmorecowbel
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Re: String Tension on Archtop
Freddie Green played rhythm before pickups. His action was high and his stings were thick. As long as you don't cut a hole in the top it should be ok. But with a pickup you won't need fencing wire. The link has some interesting thoughts about his sound.
http://www.freddiegreen.org/instruments/setup.html
http://www.freddiegreen.org/instruments/setup.html
"Were you drying your nails or waving me good bye?" Tom Waits
Bill
Bill
- needsmorecowbel
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Re: String Tension on Archtop
Cheers for the advice. I'm only planning on a floating pickup or one mounted to the end of the fretboard.
Stu
Stu
- ozziebluesman
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Re: String Tension on Archtop
G'day Stu,
I run 12s to 53 Nanoweb 80s 20s bronze Elixirs on my Archie. Very good volume and no fret noise. I have a K&K dual transducer on my as well and like the tone very much. The pickup is easy enough to fit and the two tranducers are glued on the inside at the middle of the F holes. My other Archie commission had the Kent Armstrong pickup fitted at the fingerboard. Didn't like that sound myself. No guts IMO.
Cheers
Alan
PS Nice present
I run 12s to 53 Nanoweb 80s 20s bronze Elixirs on my Archie. Very good volume and no fret noise. I have a K&K dual transducer on my as well and like the tone very much. The pickup is easy enough to fit and the two tranducers are glued on the inside at the middle of the F holes. My other Archie commission had the Kent Armstrong pickup fitted at the fingerboard. Didn't like that sound myself. No guts IMO.
Cheers
Alan
PS Nice present
"Play to express, not to impress"
Alan Hamley
http://www.hamleyfineguitars.com/
Alan Hamley
http://www.hamleyfineguitars.com/
Re: String Tension on Archtop
Moved your topic to the main forum Stu where it will attract more user attention.
Cheers
Kim
Cheers
Kim
Re: String Tension on Archtop
Hard to tell from the near straight on photo, but the bridge does not look very high, break angle is not large so you probably won't be putting a lot of stress on the top, should be ok
- needsmorecowbel
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Re: String Tension on Archtop
Cheers Kim. Thanks Guys I'll post a better pic from the bridge side on tomorrow
Stu
Stu
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