stringdriventhing
C.O.G. 
Posts: 1,874 
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Jan 14, 2016 16:06:13 GMT
I've just taken delivery of a Vintage "Paul Brett" Viaten tenor guitar. I was hoping to use this as a replacement for a cheapo tenor guitar that I play in GDAE tuning. The Viaten has come tuned to CGDA with lighter strings. I also notice that the guitar doesn't have truss rod. So my question is, have you tried your Viaten with heavier strings for GDAE. I was thinking of trying these ones on it, which I use on my other tenor: www.amazon.co.uk/John-Pearse-450L-Guitar-Strings/dp/B003ULX6UW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1452787399&sr=8-3&keywords=tenor+guitar+stringsI would also value the input of luthiers or those otherwise in the know about such things. I don't want to wreck this little guitar by putting heavier strings on, but I also don't want to keep it in CGDA. Cheers, Stringy |
|
davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Luthier
Aemulor et ambitiosior
Posts: 3,548
|
Post by davewhite on Jan 14, 2016 16:24:38 GMT
What's the scale length of the Viaten and what were the string gauges on it when it came in the CGDA tuning? I can work out for you what string gauges would give the same tension in GDAE tuning.
|
|
|
|
Post by scorpiodog on Jan 14, 2016 17:06:26 GMT
Sorry, Stringy, I play it in CGDA. I like the chord voicings that come with that tuning when played with a standard tuned 6 string. I have a bouzouki in GDAE, so I prefer to keep the Viaten tuned higher, so I don't know the answer to your question. I'll be interested to know what the answer is, though.
Edit: Do you mean you tune the tenor higher than CGDA at GDAE? If so, isn't that the same tuning as a mandolin? Where's the advantage? Do you like the longer sustain of the tenor?
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,874
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Jan 14, 2016 17:11:52 GMT
What's the scale length of the Viaten and what were the string gauges on it when it came in the CGDA tuning? I can work out for you what string gauges would give the same tension in GDAE tuning. Brilliant! Thank you  I literally only just had the thing delivered at work, but I will check the scale length tonight. I'll go into my friendly local guitar shop on the way home and get them to check the string guages and get back to you later on. Cheers, Stringy |
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,874
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Jan 14, 2016 17:17:28 GMT
Sorry, Stringy, I play it in CGDA. I like the chord voicings that come with that tuning when played with a standard tuned 6 string. I have a bouzouki in GDAE, so I prefer to keep the Viaten tuned higher, so I don't know the answer to your question. I'll be interested to know what the answer is, though. Edit: Do you mean you tune the tenor higher than CGDA at GDAE? If so, isn't that the same tuning as a mandolin? Where's the advantage? Do you like the longer sustain of the tenor? I play the tenor in GDAE with the band on a few songs, including an original one I wrote. As I also play mandolin, it's convenient for me to have it in the same tuning (but an octave lower). I like some of the unusual chord voicings you can get on the tenor. I've nothing against CGDA tuning, in fact, if I decide to keep my old one I might put that in CGDA, but I really need a half-decent tenor in GDAE. The other daft thing I've done in purchasing the Viaten is not realising that the sound hole is tiny. There goes my plan of moving my soundhole pickup from the Tonewood to the Viaten - doh!  Oh well, I can always get a K&K fitted down the line if I decide it's a keeper, and I've got a decent contact mic which will do for now. |
|
|
|
Post by scorpiodog on Jan 14, 2016 17:20:43 GMT
Aha! Thanks Stringy, that satisfies my curiosity.
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,874
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Jan 14, 2016 17:47:49 GMT
What's the scale length of the Viaten and what were the string gauges on it when it came in the CGDA tuning? I can work out for you what string gauges would give the same tension in GDAE tuning. Hi davewhite - the scale length is 22" - the currenct CGDA strings are 32, 22, 14, 10 Thanks a million for offering to check this for me :-) |
|
davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Luthier
Aemulor et ambitiosior
Posts: 3,548
|
Post by davewhite on Jan 14, 2016 18:30:45 GMT
Those string gauges for CGDA tuning give a total tension of 77lb for a 22 inch scale length. This goes:
C 32w (18.0 lb)
G 22w (19.0 lb)
D 14 (18.8 lb)
A 10 (21.5 lb)
If you go to GDAE then this should get you close (80.3lb total tension):
G 45w (20.1 lb)
D 39w (20.1 lb)
A 20w (19.7 lb)
E 14 (20.4 lb)
If you don't want the wound 20 then a plain 18 string will do.
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,874
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Jan 14, 2016 19:38:00 GMT
Those string gauges for CGDA tuning give a total tension of 77lb for a 22 inch scale length. This goes: C 32w (18.0 lb) G 22w (19.0 lb) D 14 (18.8 lb) A 10 (21.5 lb) If you go to GDAE then this should get you close (80.3lb total tension): G 45w (20.1 lb) D 39w (20.1 lb) A 20w (19.7 lb) E 14 (20.4 lb) If you don't want the wound 20 then a plain 18 string will do. Thanks so much Dave - yer a star! Guess what I'll be buying tomorrow? A 14 sounds a bit ouchy, but I guess if the tension is the same I won't notice much. Thanks again! |
|
davewhite
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Luthier
Aemulor et ambitiosior
Posts: 3,548
|
Post by davewhite on Jan 15, 2016 10:17:37 GMT
Those gauges should get you in the ballpark but you can experiment from there. Try a 12 or 13 on the first string - the tension will be lower but if the intonation holds OK with your playing style then that's a result for you.
|
|
Martin
Administrator
Posts: 11,994
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"http://mandocello.org/lytebox/images/adirondack.jpg","color":""}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 0a530b
Mini-Profile Text Color: 4f3517
|
Post by Martin on Jan 15, 2016 10:47:34 GMT
|
|
minorkey
C.O.G.
On book 3 of the Guitarist's Way, thanks Keith
Posts: 3,691
My main instrument is: a 20 year old Fender DG-5 Dreadnought named Tilly
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd99"}
|
Post by minorkey on Apr 2, 2016 22:17:56 GMT
Viaten, rather than Viator? Is this a uke or a tenor guitar?
|
|
Martin
Administrator
Posts: 11,994
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"http://mandocello.org/lytebox/images/adirondack.jpg","color":""}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 0a530b
Mini-Profile Text Color: 4f3517
|
Post by Martin on Apr 4, 2016 9:31:15 GMT
Viaten, rather than Viator? Is this a uke or a tenor guitar? It's a tenor guitar. |
|
leoroberts
C.O.G.
Posts: 26,130
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
|
Post by leoroberts on Apr 4, 2016 13:31:56 GMT
I saw a guitbrett Viator (first time I've seen one 'in the wild') at The Music Store in the Trafford Centre. I nearly had a fit when I saw it was only £39.99 - but was then mightily disappointed when I found out that this was the price for the stool on which it was reclining...  I bought neither.  |
|
I literally only just had the thing delivered at work, but I will check the scale length tonight. I'll go into my friendly local guitar shop on the way home and get them to check the string guages and get back to you later on.
Oh well, I can always get a K&K fitted down the line if I decide it's a keeper, and I've got a decent contact mic which will do for now.
Jo whoever he is.
