NEWB TO THE TG ( Please dont shoot. I come bearing gifts)

[RAGZDADDY]

Brand hammer new to the TG myself. But by no means new to the music scene. I won't bore you with the details of all that. But I wanted to introduce a new lovely I've added to my ridiculously extensive lineup of four string instruments. Yup ! My primary instrument at this point in life is Ukulele.

I've been hard tossing the TG thing in my head for some time now looking for one to come along that made sense. Considering the fact I am a ukulele player, the Kala KA-GTR came across my eyes. Hrrrmm?

Anyway. I now have Kala KA-GTR and am hugely impressed at this price point. Nope, didn't want to sink a ton in a TG until I knew it would be something I would add to the repertoire. Fell crazy mad over the thing. Cant put it down.

Never the less, I wanted to pass on some info in regard to stringing the little lovely DGBE (please done throw rocks).

I've a video review I did on the Kala KA-GTR I thought I'd toss in the pile.
Nope. I didn't just hap hazard toss any old string to see what would happen.
Much much much time and effort was invested in doing the math and speaking with
string engineers and pouring over specs. So this vid is what it the result.

Hope it helps just one, or maybe at least spur much more ado in regard to stringing.
Yes. I wanted to go with "Chicago" tuning from my first cerebral inceptions of considering a TG. Be as it may. Here is the vid link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMWVzNLix3I

[RAGZDADDY]

Ok. I have to ask. How does one post a vid in this forum with the player view if I may ask?

[bigmomma]

Wow. I am so glad I saw your post. I am considering buying a Kala-GTR but would like to tune it GDAE as I am coming from the mandolin. I've only been playing for a year and don't want to start from scratch in my learning. Do you know if this can be done? Also mind telling me where you got it, they are hard to find.
Thanks so much.

[fox]

Bigmomma, I am sure your question was answered on the thread you started, but yes you can tune a 21" tenor to GDAE but you would not be starting from scratch in CGDA anyway!
I have had my short scale tenor in GDAE, it was fine & sounded good but you need quite a heavy g string if you play it hard while strumming, this is not a problem at all, there are plenty of string sets available.

[RAGZDADDY]

Wow. I am so glad I saw your post. I am considering buying a Kala-GTR but would like to tune it GDAE as I am coming from the mandolin. I've only been playing for a year and don't want to start from scratch in my learning. Do you know if this can be done? Also mind telling me where you got it, they are hard to find.
Thanks so much.

Bought mine at www.ukerepublic.com. I know Mike McQueen quite well personally and he is mighty straight up. GDAE tuning seems to be possible according to most who endeavor. BUT...... I'd say NOT to just grab what one might think is a worthy guitar string set and string away.

I've been doing calculations all morning for someone else wanting proper progressive tuning in GDAE a well and to acquire progressive tension within the specs of the KA-GTR tension handling, it goes like this.

But in my not so humble opinion, I'd steer far and wide of attempting to tune the stock strings to anything other than stock tuning.

And as you will notice, the "G" string is NOT heavy and within tension compliance and safety for the TG. Paying extreme attention to string tension is critical. Although many would differ, but usually differ with shade tree method of, "Hey, that sound good and the sound board is still attached". lol

[RAGZDADDY]

I figured out how to get YT player to show in forum.

[RAGZDADDY]

Ok. I'll shoot some charts for tensions and tunings here..

STAYING VERY CLOSE TO THE MAXIMUM FAMILY STRING TENSION OF 83lbs (or under) IS KEY !
Meaning 20lbs per string for max. Minimum per string tension for maintaining projection would be about, no less than 15lbs.

DGBE best tension. The d'Addario EJ24 suits best.

Attachment 125237

[RAGZDADDY]

GDAE Custom individual strings needed to be acquired to achieve.

Attachment 125238

[RAGZDADDY]

CGDA Standard tuning

Obvisouly the d'Addarion J66 string set.

Attachment 125239

[bruce.b]

Looks like those gauges are for reentrant tuning. Everyone I know that plays GDAE uses linear tuning. Those gauges are very close to a GDAE tenor banjo set I have, except the G string is a 40.

[RAGZDADDY]

[RAGZDADDY]

Looks like those gauges are for reentrant tuning. Everyone I know that plays GDAE uses linear tuning. Those gauges are very close to a GDAE tenor banjo set I have, except the G string is a 40.

This is linear tuning. Look at the chart under "tuning". It is by no means re-entrant. Had it been re-entrant, I'd have surely mentioned it. The string tension on a PB .040 is 58.09 on that one string. WHEW ! Not on my baby is wont be. lol

Take a real close look at most guitar and other instrument sets and you'll see quite often a gauge expected on a lower pitched string is often times smaller than on a higher pitched string. It's about gauge yes, but more about tension brought to pitch than anything else in most cases.

Here is what it is with the .040 PB on board. YIKE !

[RAGZDADDY]

Sorry for not being allowed to share the tension calculating software with folks. But I am more than happy to post any results to any curiosities to the best of my ability and time allowances.

[fox]

I use CGDA 10 16 26 34 ... GDAE 14 22 32 42 on my Ozark 21.1/4 scale, pretty standard really, just a tad heaver that my 23" tenors.
I have tried .11 several times for the A but they don't last long even if you can get them to stretch!

[RAGZDADDY]

This is the tension on your .042 G string respectively. Exceeds the other three strings combined.

[RAGZDADDY]

I use CGDA 10 16 26 34 ... GDAE 14 22 32 42 on my Ozark 21.1/4 scale, pretty standard really, just a tad heaver that my 23" tenors.
I have tried .11 several times for the A but they don't last long even if you can get them to stretch!

Hey fox, for fun, I thought I'd plug in the numbers for your 21.25 scale Ozark.

Here ya go. 130.94lbs family string tension

Attachment 125242

[fox]

Unfortunately I cant see any of your attachments!
Whatever - it sounds good & everything seems to work well.
I have a .50 on my 20" banjo for the G.

[RAGZDADDY]

Really. Are you on a mobile. I uploaded jpeg. You can pm me if you like, and I'll email you the stuff I did on the GDAE and your 21.25 scale and the likes. lol

[RAGZDADDY]

Unfortunately I cant see any of your attachments!
Whatever - it sounds good & everything seems to work well.
I have a .50 on my 20" banjo for the G.

Really. Are you on a mobile. I uploaded jpeg. You can pm me if you like, and I'll email you the stuff I did on the GDAE and your 21.25 scale and the likes. lol

[Seonachan]

You want G2 for octave mando tuning, not G3. That's why the calculated tension is off the charts, and why Bruce suggested you were giving a re-entrant tuning.

[RAGZDADDY]

Here is your G2 tuning for progressive tensioning.

[RAGZDADDY]

Here is a pretty good setup, IMHO for tension specs and for sure you get to sets of strings in one pack for about 8 bux. Although, they are loop ended.

http://www.daddario.com/DADProductDe..._Medium__12_46

Here is what the tension looks like on the Kala GTR 21.375 scale.

[fox]

I think that after a period of time, most folk find a favourite set that works for them.
The individual instrument & its set up is obviously a major factor as does playing style & your preferred music genre.
Trying to bend a high tension string with your little finger takes practice but most of the pre packed string sets work well enough to get you playing with ease.

[RAGZDADDY]

I think that after a period of time, most folk find a favourite set that works for them.
The individual instrument & its set up is obviously a major factor as does playing style & your preferred music genre.
Trying to bend a high tension string with your little finger takes practice but most of the pre packed string sets work well enough to get you playing with ease.

Yuppers. It's all about mulit-faceted taste and talents for sure.
Me? I err on the side of caution and specs. Lol. Yet still get a great sound.
I just need to learn how to play the radio and I'd be happier and better for it. lol

[RAGZDADDY]

Installed a K and K Pure Mini passive pickup on the Kala KA-GTR a couple of weeks ago. Hugely happy and impressed.

A little on the tricky side to install though....