Well... it’s been a long time in the works but I finally got my first actual tenor guitar - the well known Kala KA-GTR. Now, I have a couple pseudo conversions (a Taylor 214 Deluxe and a Seagull Grand parlor, both with two strings removed but still full neck widths), but I have always been meaning to get a neck width correct tenor guitar and a good deal came my way on the Kala.
The Kala is in mint condition, looks like new. The seller mentioned that it was tuned to standard CGDA and that the strings were loosened for shipping purposes (my request). After letting it sit a day and then tuning it up, I was not impressed with the tone nor playability. There seemed to be quite a bit of neck relief resulting in a fairly hard action. I noticed when tuning it up that the plain strings seemed a bit tight and the wound strings a bit floppy. I played it a couple days as is with hopes I would get used to it and that the neck would settle thinking that perhaps having loose strings during shipping it just needed some time to find itself again. I was not liking it much at all.
So, it was time to start experimenting and see if I could find a happy medium. I loosened the strings a bit and adjusted the neck relief. Ok, that was a bit better for playability, but the tone just sounded very thin. I know these are pretty well liked so wanted to keep trying. I got out the digital calipers and the strings measured .012, .015, .022, .030. The add read that these had Daddario tenor guitar strings on it so I assumed J66’s - but the gauges didn’t exactly match. The .012 and .030 didn’t match up. I also noticed some off intonation issues when tuned to CGDA, especially when capo’d.
So, on a whim I thought what would this sound like tuned DGBE. I didn’t have anything to loose to try it, right. Looking at the string gauges that were on there I know I would safe to do so, perhaps just a bit on the floppy side. After tuning it down to DGBE, the tone really jumped out on this! It sounded so sweet in this tuning. Immediately I could see why this low cost tenor guitar is well liked. I adjusted the truss rod slightly and have been playing the heck out of it, loving it more with every tune. With the lower string tension, the sustain is amazing and I may not even move up to a more medium gauge string set. All in all what turned out to almost be a purchase regret turned into one of the best deals I ever made. Bad thing is, now that I have my first actual tenor guitar and loving the feel of the four string neck, I know I will soon need a higher quality instrument... I will need to tell my wife...
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