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  #1  
Old 09-12-2015, 07:53 AM
worthathousand worthathousand is offline
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Default Tenor Guitar Tuning Conundrum

I just finished building a tenor guitar and put on some D'Addario J66 strings. All is fine except for string 1.

According to what I've seen online, it should tune up to C3, G3, D4, A4, which I expected to be ascending notes from the C below middle to the A above. However, string 1 would simply not go that high. It topped out at F# and broke.

I put it back on and tuned it up to A3 where it is reasonably happy, but this means the tuning goes up from C3 to D4 and then back down to A3, which is functional, but kind of odd.

Is this correct, or have I got a defective string?
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  #2  
Old 09-12-2015, 10:55 AM
Wistah Wistah is offline
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What's the scale length? On my Blueridge BR-40T, I can get the high A with the J66 set. You have to tune it slow, bit by bit. And it will still break from time to time. I carry a package of extra .010 strings with me to each gig, just in case.

The scale length on the blueridge is 22.75 inches. If your scale length is longer than that, you will have a very tough time getting the high A. You could try a lighter gauge string...If your scale length is longer, you could try down tuning a half step or more.
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  #3  
Old 09-22-2015, 06:22 AM
worthathousand worthathousand is offline
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Ah, my scale length is 25". I figured I'd be OK with the tuning because on the pack of strings, it says that the tension measurements are based on a 25 1/2" scale, so I assumed my tuning would match.

For now, I'll just leave string 1 the octave lower. Sort of an inverse ukulele thing.

D'Addario was kind enough to replace my broken string.

Thanks very much for the insight.
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  #4  
Old 04-15-2023, 06:25 PM
s11141827 s11141827 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by worthathousand View Post
I just finished building a tenor guitar and put on some D'Addario J66 strings. All is fine except for string 1.

According to what I've seen online, it should tune up to C3, G3, D4, A4, which I expected to be ascending notes from the C below middle to the A above. However, string 1 would simply not go that high. It topped out at F# and broke.

I put it back on and tuned it up to A3 where it is reasonably happy, but this means the tuning goes up from C3 to D4 and then back down to A3, which is functional, but kind of odd.

Is this correct, or have I got a defective string?
I think maybe the tuner might be sharp. I think tuning it down a fourth to GDAE w/ John Pearse #450 strings should take care of it plus you'll get a mellower Jazzy sound.
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  #5  
Old 04-15-2023, 06:27 PM
s11141827 s11141827 is offline
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Default Figured it out



Actually Tenor Guitars have a 23 in scale & the tension measurements are based on a 23 in scale. Keep in mind that the Tenor Guitar scale length needs to be 23 inches (or less) to help keep the tension of the High A String down.
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  #6  
Old 04-15-2023, 06:29 PM
Italuke Italuke is offline
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Tune it like a baritone uke. Then it'll actually get played.
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  #7  
Old 04-15-2023, 06:29 PM
s11141827 s11141827 is offline
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Default Figured it out

The old J66 String set used a 25.5 in scale for the tension measurements but that's a a Standard 6 string Scale Length, it's way too long for the High A String. Tenor Guitars usually have a Shorter scale length that matches that of a Tenor Banjo at 23 inches so the newer version (renamed as EJ66) now uses 23 in scale for tension measurements.
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  #8  
Old 04-15-2023, 06:31 PM
s11141827 s11141827 is offline
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Default Update

Quote:
Originally Posted by worthathousand View Post
Ah, my scale length is 25". I figured I'd be OK with the tuning because on the pack of strings, it says that the tension measurements are based on a 25 1/2" scale, so I assumed my tuning would match.

For now, I'll just leave string 1 the octave lower. Sort of an inverse ukulele thing.

D'Addario was kind enough to replace my broken string.

Thanks very much for the insight.
Actually the old set said 25.5 inches but that's a Standard 6 string Guitar Scale Length. Tenor Guitars usually have a Shorter Scale Length like a Tenor Banjo at 23 inches or less so a Shorter scale length helps. However if you have a scale length longer than 23 inches &/or having issues w/ the High A String breaking, you can always drop the tuning down a couple of steps. I used GDAE Tuning w/ John Pearse #450 strings & none of them broke because the tension is lower so they feel easier.
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  #9  
Old 04-15-2023, 07:35 PM
frankmcr frankmcr is offline
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Default C G D A:

.036 .024 .016 .010

Can vary slightly according to scale length.
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  #10  
Old 04-16-2023, 06:21 AM
Steve DeRosa Steve DeRosa is offline
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Try an .028/.018/.012/.008 custom set - JustStrings.com has the strings you need in bulk, for less than what you'd pay for a few EJ66 sets...
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  #11  
Old 04-16-2023, 08:23 AM
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birdsong birdsong is offline
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Well the original post was 2015 so the OP may not be seeing this now.
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  #12  
Old 04-16-2023, 11:52 AM
frankmcr frankmcr is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by birdsong View Post
Well the original post was 2015 so the OP may not be seeing this now.
Argh, caught again.

I wonder if it would be possible to just lock threads that have not been posted on for five years or thereabouts.
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  #13  
Old 08-24-2023, 06:17 AM
s11141827 s11141827 is offline
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Default Figured it out

Actually the J66 String set had a typo on it, the tension measurements are actually based around a 23 inch scale not a 25.5 in scale.
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  #14  
Old 08-24-2023, 06:18 AM
s11141827 s11141827 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by worthathousand View Post
Ah, my scale length is 25". I figured I'd be OK with the tuning because on the pack of strings, it says that the tension measurements are based on a 25 1/2" scale, so I assumed my tuning would match.

For now, I'll just leave string 1 the octave lower. Sort of an inverse ukulele thing.

D'Addario was kind enough to replace my broken string.

Thanks very much for the insight.
Actually the scale length measurements were outdated, they're based around a 23 inch scale length. Tenor Guitars usually have a 23 (or less) inch scale length like a Tenor Banjo so it needs to be shorter in order to get that High A4.
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