Gundel - Posted - 05/05/2009:  13:22:49

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Hi there,
i bought a roundneck dobro, but now I decided to play it like a bluegrass-dobro lap-style with the tuning GBDGBD.
Do I need new strings? Or do I only need to buy a nut extender? What kind of nut extender is a good one to buy? Is it complicated to attach the nut extender? What about the tension to the instrument, when I put the strings in the tuning GBDGBD- is it bad for my dobro? What kind of slider is the best to buy? Do many Beginners start on a round neck? Is the sound much more worse than the sound of a square neck?
These are lots of questions, and I would be very happy, if you can help me!
Lots of regards from austria,
Uwe

Mule - Posted - 05/05/2009:  14:18:44

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quote:

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Originally posted by Gundel

Hi there,
i bought a roundneck dobro, but now I decided to play it like a bluegrass-dobro lap-style with the tuning GBDGBD.
Do I need new strings? Or do I only need to buy a nut extender? What kind of nut extender is a good one to buy? Is it complicated to attach the nut extender? What about the tension to the instrument, when I put the strings in the tuning GBDGBD- is it bad for my dobro? What kind of slider is the best to buy? Do many Beginners start on a round neck? Is the sound much more worse than the sound of a square neck?
These are lots of questions, and I would be very happy, if you can help me!
Lots of regards from austria,
Uwe

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Not to throw water in your face, but remember alot of good Dobro brand round necks are ruined by using the nut extender. This raises the strings to a higher leverage elevation and the neck is not sturdy enough for it and will fail and warp with a foward bow. That's why they make square necks...

If your just learning, and deciding which instrument you like best, pick up a cheapie square neck and then you'll have both....try rondomusic.com you can pick up a square neck for under $200 or do what I did first, I bought a old Harmony classical guitar that the neck was already bowed. Bought it on ebay for $40, put a nut extender on it and medium strings. I warned everyone not to get to close as it might explode...haha.....sounds really good, but I didnt ruin a expensive guitar...

To answer your question strings for 135135 GBDGBD are heavier than standard guitar guages.....particularly the trebles.

disty - Posted - 05/06/2009:  07:25:05

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Hallo Uwe,
ich würde dir auch raten - lass die Finger von den Nut Extendern. Die höhere Saitenlage gepaart mit der höheren Spannung machen dir wahrscheinlich mittel- bis langfristig den Hals kaputt. Oder, wenn Nut Extender, dann tiefer stimmen (F oder sogar E).

Mule - Posted - 05/13/2009:  11:25:24

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quote:

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Originally posted by disty

Hallo Uwe,
ich würde dir auch raten - lass die Finger von den Nut Extendern. Die höhere Saitenlage gepaart mit der höheren Spannung machen dir wahrscheinlich mittel- bis langfristig den Hals kaputt. Oder, wenn Nut Extender, dann tiefer stimmen (F oder sogar E).

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Sorry I couldnt read your language....but that's a nice look'n regal tricone......I really like playing fingerstyle on my round nec. I'm getting better at rolls, converting banjo rolls. For rythmn, I've converted to Pro Pik Finger Tone and a Fred Kelly speed pick.....This allows me to do occassional frails, and Im getting better but still struggle some with rythmn chops...

crh1 - Posted - 05/13/2009:  11:38:56

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I have a round neck 1974 that has been set up as a square neck since 1978.
I haven't had any problems with it.
I realize it could develope neck issues down the road, but I don't see any right now.
Beard put his 29 strings on it.

Mule - Posted - 05/13/2009:  18:54:46

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quote:

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Originally posted by crh1

I have a round neck 1974 that has been set up as a square neck since 1978.
I haven't had any problems with it.
I realize it could develope neck issues down the road, but I don't see any right now.
Beard put his 29 strings on it.

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I purchased a blonde round neck OMI in the 70's ....I soon realized that the strings could not be lowered to a comfortable level.... I took it to OKC to Don Teter (Martin Repairman) he took the neck off and gave it a traditional 3deg angle.. The guitars stock neck did not have a back angle to it. so when the strings went over the saddle they where too high IMO ......Said all of that to say, it doesnt take much neck warpage to loose what little angle you have, when using a nut extender....just keep a eye on your fingerboard straightness....

My National round neck model D has a thick neck and would probably withstand a nut extender. But I plan on picking up a standard square neck when one lands in my lap at the right price. .

DNickell - Posted - 05/29/2009:  06:52:18

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I tried putting the extender on my round neck and it played like a squareneck, sort of. But, my round neck is a biscuit cone--which sound great for blues, but sucks for bluegrass. To my ears, you really need a spider cone to play bluegrass. Round necks come in spider, biscuit and tricone, and I don't know which you have.

It may be my limitations as a player, but it seems to me that if you don't have the right instrument for the kind of music you are wanting to play, it will always be a compromise.

rexhunt - Posted - 06/09/2009:  05:38:37

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You really should get strings designed for Bluegrass tuning and the extender nut. Don't worry too much about the neck - modern ones have a truss rod and the old ones were like telephone poles. Oswald managed just fine with a round neck for most of his career and Josh would play one from time to time too.

Rex