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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
 Posted - 05/14/2004 : 12:17:31 AM
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I just picked up a used mahogany Baby Taylor but don't know much about it. It has extra light strings on it (a little twangy) and I was wonder what the other baby Taylor players used or preferred.
I'm hoping they let me carry it on board the plane to Maui next month!
Mahalo,
Jesse Tinsley
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Gary A
Lokahi
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2004 : 12:53:12 AM
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I've got a spruce Baby Taylor. Baby Taylors come from the factory with light gauge strings (E is a .012). I know what you mean about it sounding like the strings are too light.
I've been tempted to put on some heavier strings, but Taylor recommends against putting on anything other than lights if you're using a standard tuning:
http://www.taylorguitars.com/guitars/reference/faqs_answers.html#faq9
I've carried on a Baby Taylor a number of times and have had no problems.
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Gary |
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cpatch
Ahonui
USA
2187 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2004 : 01:13:12 AM
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| Try Elixir Polyweb Lights...I haven't tried them on a Baby Taylor but I have on a Larrivee Parlor which is similar in size. The effect of the coating on the sound of the strings sounds good on the smaller body and cuts down on the twang. Plus you have all the playing benefits of the coating as well (long string life, smoother slides)! |
Craig
My goal is to be able to play as well as people think I can. |
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Gary A
Lokahi
USA
169 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2004 : 01:25:35 AM
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You got me wondering how much heavier I could go on the strings on my Baby Taylor when I slack it to Taro Patch tuning.
There's a string tension calculator at:
http://www.mcdonaldstrings.com/stringxxiii.html
The Baby Taylor has a 22.75 inch scale length. I punched in the scale length and string gauges and got the following:
Note-Gauge - Tension (lb)
E - 0.012 - 18.5
B - 0.016 - 18.6
G - 0.024 - 26.5
D - 0.032 - 23.9
A - 0.042 - 22.6
E - 0.052 - 19.5
Total ---- 129.6
When you slack it to Taro Patch tuning then you get the following:
D - 0.012 - 14.7
B - 0.016 - 18.6
G - 0.024 - 26.5
D - 0.032 - 23.9
G - 0.042 - 17.99
D - 0.052 - 15.5
Total ---- 117.19
You can bump the 1st, 5th and 6th strings up to heavier gauges and still not exceed the tension when using lights in standard tuning:
D - 0.013 - 16.8 (0.014 results in 19.9)
B - 0.016 - 18.6
G - 0.024 - 26.5
D - 0.032 - 23.9
G - 0.046 - 21.58
D - 0.056 - 18.7
Total ---- 126.08
If you retune the heavier strings back to standard tuning you end up increasing the torque on the top by about 10%:
E - 0.013 - 21.1
B - 0.016 - 18.6
G - 0.024 - 26.5
D - 0.032 - 23.9
A - 0.046 - 27.2
E - 0.056 - 23.6
Total ---- 140.8
And for comparison, when you move from the Elixir lights to mediums (which Taylor advises against) you get the following:
E - 0.013 - 21.1
B - 0.017 - 20.8
G - 0.026 - 28.8
D - 0.034 - 27.5
A - 0.045 - 26.3
E - 0.056 - 23.6
Total ---- 148.1
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Gary |
Edited by - Gary A on 05/14/2004 01:44:49 AM |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 05/14/2004 : 9:04:24 PM
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Wow! Thanks for the all the info, especially Gary's research on alternative string guages.
I bought the used guitar to haul to Maui (a two-year-old in the other hand) and it was only about $175 with a hard case. I'm amazed at the tone it puts out, though it's a little quiet on the very low end.
On the same day I bought it, while I was trying to thickness a ukulele fretboard, I stuck my middle finger of my right hand in the table saw (just a nick!)and now I have to wait for it to heal to get back to slackin'.
There's a reason why the great guitar players are not builders.
Jesse Tinsley |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 05/15/2004 : 12:14:51 AM
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| Don't forget, Sonny Chillingworth played quite well even with a less than fully functional hand. |
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hapakid
Luna Ho`omalu
USA
1533 Posts |
Posted - 05/15/2004 : 12:23:29 PM
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Hi Ray,
I'm not familiar with the story of Sonny's hand. What happened?
Also, for others with baby Taylors, is the third string a wound string on the standard light set? I think mine must have extra lights because mine has an unwound third. Very twangy.
Thanks! Jesse Tinsley |
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wdf
Ha`aha`a
USA
1153 Posts |
Posted - 05/15/2004 : 12:24:05 PM
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| I have an early baby mahogany (with the large "snow plow" brace above the sound hole). It also has the molded hardshell case. I've used mediums on it for quite a while and it seems to work OK. However I may switch to lights for a while to see how it reacts. |
Dusty |
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donley
Aloha
USA
26 Posts |
Posted - 05/22/2004 : 11:07:58 PM
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In general, the shorter the scale, the heavier the string. I play mediums on my baby taylor. It can well handle the stress, and I have also had the braces shaved by a professional luthier to allow the top a little more freedom. I have been playing it for 4 or 5 years now it plays fine and sounds better.
donley |
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