Gold Tone c6th string gauge suggestions

[Larry Lenhart]

Just got a Gold Tone 8 string model and changing the tuning on it (I think it was a F6) to C6th

Currently I am trying to tune it up using: 12, 14, 17,21,24 30 36 42 with the bottom four being wound.

But to tune it G E C A G E C A the top strings seem too tight

What gauges do you guys use...its a 25 inch scale

Thanks and sorry if its a dumb old question. Im just a dum ol Okie

[Stephen Cowell]

John Ely is the boss of string gauges:

https://www.hawaiiansteel.com/graphics/ ... _chart.pdf

I used his chart for my 21" E13... came out great, I went for the heavy end of course, being so short. You're on the long end, so I'd go for the thin end-ish:

G .010
E .014
C .017
A .021
G .024w
E .030w
C .036w
A .042w

The Scotty's set is several steps heavier:
Gauges: .015, .018, .022P, .024SL, .030SL, .036SL, .042SL, .054SL

They don't list the notes, but ACEGACEG is pretty standard I'd think.

John Pearce is a little lighter on top where I'd be worried about a 15 on high G:
011 014 018 024w 030w 036w 046w 056w.

GHS completely copies Scotty's. Asher (Electro-Hawaiian) offers these gauges:
.015P .017P .020P .024P .028W .036W .048W .068W
... for these three separate tunings!

asher c6.png

That .015 is being asked to spread a full fourth! Warranted though, I guess.

As you can tell it's a wild wild world out there, choose judiciously.

[Larry Lenhart]

Thanks, thats exactly what I was looking for.