BlowingRockNC - Posted - 08/11/2014:  05:12:21

I wanted to ask the experts here, even though my questions involve a tenor guitar. It is a 1935 Cromwell GT-4 made by Gibson (it was one of Gibson's house brands). It is virtually identical to the similar Gibson model, with one exception. The Cromwell doesn't have a truss rod in the neck. The neck is solid mahogany. The neck is perfectly straight and in good order, even after almost 80 years now. In fact, the guitar is in excellent shape as well. It's an archtop. First question: Given how long it has lasted without any neck problems, should I be ok vis-a-vis the neck on a go forward basis, assuming I use appropriate strings? It would seem so to me, but I really don't know. Second, I plan to tune it DGBD like my banjos, and it has a 23" scale length similar to an A-Scale. My plan is to use the same size strings on the Cromwell as I currently use on my A-Scale banjo, only maybe use a wound 3rd to go with the wound 4th. I need ball-end guitar strings. My plan would be use D'Addario singles, and probably use size .011 or .012 for the 1st sting; .013 or .014 for the 2nd string; .018w or .016 for the 3rd; and .024w for the 4th. I might vary one size up or down, but this is the general idea. This would match ball-end stings to the same size loop-ends I use on my banjo. Second question: Does this make sense? Third question: would these strings cause too much tension for neck without a truss rod? I really know little or nothing about all of this, which is why I'm asking. I'm really excited about getting the Cromwell, so I want to hit the ground running when it arrives. I want to protect the neck, while insuring that I get a decent tone while playing. I plan to mostly finger pick the same as I do on my banjos, possibly a tad of strumming (but surely not much). Oh, and the D'Addario wound strings are bronze. Thanks for any advice or comments. Bill.

beegee - Posted - 08/11/2014:  06:02:41

It was obviously made for steel strings, so use a set of lightweight strings and see what happens. The worst case is that neck bows, which would give an opportunity to install a truss rod.

Culloden - Posted - 08/11/2014:  06:03:05

Since a tenor guitar is designed to be tuned CGDA your method of tuning is going to cause less tension on the neck than it was designed for. My D'Addario tenor guitar strings are listed as .010, .014, .022, and .032 so the gauges you have listed sound reasonable for G chord tuning.

I do not see where you would have issues with the lack of a truss rod especially if the neck has remained straight all these years.

BlowingRockNC - Posted - 08/11/2014:  06:08:05

quote:

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Originally posted by Culloden

Since a tenor guitar is designed to be tuned CGDA your method of tuning is going to cause less tension on the neck than it was designed for. My D'Addario tenor guitar strings are listed as .010, .014, .022, and .032 so the gauges you have listed sound reasonable for G chord tuning.

I do not see where you would have issues with the lack of a truss rod especially if the neck has remained straight all these years.

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Mark, thanks for the comments, which really put me at ease. Thanks again.

mutantmoose - Posted - 08/11/2014:  06:28:09

I've got a Cromwell here that I'm restoring, and my only caution would be to check the thing over really well for cracked or popped braces.