Unwound D

[Yew]

hey guys. I have a random urge to try an Unwound d-string on my guitar.. Has anyone ever tried this? what was it like?

[L5Larry]

I would think an unwound "D" string would be so loud as to make it impossible to get a balanced blend of notes from strumming a chord. I've never heard of trying such a thing.

 

Even "G" strings were wound until the advent of string bending single note solos of rock & roll in the sixties.

[flyingarmadillo]

I would also guess you'd have intonation problems similar to the ones that happen on some guitars on the G string. You'd probably also have to do a complete setup again, the tension would be completely different with a plain D.

[tbonesullivan]

i've never seen nor heard of one. I don't even think they make an unwound string thick enough for a D with any kind of real tension. it would also be close to impossible to deal with.

[Jimbo]

Can you get an unwound D? didn't know that.My assumption is that an unwound D would be susceptible to the issues that the unwound G can sometimes be at heavier gauges (ie a bit flat and klunky".My suspicion is that the guys who say it would need intonation and polepiece adjustments are right-Plus the slots would be cut for wound ?-No one seems to have tried it though..............

[Rame]

I would think you would have some intonation problems but it would be interesting to see/hear how it turns out. I imagine the guys that use a Nashville tuning have to deal with the same thing.

 

Nashville Tuning:

http://www.guitartips.addr.com/tip164.html