Tuning a "student" guitar??

[BloodRose]

Hey! A guy I work with (funny how since I started taking a guitar to work to practice on lunch, 5 guys have bought guitars.. ) anyhow, guy I work with bought this very low line student sized accoustic guitar. He is left handed, so he asked me to restring it reverse for him.. I did just that, even tho the Low E doesnt fit in the nut slot and all. Anyhow, Id like to tune it for him, but Im really afraid that it'll collapse under standard tuning.. The screws that hold the tuning key strips were loose out of the box and all. Anyhow, is there a normal tuning for a student size guitar? Or do you have suggestions?
Its very sad, they have on the box "professional quality " and all that.. that should be illegal.
Thanks for any input!

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Tuning a "student" guitar??

Size doesn't matter. It can handle standard A=440.

"Student" sized acoustics are so named because traditionally you'd begin learning/taking lessons as a child, hence the smaller size.

[cakire82]

Re: Tuning a "student" guitar??

What was the tuning he used before? If you tune it to the same pitch with same string gauge (same tension) it should not collapse.
What was the string gauge he was using before. If you stringed it with the same gauge you will need to widen the slot in the nut in order to fit the low E string.

[ehdwuld]

Re: Tuning a "student" guitar??

I always tuned the 3/4 scale guitars to F#
same as standard if capoed at 3rd fret
that way the chord forms would remain the same

[BloodRose]

Re: Tuning a "student" guitar??

What was the tuning he used before? If you tune it to the same pitch with same string gauge (same tension) it should not collapse.
What was the string gauge he was using before. If you stringed it with the same gauge you will need to widen the slot in the nut in order to fit the low E string.

Its new. he just got it and brought it straight to me. he is a lefty and its right handed.

I got it tuned to pitch (scary tho) and took a little rat tail file I have and opened up the not slot for the low e.. seems ok

thanks for the input

[Left_Hand_Strat]

Re: Tuning a "student" guitar??

for $150 he could get an Encore left hander...... i have one myself, good bits of kit.

[GuitarStv]

Re: Tuning a "student" guitar??

Can you take the nut out and reverse it for him? I wouldn't tune it if the strings aren't fitting in the slot . . . it'll be very frustrating for him if he starts playing and one of the strings slips off of the neck. As far as the tuning keys, just get a screwdriver and tighten them a little.