20" scale string gauge - Cigar Box Nation2024-03-29T13:09:11Zhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/20-scale-string-gauge-1?commentId=2592684%3AComment%3A3000528&feed=yes&xn_auth=nowhat i intend to do is to tak…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2017-12-09:2592684:Comment:30028532017-12-09T14:17:57.010ZTimothy Hunterhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/TimothyHunter
<p>what i intend to do is to take the ADGCEA, drop the high A leaving me with ADGCE... now add in a thicker string(56) will now be EADGCE. if i detune the C to B... i now have EADGBE or standard tuning with thicker strings at a 500mm scale length.... because i have a 6 string neck prebuilt that is this scale length...</p>
<p>it should work. i hope.. </p>
<p>what i intend to do is to take the ADGCEA, drop the high A leaving me with ADGCE... now add in a thicker string(56) will now be EADGCE. if i detune the C to B... i now have EADGBE or standard tuning with thicker strings at a 500mm scale length.... because i have a 6 string neck prebuilt that is this scale length...</p>
<p>it should work. i hope.. </p> Thanks for the compliment Unc…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2017-12-09:2592684:Comment:30028102017-12-09T04:54:07.432ZAngry Rooster Guitarshttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/BobPugh
<p>Thanks for the compliment Uncle John!</p>
<p>Thanks for the compliment Uncle John!</p> Guys, this has all been very…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2017-12-09:2592684:Comment:30029022017-12-09T04:45:57.126ZAngry Rooster Guitarshttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/BobPugh
<p>Guys, this has all been very helpful. I am now a wiser cbg builder. My first instinct was too use lighter gauge strings, but now that I've processed all of this in my mind, it all makes sense. Thanks again!</p>
<p>Guys, this has all been very helpful. I am now a wiser cbg builder. My first instinct was too use lighter gauge strings, but now that I've processed all of this in my mind, it all makes sense. Thanks again!</p> Putting a capo or fretting an…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2017-12-08:2592684:Comment:30027072017-12-08T20:58:10.939ZPaul Craighttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/PaulCraig
<p>Putting a capo or fretting any position on the fretboard only changes pitch and not string tension. The tension when tuning to the set pitch stays the same. The tension on the strings of a 25.5" scale and a 20" scale are just not the same.</p>
<p>I was wrong about about the strings being too tight. I had it backwards. The light gauge would be flabby on the short scale unless tuned to the higher pitch like you were talking about.</p>
<p>My Dulcitar and the 3-string PVC Bass I built are 28"…</p>
<p>Putting a capo or fretting any position on the fretboard only changes pitch and not string tension. The tension when tuning to the set pitch stays the same. The tension on the strings of a 25.5" scale and a 20" scale are just not the same.</p>
<p>I was wrong about about the strings being too tight. I had it backwards. The light gauge would be flabby on the short scale unless tuned to the higher pitch like you were talking about.</p>
<p>My Dulcitar and the 3-string PVC Bass I built are 28" scale with regular guitar strings. They are both tuned to Drop C. Any higher would make the strings too tight and possibly break. Any lower and the strings get flappy. These are light gauge and that helps for longer scale, but a shorter scale needs heavier gauge for the E tuning or just get the right strings for the scale you have.</p>
<p>You could use regular strings on a 24" scale, but 20" scale is going to be a big problem trying to get to the E/A/D/G/B/E tuning. This is why they make the short scale/tenor guitar strings, electric guitar/regular strings and longer scale/baritone strings.</p>
<p>Fender made some 24"scale guitars, and some as low as 22.5". The lower scale guitars always had the heavier gauge strings to get the tuning to pitch.</p> I built a 19.1" scale red oak…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2017-12-08:2592684:Comment:30026142017-12-08T20:19:19.664ZUncle Fredhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/UncleFred
<p>I built a 19.1" scale red oak box with a teak top and maple neck to fit in a Mandolin gig bag. It is tuned Low Open "G", G2D3G3, with .052"w, .032"w and .022" Ernie Ball strings tensioned to 20.0#, 17.0# & 14.3#. This is a great sounding guitar. I like the 14# high string for ease of picking and the short scale helps to keep the strings from stretching at the low tensions. They are much easier to pick at the lower tensions too.</p>
<p>I just got through playing…</p>
<p>I built a 19.1" scale red oak box with a teak top and maple neck to fit in a Mandolin gig bag. It is tuned Low Open "G", G2D3G3, with .052"w, .032"w and .022" Ernie Ball strings tensioned to 20.0#, 17.0# & 14.3#. This is a great sounding guitar. I like the 14# high string for ease of picking and the short scale helps to keep the strings from stretching at the low tensions. They are much easier to pick at the lower tensions too.</p>
<p>I just got through playing it on a Boss Katana 50 amp and both the guitar and amp sound awesome with incredible bass.</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306655001?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/306655001?profile=original" class="align-full" width="720"></a></p> Rooster, I believe you are a…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2017-12-08:2592684:Comment:30021872017-12-08T15:57:10.053ZUncle Johnhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/JohnBolton
<p>Rooster, I believe you are a good builder. Your stuff looks great. Of the answers here, JL kind of thought the way I do and was direct in one answer, telling you to use 6, 5, 4 - the big three strings from a six pack. That would work fine, I think if your desire is GDg tuning without overly loose strings. </p>
<p>Using 5, 4, 3 would work too, I've done it for short scales, but with electric strings, they were kind of lose in GDg. Tuned up to AEa was better. Using the 5, 4, 3, from a…</p>
<p>Rooster, I believe you are a good builder. Your stuff looks great. Of the answers here, JL kind of thought the way I do and was direct in one answer, telling you to use 6, 5, 4 - the big three strings from a six pack. That would work fine, I think if your desire is GDg tuning without overly loose strings. </p>
<p>Using 5, 4, 3 would work too, I've done it for short scales, but with electric strings, they were kind of lose in GDg. Tuned up to AEa was better. Using the 5, 4, 3, from a heavy acoustic 6 pack would likely be a good answer. </p>
<p>People here have said these guitars know what they want as far as strings and tuning and sometimes we have to figure that out by trial and error. I have found that to be true. And if you have a stout build, good tuners and good strings, you can crank those strings pretty high and tight. For example, my Swampy has the 5,4,3 strings and it is 25.5 inch scale. It is usually in GDG, but it likes AEa better and I have cranked it up to CGC and DAD which was TIGHT.</p> 25.5" scale EADGBE capo at 5t…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2017-12-08:2592684:Comment:30021072017-12-08T12:42:21.808ZJLhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/JL239
<p>25.5" scale EADGBE capo at 5th fret gives you ADGCEA at the same tension</p>
<p>19.10" scale (5th fret of a 25.5" scale) same strings tightened to identical tension gives you the same ADGCEA.</p>
<p>So I would select strings #6, #5, and #4 ADG and drop #6 to G for GDG at 19" or 20" inch scale and this does not put higher tension on the strings.</p>
<p>25.5" scale EADGBE capo at 5th fret gives you ADGCEA at the same tension</p>
<p>19.10" scale (5th fret of a 25.5" scale) same strings tightened to identical tension gives you the same ADGCEA.</p>
<p>So I would select strings #6, #5, and #4 ADG and drop #6 to G for GDG at 19" or 20" inch scale and this does not put higher tension on the strings.</p> I wasn't saying that a capo c…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2017-12-07:2592684:Comment:30013752017-12-07T18:04:08.441ZPaul Craighttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/PaulCraig
<p>I wasn't saying that a capo changes the tension. I said those notes at the 5th fret are higher than the regular tuning and trying to tune a short scale guitar to those notes would most likely break the strings because of the higher tension. It's hard enough to tune to regular pitch on a short scale with regular strings. That's why most people use a heavy gauge string or get Tenor strings for short scale guitars.</p>
<p>I wasn't saying that a capo changes the tension. I said those notes at the 5th fret are higher than the regular tuning and trying to tune a short scale guitar to those notes would most likely break the strings because of the higher tension. It's hard enough to tune to regular pitch on a short scale with regular strings. That's why most people use a heavy gauge string or get Tenor strings for short scale guitars.</p> under 22 1/2 your on your own…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2017-12-07:2592684:Comment:30014332017-12-07T17:41:33.033ZRTZGUITARShttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RTZGUITARS
<p>under 22 1/2 your on your own but regardless of anything on the net or you here from us hobo's here try different string to really find what each guitar likes.</p>
<p>under 22 1/2 your on your own but regardless of anything on the net or you here from us hobo's here try different string to really find what each guitar likes.</p> Rooster, I use the method tha…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2017-12-07:2592684:Comment:30012122017-12-07T13:51:52.166ZUncle Johnhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/JohnBolton
<p>Rooster, I use the method that R.L. told about. </p>
<p>Rooster, I use the method that R.L. told about. </p>