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20" scale string gauge

What gauge strings are best for a 20" scale if I want to tune to GDG?

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on December 9, 2017 at 3:17am

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...

it should work. i hope..

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Permalink Reply by Angry Rooster Guitars on December 6, 2017 at 7:45am

I think the more I ask, the more I realize I know nothing about music.....which I know I know nothing. I guess I should say I don't play or never learned how to play any musical instrument in my life. I've built about 30 or so cigar box guitars. I've learned plenty about how to build them to make them play in tune with standard strings, but I'm sure I have a ton to learn before I start picking out strings to obtain the right sound. I need a music for dummies book. Thanks for all the help guys!!!

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Permalink Reply by Richard Dean on December 6, 2017 at 8:16am

Sometimes a simple answer is all you need, buy any brand of strings, size, acoustic, electric, colored strings from China for a buck, don't use the thickest one(E string) use the next 3 meant for A-D-G, guess what, 2 of them are all ready waiting to be tuned to what you want, the A, just stop at G before going all the way to A. Most standard strings will work from 19" scale through to 26" only consideration is, the shorter the scale, heavier strings are better suited, for proper tension, and sustain.

p.s. you're not the only one still learning to play these things, myself included! Enjoy

Fini!

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on December 6, 2017 at 8:40am

You can get a set of strings for a kids guitar that'll work.

I recently had to get a set of strings for my grandsons little guitar at Kids R Us, First Act brand and they come in colors.

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Permalink Reply by Br Harold F Stubbs III on December 6, 2017 at 9:21am

reading the replies so far I think the points have been presented 1 by 1, but if you put them together -

Note of a given open string is related to its length, its gauge, and its tension
A shorter length would require a thicker string or less tension to achieve the same note as a longer scale.

If you take the exact strings you would use on a longer scale you can maybe use them OK but there will be more slack - the strings will be looser, will wobble more when plucked, etc.. This might even be a sound you are wanting.

if you use heavier thicker strings you need more tension, this can get back to the sound / feel of the longer scale instrument with the normal lighter strings...

On the opposite end of your shorter scale 20" - A banjo and a bass are about the same scale lengths, but a banjo has slightly lighter strings than a guitar might and a bass has strings about twice as thick as a guitar..

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Permalink Reply by Br Harold F Stubbs III on December 6, 2017 at 9:23am

Also - I own a first act guitar I got from a DI ( second hand store ). I broke a string tuning it up and just went with lighter strings than average to avoid having so much tension.,..

I still can't play the durn thing, feels like it has 3 strings too many.

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Permalink Reply by Korrigan on December 6, 2017 at 9:41am

2 too many at least. :D

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Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on December 6, 2017 at 10:12am

The set of 6 First Act strings were for a 19" scale acoustic and were long enough for 19" to 23" scale. They have worked well for that little acoustic, but they haven't been played hard so I can't vouch for the durability of said strings.

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Permalink Reply by Richard Dean on December 6, 2017 at 10:27am

Did someone say First Act, my brother gave me a First Act turd blossom that was cobbled together with a Harmony neck beat to he-- and messed up electronics, I turned it into this...I know, off topic