My buddy and I just finished building two CBG's . We have run into a problem with the strings . First off the guitars are built with a 27 inch scale. But the strings tie into the bottom of the box so the measurement from tuning pegs to ball end of string is 37 inches. I have tried using standard guitar strings A-D-G-B but can't tune them to G-D-G-D like my other cigar box guitar. Would I be able to use baritone strings , are they longer than standard guitar strings. I don't want to use bass strings as I am not sure if the neck can handle the tension. Also we have a string buzz on the bass string on both builds. Is it possibly the bridge slot is cut too deep. I would appreciate any help you all might have. Thanks ahead of time
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Brian
It's hard to see in the one pic but the strings go through the laces looking thing on the football sound hole
I still think that the length of the strings is a major part of the issue. For the lower strings that are wound (and the pros here can correct me if I am wrong), the entire string needs to be fed through the hole in the tuning peg, not just the inner wire part. If you are trying to tune up a string that is wound, and the tuner is only pulling on the interior wire as opposed to the whole string, I have to think that you are going to have tuning and/or string breakage problems.
Am I correct that you are only having the tuning issue with the wound strings, not the one that are just plain wire?
In the pictures below, the string is a standard Martin M150 80/20 bronze acoustic low E string. From the ball to the tip of the wire is just a shade over 41 inches. The part that is NOT wound is 5 inches long. So, the portion of the string that is wound is roughly 36 inches, give or take.
The first picture is the way you should be winding the strings, using the entire string, not just the inner wire. The second picture has only the interior wire portion of the string fed through the hole. That is what I think you described in an earlier post.
If the strings are not long enough for you to thread the entire string through the hole in the tuner, then (in my opinion) you need longer strings, or you need to move the mounting location closer to the bridge.
Not necessarily, Buddy Guy starts his wound strings way down from the string ends & he's been doing this for decades?, I think the problem here is the overall total length of the distance between the ball end to the tuners is too great,thus putting too much strain on the string & causing too much tension.the only solution to this is to shorten this distance to something more standard: 28.5 - 32in range overall from string end to furthest tuner,this can be done without changing actual scale length.
Hi , Amerigo ! You say you are using standard guitar strings A-D-G-B !?! You should use A-D-G-E and drop the E down to a D . On a side note.... A 27 inch scale is a baritone guitar scale . (27 inch to 30.5 inch) So , baritone strings would be the "correct" strings to use . Short scale baritones are often tuned B E A D F# B and the longer scaled baritones to A D G C E A . If the high A string was tuned down to a G it would be the same pitch as a G string on a standard guitar . I think!! (makes my head hurt!) The A D G C E A tuning is a perfect fifth below standard guitar tuning . I think you could tune the four highest baritone strings to G D D G .... for what it's worth !! To avoid these problems in the future you could go with a standard guitar scale . ( 24.75 inch to 25.7) or even a parlor guitar scale of around 22 inches . I hope that information helps !
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