Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bluesdog on December 21, 2009 at 5:45am

Hi

Depending on the scale length your string's are designed take a certain amount of tention to ring out correctly, most string's are designed for a 25,5 inch scale. In general you can go 2 semitones per string up or down from the standard pitch in the same scale length with medium/light gauge string's (a set of 012 or 013's will do). So if your using the D G and b string you should be able to tune up to A (EAC#)or E (EG#B) without problem's.

If the scale of your guitar is larger than the scale the string's are designed for your going to have to tune down from pitch to G (GBD) or D (DF#A) wich are exactly the same as the tunnings mentioned above just lower in pitch, they work exactly the same so unless your playing along with a harmonica or like to sing in a specific key while playing it realy doesnt matter.

You're a baseplayer right? Use the leftover string's to make a 2 string bass or something :) or just use them to replace broken string's onyour cbg and see what you come up with in way's of tunning it.
For example you could double the bass strings of a 3 string to EEB using the Low E , D (tuned 2 steps up obviously) and the B string from a set.

There are no rules in Cbg land concerning building, stringing or tunning (just unwritten bootleg law's) so just try stuff out untill you find what works for you. Be crazy and put the string's on in a different order it realy doesnt matter at all a long as your having fun.

Hope this helps and good luck on your builds ,Frans

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on December 21, 2009 at 6:21am

Where are the strings breaking? If at bridge or nut, you'd suspect and overly-sharp "break" at this point.

If at the tuner, then improper winding may be the culprit.

Over-tension will certainly snap strings; I always use a tuner to make sure I'm going for the "right" note and not one an octave too high....

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on December 21, 2009 at 6:57am

In addition to what Mark says, there might be a sharp edge on the tuning peg itself. I have heard of this from another member, I have tuned strings like Bluesdog says but up to a couple of whole tones (wow) and no breaks. I use el cheapo strings (GHS Jammers from Wal-Mart in the US) and no breaks yet -- other than restringing with old strings.

-WY

Mark Werner said:

Where are the strings breaking? If at bridge or nut, you'd suspect and overly-sharp "break" at this point.
If at the tuner, then improper winding may be the culprit.
Over-tension will certainly snap strings; I always use a tuner to make sure I'm going for the "right" note and not one an octave too high....

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on December 21, 2009 at 7:07am

what to do with those left over strings???? make Diddley bows and canjos....

If you're breaking strings a lot, might be a construction problem... if your nut is wedging the strings because the bottom of the string slots aren't rounded, then can bind and break the strings... Where are your strings breaking? If at the tuner, you might be using tuners with sharp edges to the string holes.... if so, campher the openings with a slightly larger bit (about 2Xs the diameter of the hole) and that should do the trick...

the best,

Wichita Sam

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Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on December 22, 2009 at 2:46am

Thanks Bluesdog ...great answer

Bluesdog said:

Hi

Depending on the scale length your string's are designed take a certain amount of tention to ring out correctly, most string's are designed for a 25,5 inch scale. In general you can go 2 semitones per string up or down from the standard pitch in the same scale length with medium/light gauge string's (a set of 012 or 013's will do). So if your using the D G and b string you should be able to tune up to A (EAC#)or E (EG#B) without problem's.

If the scale of your guitar is larger than the scale the string's are designed for your going to have to tune down from pitch to G (GBD) or D (DF#A) wich are exactly the same as the tunnings mentioned above just lower in pitch, they work exactly the same so unless your playing along with a harmonica or like to sing in a specific key while playing it realy doesnt matter.

You're a baseplayer right? Use the leftover string's to make a 2 string bass or something :) or just use them to replace broken string's onyour cbg and see what you come up with in way's of tunning it.
For example you could double the bass strings of a 3 string to EEB using the Low E , D (tuned 2 steps up obviously) and the B string from a set.

There are no rules in Cbg land concerning building, stringing or tunning (just unwritten bootleg law's) so just try stuff out untill you find what works for you. Be crazy and put the string's on in a different order it realy doesnt matter at all a long as your having fun.

Hope this helps and good luck on your builds ,Frans

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Crow on December 22, 2009 at 5:19am

i've broken most of my strings when building and prototyping due to headstock design. i've found that the more string guides you use to alter the direction of the string, the more likely you are to get a pinched string and break when tuning up. also, in tuning a given string to a higher note than normal, i've broken plenty of strings in my trials.

now, i'm focusing on peg-forward designs, where the strings have fewer guides and corners to go around. i also choose strings that allow me to tune -down- to the pitch i want, rather than tune up.

just my two cents.

and the guys had a good point about possibly sharp corners on the string holes of the tuner pegs.

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Permalink Reply by Tim Fontaine on December 22, 2009 at 5:48am

Hi Clive,
Musicians Friend www.musiciansfriend.com sells bulk strings pretty cheap and you can order the gauge you want. They come in pkgs of 12 (that is 12 of the same string). I make 3 string CBG's so I just ordered 3 pkgs of the gauges I wanted and will have enough strings to do 12 guitars for about $20.00. Not sure if they ship to the UK. I also seen a guy on ebay selling sets of three for CBG builders.

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on December 22, 2009 at 7:46am

Say goodbye to expensive broken string misery, use cheapstrings.co.uk

I buy quite a bit of stuff from him, usually the regular Martin Bronze acoustic sets and 3 packs of D'addarios. Almost 1/2 price of what you pay in the shops and postage is cheap (he's even dropped stuff in at my place, as he's based in Birmingham). He stocks loads of other stuff too, uke, banjo, mandolin, dulcimer, tenor guitar (very handy for CGBs), also single strings, plus picks, capos & other stuff. Tell Roger I sent you!

If you are breaking loads of strings due to excessively high tension rather than a sharp edge or pinch point, then go for a lighter gauge. A common mistake is that people think thicker strings are "stronger"...they will carry a higher ultimate tensile load before failing...but tensioning them to a higher pitch than they are designed for will just break them well before they raise to the desired note.

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Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on December 22, 2009 at 9:46pm

Thanks John , great advice .
Clive

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Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on December 22, 2009 at 9:47pm

Thanks Tim , I think bulk buy is the answer..
Clive

Tim Fontaine said:

Hi Clive,
Musicians Friend www.musiciansfriend.com sells bulk strings pretty cheap and you can order the gauge you want. They come in pkgs of 12 (that is 12 of the same string). I make 3 string CBG's so I just ordered 3 pkgs of the gauges I wanted and will have enough strings to do 12 guitars for about $20.00. Not sure if they ship to the UK. I also seen a guy on ebay selling sets of three for CBG builders.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Clive Palfrey on December 22, 2009 at 9:48pm

Thanks Crow , everything I hear is helpful,
Clive

Crow said:

i've broken most of my strings when building and prototyping due to headstock design. i've found that the more string guides you use to alter the direction of the string, the more likely you are to get a pinched string and break when tuning up. also, in tuning a given string to a higher note than normal, i've broken plenty of strings in my trials.

now, i'm focusing on peg-forward designs, where the strings have fewer guides and corners to go around. i also choose strings that allow me to tune -down- to the pitch i want, rather than tune up.

just my two cents.

and the guys had a good point about possibly sharp corners on the string holes of the tuner pegs.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ricky Martin on December 23, 2009 at 12:24am

I had a real problem breaking strings until a friend showed me what I was doing wrong. I put the string into the tuning peg and started tuning and snap. He told me to wrap the string aroud the peg a couple times before inserting it through the peg. Works for me!

Clive Palfrey said:

Thanks Crow , everything I hear is helpful,
Clive

Crow said:

i've broken most of my strings when building and prototyping due to headstock design. i've found that the more string guides you use to alter the direction of the string, the more likely you are to get a pinched string and break when tuning up. also, in tuning a given string to a higher note than normal, i've broken plenty of strings in my trials.

now, i'm focusing on peg-forward designs, where the strings have fewer guides and corners to go around. i also choose strings that allow me to tune -down- to the pitch i want, rather than tune up.

just my two cents.

and the guys had a good point about possibly sharp corners on the string holes of the tuner pegs.

• ▶ Reply

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