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A little help with strings.

I am very new to the world of CB guitars in fact any guitars. I know of the mantra that there are no rules with the design or tuning of CBGs but. I have just finished a wine box version with a rather long neck. from nut to bridge it is 33". From the nut to the furthest tuning peg is 5" and anther 2" from the bridge to where they are tied off. I thought that I would make it a bass but I am having a little trouble getting strings long enough. I know absolutely nothing about cords. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to what strings and then what tuning. It is a three string.

any assistance gratefully received

Jeff

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Permalink Reply by Redbelly on September 24, 2013 at 11:03pm

I tune to GDg and get my strings off C. B Gitty (see advert on first page.)

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on September 24, 2013 at 11:43pm

jeff 33 in+5+2 is getting to the outer limits of standard strings;i don,t know if extra long strings are available,someone here may be able to help,i have 1 guit with 900 mm from tail to furtherest tuner ,strings by gitty,with 3 or more wraps[900mm=about 36 in]

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on September 24, 2013 at 11:52pm

is the neck fretted?if not,maybe a bit of shortening is the answer,you should be able to get bass strings to suit,but neck loading may be an issue,can you post some pic,s,may be able to lose a couple of in,s both ends

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 25, 2013 at 1:14am

You could always use weed whacker line instead of regulation guitar strings. Then you wouldn't have to worry about the length.

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on September 25, 2013 at 1:37am

Yeah, I'd give the weed wacker line a try. Pick 2 or 3 different diameters and string it up. There have been some great sounding 1 and 2 string weed wacker basses posted up here.

Surgical tubing would be another option.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Lindsay on September 25, 2013 at 1:32am

What Dan Sleep said. Also, I've seen online where folks have used 40 or 50 lb fishing line for strings. Of course if you have a magnetic pickup, that won't work, but it's an option for acoustic or a piezo pickup.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on September 25, 2013 at 2:01am

If you're going with a bass, what has worked for me is weed whacker string. As has been noted that won't work with a magnetic p.u. My basses are acoustic with 37" and up to 42" scales. The string guages are .105, .095, .080 and .065 for a 4 string with E,A,D,G bass tuning. With your 3 string, 33" scale You'd be better off using the three heavier guages. Good luck. Oh, and also the green coated wire clothesline from WalMart works for a low E string.