Is there a general rule of thumb for choosing strings? How do you know what maximum gauge your guitar will take? If it doesn't have a magnetic pickup should I be using acoustic guitar strings exclusively?
Case in point (apologies now because this isn't a CBG case in point):
I just bought two Famos (not Framus) archtop acoustic guitars built in the 1950s. I doubt they've got truss rods. I could be wrong! Would I be best putting low tension strings on them? Will electric guitar strings be more likely to snap the neck? Less likely than acoustic 80/20s, for example? How do I know what maximum tension they will take?
How can your answers be put into the CBG equivalent situation? Is there a golden rule of thumb? A secret formula I'm unaware of?
I'm confused and not getting any less confused no matter how long I'm looking at string information! Help needed (desperately) and much appreciated.
Bear
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Hey kids, I know nothing about this, but would suggest that you could try a regular string set and sneak up on the tension and see what happens. Can't see where acoustic or electric strings would make a difference, but would think that if you start off tuning a couple of notes low and see how it works and work up from there. Personally I like deeper notes anyway. Have fun and let us know what happens.
Thanks Thomas. Got those Famos guitars in the mail today and strung one up with electric 10s. Nice sound and tone to my ear but the low E was very banjo like. Then I panicked myself that the neck was going to break overnight and detuned it right down to nothing just in case. I just never know what gauge I can put on anything for the best beefy tone vs not risking the neck integrity. I'm an old scaredy cat and worry too much maybe lol
Thanks Ron. I'll take a look at your link and have a read just as soon as I can see straight. Damn early morning wake-ups lol. Just wanted to thank you in good time. Much appreciated.
Will do Ron. Now for some wake-up juice AKA tea, nectar of the sublime! Thanks again :)
Hey Ron. That link that you sent me looks great but what are the eight columns (sometimes only 7 numerical values) and why are they headed with letters other than eadgbe? I need a decoder lol.
Also, mind if I push my second question part to the fore? How do you know what tension any given neck will take before breaking or bowing I.E. my example and any CBG? I know you said three string and it should be good but would that be good right up to, to be pedantic, 16s? In my example it's a dovetail joint into a pocket, set neck and no truss rod (I don't think there's a truss rod anyway). Scale length is 25.5" on the one and 3/4 size on the other (don't know the exact scale length on it yet).
I found some low tension strings on eBay and will likely just go for them as the seller said they're manufactured to be low tension without sacrificing tone. It would be good to know for future how to figure out the chart in the link you sent though.
Thanks for all the help.
Bear.
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