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Permalink Reply by Jason W. on June 10, 2011 at 9:29am

The textbook (for lack of a better term) answer you'll find on the nation is that there are no rules. What you should use is totally up to you and you should experiment with different strings until you get a sound you like.

 

Now, with that incredibly vague and avoidant answer out of the way; I like to use the bottom four strings of a standard pack of 6-string.. strings. If you like to play with your fingers, you might want to go with lighter (thinner) strings. If you're going for slide guitar, heavier strings will give you a fuller sound. You may just have to find a string gauge that fits your style and sound. I would only use steel strings, but I've never tried nylon on a CBG (only on some Ukes I've made).

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Permalink Reply by Andy Eight Spades CBG on June 10, 2011 at 1:10pm

I just used the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th steel strings from a standard 6 string on my first 4 stringer and they sound great!  I think they were light gauge

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Permalink Reply by Nathan King on June 10, 2011 at 1:41pm

I personally like using 12, 16, 20 and 30 guage strings for my 4 stringers.  I tried using heavier ones, didn't like it... went lighter, loved it, and there ya go.

 

Kinda goes with the whole "no rules" thing... just try different ones til ya like what you hear and your fingers are happy.  If you're ears and fingers are happy, chances are you will be, too.  Ha!  :-)

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Permalink Reply by Keith Duncan on June 10, 2011 at 4:16pm

thank's for the input gentlemen; i did see there r no real right or wrong way to build a cbg. thank's keith

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