Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on October 14, 2016 at 10:12am

The only really playable CBG I made is a six string. I used a ready made fender knockoff neck and built the body our of 3/4 and 1/8 ply. What's really cool about a six string is you can tune it up to be two three strings. A good thing about a six string tuned to an open tuning is you have more options on where to play to get the sound you want. Also if you tune it to an open E you'll be able to play "She Talks to Angels" The harmonics and everything will fall right into place. 

I played a six string for years. My first try into three strings was to take three strings off of a guitar. Then tuned it to open G. Was totally lost. I was so bad I actually tuned the three strings to standard tuning to write my first song. I bought a four string CBG and was still lost. After playing and struggling with this for a few years I find I'm more creative on a three string guitar. I makes me think outside the norm to get the sounds I'm looking for. 

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Permalink Reply by E. Douglas Pratt on October 14, 2016 at 6:33pm

Okay, this is encouraging, CTBR. I play slide Duolian in Vestapol tuning, so I follow what you're describing.

Got pix of your 6-string?

Doug

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on October 15, 2016 at 12:01am

This is my 'AutoRATic Rhythm and Blues Cosmic Glider.

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Permalink Reply by E. Douglas Pratt on October 15, 2016 at 2:23am

Whew, that's a beauty.  Bo Diddley meets Buck Rogers! And you can get up there almost an octave?

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on October 15, 2016 at 9:33am

Very easy to play above the twelfth fret. The wood behind the neck is only 3/4 of an inch think. 

That's the original neck. It's warped with a broken truss rod. Came off a guitar I bought at a garage sale for $15. Sometimes you really do get what you paid for. : )

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on October 14, 2016 at 11:16am

Let the limitations of the form enhance your creativity. Go backwards. See what you can do musically with only ONE string...

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on October 14, 2016 at 11:54am

I think  that  a  four  stringer is  an outstanding instrument design. You  can go with open  tuning as Wayfinder says or you can go with  standard tuning (the 1~4 strings of a  6 string) and  you  can even tune to  ukulele tuining (which is a cool tuning). A four  stringer is  amazingly flexible  in terms  of tuning.

That being said, I  have built several  six  stringers and  enjoy them  as  well.

The above six  stringer  is  a  joy to  play, but unless you  already play six  string, you will find it a  fairly steep  learning curve.  The four stringer may be a  less frustrating starting point  if  you take the  time  to  learn  just  how flexible it can be.

Either way will provide you with  a great musical experience. Good luck

If you click the "Post" tab above then the  "Groups"  link you will  find that  there is already  a six-string CBG forum. They can provide  you with a lot of  information.

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Permalink Reply by King Rubbish on October 14, 2016 at 11:17pm

Doug, you mention that you play slide guitar in Vestopol tuning? In that I case I would suggest tuning your 4-string the same way, just minus two of the strings. Seeing as there are only three notes to begin with (D, A, F#) you can easily substitute anything played on the missing strings over to the ones you have left.

For example, anything played on the high D string will still work fine on any of the other D strings, just in a lower octave. Just think of it like you busted a couple of strings on your regular guitar!

Of course, which four of the strings to keep is up to you, but that's part of the fun - top/middle/bottom/other combination(!?).

Hope this helps.

KR

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Permalink Reply by E. Douglas Pratt on October 15, 2016 at 2:28am

Hey, King, thanks for the encouragement. And I can see it will be fun with 3 strings, experimenting with various tunings.

Sounds like a six-string CBG has to bee such a guitar-like construction that it's not really a CBG at all.  All the answers I'm getting help me understand that. And that it's a different kind of fun playing.

Doug

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on October 15, 2016 at 10:09am

Don't forget  the  five-stringer. Keith Richards has played five strings in open  D or G for years......

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Permalink Reply by Grandpa on October 15, 2016 at 12:09pm

Here's a pic of a 6 string git I built. Undercrown box, chinese tele-style neck (Amazon, $32.00), hardtail bridge, Gitty electronics and tuners. It was the first bolt-on neck build I tried, and it was different than doing a typical cbg neck-through. But, it was fun to build, and once I got the truss rod in good adjustment, it is a joy to play. Tuned DADF#AD, it is a slide player. I have a thrift store Strat knockoff ($5!) I bought to strip down for cbg use, but once I replaced the input jack, it plays! Having a hard time tearing down a working guitar that plays nicely for a cbg. But, as Wayfinder and others have pointed out, the parts value alone is at least $50.00. Decisions, decisions....But if you want to try a six stinger, go for it. Truth be told, other than my Undercrown 6 string slider, I prefer to play 3 or 4 string gits. And the value of making a git is even better than finding a cheap player. Anyone can buy a ready-to-play guitar, but ya gotta get down to build yer own.

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on October 15, 2016 at 5:23pm

Totally cool info Tom T. Neil Young did things with different tunings as well. Standard tuning is a modern thing. Open tuning is a music thing 

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