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String number and tuning questions from newbie

I'm in the process of building my first CBG after many years of playing the bass and 6 string guitar. I'm having a huge mental block in deciding how many strings to put on my CBG. I initially thought that I'd just build a homemade 6 string but now I'm thinking that this won't really capture the spirit of the whole thing. So I'm back to the drawing board and am wondering what you're opinions are on the number of strings and tunings. My natural inclination is to build a 4 string but so many builds appear to be 3 stringers. What are the pros and cons of a 4 string vs 3 string and what tunings are preferable? It's a real challenge for me to think outside the EADGbe box that I've been thinking in for the last 15 years so your suggestions are much appreciated!

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on May 22, 2010 at 8:37am

A four string would be great. You can string and tune it just like the 4 high strings of your familiar 6 string. Dgbe Then if you tune the e down to d, you will be in a mini open g tuning and can explore bottleneck slide. I like to split the 6 string open G tuning (DGDgbd) basically in half. 4 string Dgbd and 3 string GDg
Having bass experience, you will find that 151 (GDg) to be very user friendly. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions. Enjoy, Keni Lee

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Permalink Reply by Outhouse Instruments on May 22, 2010 at 8:40am

Simple. Build a 4 string. Tune dgbe. Play it like the bottom 4 on a 6 string.
While you are doing that, build a 3 string. Here you really have options. Ducibox with dulcimer fretting or 3 string guitar with all the frets.
Pick one. Then while you learning it, build the other.

But to get "outside the box" do one of 3 things. Build a 3 string dulcibox. It's different , but easy to play.
OR go waaaay outside the box and build a 1 string. That's about as far as you can get from a 6.

Don't guess I didn't help much, go with the dulcibox.
Matt

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on May 22, 2010 at 9:17am

Huzza!

-WY

Keni Lee Burgess said:

A four string would be great. You can string and tune it just like the 4 high strings of your familiar 6 string. Dgbe Then if you tune the e down to d, you will be in a mini open g tuning and can explore bottleneck slide. I like to split the 6 string open G tuning (DGDgbd) basically in half. 4 string Dgbd and 3 string GDg
Having bass experience, you will find that 151 (GDg) to be very user friendly. Please feel free to contact me if you have any further questions. Enjoy, Keni Lee

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Permalink Reply by Lee Ann on May 24, 2010 at 11:24am

Thank you all for your replies. I've decided to go ahead with a 4 string first, then experiment with other string numbers later. Keni Lee, thanks for the tuning suggestions. I've been reading your lessons with great interest. I'm sure I'll have some more questions as I move along with the project, so thanks in advance!