Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by YeahDoIt on July 21, 2010 at 11:08pm

I used the old strings off my acoustic guitar and they work OK. I used nylon fishing line to extend the strings on the tailstop side if the strings were too short.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Chester Winowiecki on July 22, 2010 at 12:49am

Cheap is fine...so far I've only used the cheapest medium or light sets I can find and I'm satisfied. For a purely slide guitar I like to have at lest one unwound string. For instance, using the 4th, 3rd and 2nd strings tuned DAD.
But I also just make several 2 string cookie tin fretless guitars that used the 6th and 5th strings tuned EB. They sound great too!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on July 22, 2010 at 2:45am

In regards to tone, strings are important, but it is the correct tension provided by the strings that is more important. If the strings are too slack or too tight, the guitar will not vibrate correctly and there will not be the proper tension for the slide to glide on the strings to produce a good tone. The correct string gauges are selected to set this up right.
Please watch this video:
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/a-cigar-box-guitar-builders

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mungo Park on July 22, 2010 at 1:40pm

Thank you all for the help.
Cheers Ron.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by YeahDoIt on July 22, 2010 at 11:40pm

I use steel fishing wire for the thinner strings and it works OK. Costs much less than steel guitar strings.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Greg Miller on July 23, 2010 at 6:09am

I just ordered a set of these strings for a 3 string build. http://www.bigcitystringshop.com/servlet/Detail?no=1037 . Since these strings already come packed for open E and thats what I want to tune to, It should be a no brainer. flatwound should mellow the slide tone a bit. If I want to make it dirty I can always whip out a dirty slide.

This build is still my first, I had to take about 6 months away from all my projects, But I hope to finish this one soon. a 3 string reso. I just got one of the brass spun cones from smokehouse guitars. It looks awesome. I cant wait to check out the tone.

Its good to be back.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Matt Philip on July 23, 2010 at 5:11pm

I love flat wound strings they are smooth right up to the 6th string

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mungo Park on July 23, 2010 at 6:12pm

Sounds like I will have to try a set of flat would strings, just to try them out.
This is the second time today somebody mentioned them so they must be calling my name.
I have been buying the cheapest I can find up to now, but hey gotta treat yourself once in a while.
Figure for how long they last they are really not that expensive.
Should take me a week to build this slide dealie and a bit more to come up with a slide.
Cheers Ron.

• ▶ Reply