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What strings to use? Tin.

Howdy,

I have a Jack Daniels tin that should be ready by tomorrow (this is a my first tin build). I was just curious what strings tin folks like to use? Acoustic? Electric? I have both on hand.

FWIW, it's a 3 string with a double piezo under the bridge area. I plan on using a metal bridge but have a wood based one ready as well.

Any thoughts/opinions would be grately appreciated.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 3, 2012 at 5:53pm

SH,

Depends on the tone you want. With a tin box, Light electric strings should give you a brighter, more metallic ring, whereas acoustic bronze phosphor Mediums might get you some deeper tones, though still metallic. Is this a fretted or fretless build? I find I like the deeper growl from the wound acoustic Mediums when playing with a copper or steel slide, and favor glass for a purer tone from the electrics.

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Permalink Reply by SlowHound on March 3, 2012 at 6:35pm

Thanks Oily.

It's a fretless. I'm used to light acoustics and was leaning that way, but the "metalic ring" of the electrics would be a nice change. I don't have anything like that.

I prefer a brass slide but have some glass too.

Again, thanks for the input.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 3, 2012 at 7:07pm

SH,

No worries. Why not try this?: if you have both types available, and enough string sets you can burn a couple for experimental purposes, put on a set of electrics .009s, see how you like 'em with glass vs. brass. If you can record sound files, record each type for reference. Then switch to the light acoustics, do the same.

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Permalink Reply by SlowHound on March 3, 2012 at 7:38pm

Nah, then I wouldn't have an excuse to build another one.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 3, 2012 at 7:41pm

I like your style ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on March 4, 2012 at 12:29am

Hello SlowHound,

You might find this video helpful:

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/a-cigar-box-guitar-builders

Enjoy your practice, Keni Lee

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Permalink Reply by rusty case on September 5, 2012 at 4:30pm

I really liked your short video clip, Keni..

How long will it take me to understand what you said? :-)

Whew!

Thanks... I'll need to work on it...

Best

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Permalink Reply by SlowHound on March 4, 2012 at 6:24am

The electric strings sound awesome. I'm still build another one though.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 4, 2012 at 6:29am

SH,

Glad you got it sorted! Have you tried them brass versus glass? Which do you like better?

You wanna try phosphor bronze mediums on the next build, say strings 5-4-3, using Keni's A-D-F# tuning?

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Permalink Reply by SlowHound on March 4, 2012 at 6:38am

I'm more comfortable with my brass but have a few glass pieces as well. I like the dirty sound of the brass and it sounds great with this build.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 4, 2012 at 7:25am

I've been using a 3/4 x 1/2" copper stepdown fitting as a pinkie slide, which gives a nice draggy growl on my wound mediums. I like the glass for leads, and chromed steel for lap slide.