Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Redbelly on September 24, 2013 at 11:03pm

I tune to GDg and get my strings off C. B  Gitty (see advert on first page.)

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on September 24, 2013 at 11:43pm

jeff 33 in+5+2 is getting to the outer limits of standard strings;i don,t know if extra long strings are available,someone here may be able to help,i have 1 guit with 900 mm from tail to furtherest tuner ,strings by gitty,with 3 or more wraps[900mm=about 36 in]

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on September 24, 2013 at 11:52pm

is the neck fretted?if not,maybe a bit of shortening is the answer,you should be able to get bass strings to suit,but neck loading may be an issue,can you post some pic,s,may be able to lose a couple of in,s both ends

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 25, 2013 at 1:14am

You could always use weed whacker line instead of regulation guitar strings. Then you wouldn't have to worry about the length.

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on September 25, 2013 at 1:37am

Yeah, I'd give the weed wacker line a try.  Pick 2 or 3 different diameters and string it up.  There have been some great sounding 1 and 2 string weed wacker basses posted up here.  

Surgical tubing would be another option.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Lindsay on September 25, 2013 at 1:32am

What Dan Sleep said. Also, I've seen online where folks have used 40 or 50 lb fishing line for strings. Of course if you have a magnetic pickup, that won't work, but it's an option for acoustic or a piezo pickup.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on September 25, 2013 at 2:01am

If you're going with a bass, what has worked for me is weed whacker string. As has been noted that won't work with a magnetic p.u. My basses are acoustic with 37" and up to 42" scales. The string guages are .105, .095, .080 and .065 for a 4 string with E,A,D,G bass tuning. With your 3 string, 33" scale You'd be better off using the three heavier guages. Good luck. Oh, and also the green coated wire  clothesline from WalMart works for a low E string.

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Permalink Reply by jeff Cadzow on September 27, 2013 at 3:26am

Many thanks for the advice, one and all. It is obvious that I am going to have to make a lot more instruments for experimentation alone.

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Permalink Reply by Ice Bob on October 1, 2013 at 3:02pm

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/Cigarboxtunings?xg_source=activity 

some string gage info

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