After reading multiple posts and experimenting on the Cbgs I built I have a couple of questions about strings.

Electric or accoustic strings for a amplified CBG?

Reccomended string type for fretted. What gauge ( string 3,4,5?)

Reccomended string type for fretless?

Ive tried different combinations snd wondered what the genersl consensus is.

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I don't use cigar boxes much - I don't like the paper covered ones at all. I like the designs and artwork but don't like to work with them. I build my own boxes. I might in the future attempt building my own box but use the top, just for the artwork.

I found most wooden cigar boxes work well,  paper covered or not...what problems did you have with them..? (-:

Hey Steve - I guess I just got used to building them, doing all the hole drilling, notching etc. before it was assembled - I get frustrated with curling, loosening paper. To be honest, I've only built two out of all wood cigar boxes, no paper covering and the rest (maybe 15 or so) have been my own boxes and a lot of those were Licence plate style. Plus I can't be bothered looking for them.

yep you can't beat the look of wood, I just ordered a few of these Punch boxes, they look and sound great and sell like hot pies on a cold night! (-;

I use a lot of paper covered boxes but a coat of laquer hardens them up and seals the flaky corners.

There's a CigarBox Deals ad to the right of the page...

Made an acoustic from one of these that had been put out for the trash (!!!!) at a cigar store - the top was a little warped but I got it straightened out, I think it had been sitting in the sun, and maybe it dried out a bit.

But the sound from this (piezo disc / silicon to the top) when I put it into the amp was outrageous - a real rocking guitar!!! I'm wondering if I shouldn't dry out all the boxes a bit ???

i use ordinary electric guitar strings for best results - on a 25.5 inch scale fretted or unfretted the middle four in a set of six would be 36, 26, 17, 13 and can be bought singly. (-:

Basically a set of 10's.Hmmmmm I tried that and have the dead D string issue..... Maybe I will try a set from another manufacturer.

I found Ernie Ball work well enough with  open G tuning, ie GDGb,with no dead string issues, and they can be bought singly! (-;

Ghs boomers. They are my favorite strings. I use a w36 w26 and p18( a d and g strings) I almost exclusively tune A E A but occasionally go down a half or whole step depending on what song I crank up on the stereo and jam to. Never had dead string issues. Acoustic bronze string will work with mag pups. I've put them on my electrics and my humbucker equipped cbg before just because someone told me it wouldn't work. I told this to the guy who owns the local repair shop in town and he told me that the reason they work with mag pups is because the core is steel. But hey use what ever you can get your hands on. I've seen cbgs that use mason twine or fishing line, and dont forget that way back in the day guys would use bailing wire or wire from screen doors. Copper wire is sold in many different guages also. Wonder what they would sound like. Maybe I should give it a try. Heck might even do a comparison test between bare wire vs insulated wire. Sometimes I ponder what would be the best strings to use on my air guitar. Any suggestions?
I use A E A cause I've always been a high gain power chord kinda guy and all the root notes from the power chords you would play on 6 string are in the same place with A E A. If you go through my videos you will find one where I talk about this tuning and why I use it. If you like to throw in classic rock and metal cd's and play along to them then I think you might find that this tuning makes things a little familiar and easier. Especially if you come from a 6 string electric or 4 string bass rock background like I do. Oh and I hate piezos. Love humbuckers. Especially in the bridge position. In my opinion thats the rock position. On my amps I use the scoop mid tone. Bass all the way up, mids all the way down and the treble set around 7 for some extra sizzle.

Guitar on the left:  ADG strings tuned GDG.  Ernie Ball strings (42, 30, 20w)

Guitar on the right: AGE strings tuned AAE.  Ernie Ball strings (42, 22w, 12)

Works great on the clean channel on a small solid state amp.  I've experienced zero dead string issues.

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