i'll just add that the pickup type also reflects your choice .
ie; mag pickups "should" use electric (steel) strings .
But a piezo pickup, it doesn't really matter . you can even use nylon , The piezo reads the box, not the strings., most folks prefer bronze wound acoustic medium strings on piezos or acoustic guits.
many folks like a piezo in any type of metal reso guitar , so they pick up the actual resonation , instead of mostly the strings . some folks still like a mag , so they install it or a mag and a piezo with a switch for choice .
if it were me making an oil can guit,. i'd use electric strings 10 gauge , #3,4 and5 with a mag pickup. and add a rod piezo with switch , or separate jack.
if it was acoustic , i'd go bronze wound acoustic strings medium 3,4,5.
ps......a mag pickup will still work on acoustic strings because it can still read the steel core , but it may sound "muddy " then again some folks like muddy .
Thanks for the information, and the compliment, just got started with building these, enjoy it very much. Hope all have Happy New year, looking forward to learning more about these and other home made instruments.
I think that string choice is more connected to scale length and the tuning you want to achieve than to the type of instrument. You need strings that will be able to tune up to the notes you want without either breaking or being too loose and "floppy". CB GItty has some ready made set for 3 or 4 stringers that make life a little easier. I make a lot of 3 stringers in the 24-25.5" scale range and many of them are tuned DAd. For that tuning I use 30, 15 and 10 gauge strings, for simplicity and economy. (I buy in bulk from Musicians Friend) I hope this is helpful. There are calculators you can find on line that will tell you what size strings are needed for various scale lengths and tunings. I'm also sure other members that are very knowledgable about these things will chime in as well. Nice looking guitars by the way but the photo seemed to take forever to load.
Replies
i'll just add that the pickup type also reflects your choice .
ie; mag pickups "should" use electric (steel) strings .
But a piezo pickup, it doesn't really matter . you can even use nylon , The piezo reads the box, not the strings., most folks prefer bronze wound acoustic medium strings on piezos or acoustic guits.
many folks like a piezo in any type of metal reso guitar , so they pick up the actual resonation , instead of mostly the strings . some folks still like a mag , so they install it or a mag and a piezo with a switch for choice .
if it were me making an oil can guit,. i'd use electric strings 10 gauge , #3,4 and5 with a mag pickup. and add a rod piezo with switch , or separate jack.
if it was acoustic , i'd go bronze wound acoustic strings medium 3,4,5.
ps......a mag pickup will still work on acoustic strings because it can still read the steel core , but it may sound "muddy " then again some folks like muddy .
hope that helps . ;-)
I think that string choice is more connected to scale length and the tuning you want to achieve than to the type of instrument. You need strings that will be able to tune up to the notes you want without either breaking or being too loose and "floppy". CB GItty has some ready made set for 3 or 4 stringers that make life a little easier. I make a lot of 3 stringers in the 24-25.5" scale range and many of them are tuned DAd. For that tuning I use 30, 15 and 10 gauge strings, for simplicity and economy. (I buy in bulk from Musicians Friend) I hope this is helpful. There are calculators you can find on line that will tell you what size strings are needed for various scale lengths and tunings. I'm also sure other members that are very knowledgable about these things will chime in as well. Nice looking guitars by the way but the photo seemed to take forever to load.