First build and a broken string.

I am just about done with my 1st build but I had a bit of trouble with the strings.  I have never installed guitar strings so this is all very new to me.  I checked out youtube and found a lot of videos on changing guitar strings and tuning.  But the issue I had was trying to figure out what octave of G to tune.  As the strings started to get tight I was able to use my I-phone tuner and start to dial in on G.  I had a bit of trouble with the smallest string finding the right note and then POW, yep my 1st ever guitar string break. Of course I had only purchased one set of strings from Gitty, so I had no replacement.  I found a guitar store about 45 minutes away and was able to pick up a replacement yesterday. Wow, are there a lot of strings to choose from.  I had gotten a set from Gitty that had a .013 as the smallest.  Since it broke I researched a bit more and found that some CBG's use .026 as the smallest string, so the new set is beefier.

Oh yea, one other thing I figured out (too late).  The box is upside down. :I

 

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  • Beautiful guitar, I've yet to actually use a cigar box to make a cigar box guitar, soon though, very soon. The upside down thing will hardly be noticed, don't worry about it. The only thing I would have done different, is the fret mark at the 23rd spot, should have skipped that one and marked the 24th like the 12th with 2 dots as it's the next octave, doesn't really matter though. My last build I put my markers after the 12th on the 14,16,18, 20 position, man was I mad at myself for such a blunder, but then i realized, hey it doesn't matter, build play and have fun!!!

  • It's not upside down if it a lefty.. good job tho..sweet

  • Thanks for the words of encouragement guys.  The strings I have used are 46/36/26.  They seem to sound great now that its tuned properly.  I'm working on build # 2 now and it's coming along nicely.  I just need to learn to play it now.  It seems to need a guitar string to help hold the weight of the neck.  And then again it may just be the fact that I have no idea what I'm doing.  It seems harder to me to hold the weight of the neck up while I'm trying to learn to use my left hand on the frets.

    Dan

    • CBGs tend to be neck heavy.  design alternatives are to go 1) headless and move the mass of the headstock and tuners to the rear of the box or 2) fill the box with wood so as to create a solid body.  Both alternatives move the balance point down the neck...

      Or, play with a guitar strap that connects at the headstock instead at the front of the body...

      Or, play enough to get used to it.  a few hundred hours ought to do.... ;-0

  • One thing to look at when you break a string... are there any "pinch points" from tuner to tail piece.  Especially on the thinner wire strings, a sharp edge at tuner or tail piece, or a groove on nut or bridge that is more "V" than "U" shaped can certainly break a string that would normally tune up to pitch nicely.  a small file and a little dressing might keep this problem from repeating.

     

    Nice looking build....

  • Hey Dan, great looking build. On one of my favorites so far I used a Partagas box and I love the sound it has. I've been using Gitty's Low Open G "Blues Blaster" string set for my builds, .044, .034 & .026 and really like the sound of them. Keep on building, every box has a different voice inside and there is always something new to try.

  • there are online guitar tuners you can use to determine correct tuning, though we've all done the octave too high string break thing! (-;

    http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/onlinetuner.html

    the strings you are using sound a bit too beefy, on a three string i would use 32/36, 24, 16/17

    ...and the box isn't upside down, it looks good to me! (-;

  • Welcome to the club Dan. Almost 50 builds in now and still make some basic bloopers from time to time.... Your build looks good and as far as the box goes, upside down = quirky! individual!
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