Acoustic Extra-Light 3-String Cigar Box Guitar Strings - Open G/Standard Tuning - GBD/GBE

South Bound Strings - Made in America, Bound for Glory!

This is a set of 3 strings voiced specifically for 3-string cigar box guitars (CBGs) that you want to tune in an "Open G" (GBD) or "standard guitar" (GBE - the three highest-pitch strings of a standard 6-string guitar) tuning. Open G is a great setup for slide (fretless) playing, and the standard guitar tuning is great for a fretted instrument - you can play the "top" portion of most guitar chords with just a couple of fingers! These are lighter-gauge strings, better for instruments that aren't going to be played as heavily - or those that don't have strong, reinforced necks!

 

String Specs:
#1 - .022" Bronze Wound
#2 - .014" Plain Steel
#3 - .010" Plain Steel

For best results with reaching the desired tuning, these should be used on a CBG that has a scale length (the length from the nut to the bridge) in the 24-26" range. Much longer or shorter than that and the strings will either be too loose and sloppy, or so tight that they break before they reach the pitch.

This string set is formulated based on our own experimentation and what has worked on our own guitars. If you want to hand-pick specific strings in specific sizes, this may not be the pack for you. But if you are not sure exactly what you need and want a set of inexpensive strings that should work just fine for your build, this is the ticket.  Please note that these strings are intended for either an ACOUSTIC CBG or one with a piezo pickup. They should not be used on a CBG with a magnetic pickup - see our special electric string sets for that. Also please note that the bronze would strings may be either 80/20 bronze or phosphor bronze.

On the subject of tuning a CBG, having a digital chromatic tuner can be a BIG HELP to get in tune, compared to tuning by ear, pitch matching or using a microphone-based tuner. We carry inexpensive digital chromatic tuners in this store (search for "digital tuner"), so check them out!