Long scale strings?

[James]

Does anyone have any experience with buying strings for touch guitars?

Just this week my Warr Guitar arrived. As I was tuning the strings up I made a mistake in the pitches and broke the highest melody string. It is set up in uncrossed parallel 4ths, so the top melody string is the 7th string - where the tuning post is furthest away from the nut

With just this one string broken I wouldn't like to change all the strings yet, so I'm on the lookout for suitable single strings

I bought a generic-looking one from my local guitar shop. This was just not long enough by about 3mm, but I couldn't get it to reach. I decided to get some strings for my 6-string electric too which were D'addario EXLs. I tried to see if the 8 gauge from this would fit, but this was even shorter

If it helps, I would need a string to be at least 43" or 110cm long. Do Sticks and Megatars require a similar length of string? I had a quick look at www.stickist.com. They had a useful FAQ section on Stick strings. Some people had experimented with D'addario plain steel for the melody, but in some cases some of the gauges weren't long enough. Daniel Schell and Warr Guitars sell La Bella string sets. I don't think La Bella make single strings, but if I wanted to change a few of the melody strings would an electric guitar set of these be a good choice for length?

Given the extra price of such string sets for touch guitars I wouldn't be able to change them as often as I do with my 6-string guitars. The ideal place to get new strings for me is from Myron Edwards' Megatar store. I think these will be suitable for my 4ths/4ths tuning. On average how long do you keep your strings for before changing them?

[traktor]

Generally bass strings will be long enough, and often guitar strings are not long enough.

However, guitar strings are generally long enough to get past the nut, and then the square knot you learned in Boy Scouts will generally serve you. Just snip a length of the old string, tie the two with a square knot, trim the new length appropriately and wind it up. After it's wound up, tug it a few times to get the square knot to settle tightly.

Is it swell? No.

Does it work fairly well? Yes.

[James]

That's an idea. I don't think there would be too much tension for the two strings to come undone

Where could I find out about the square knot that you mentioned? I remember attending one scouts session where I was taught a few knots, but I only remember how to do a reef knot (not of any use here)

I'm still interested to know which strings work best for touch guitars though. I think the conclusion of Stick players is that the proper Stick strings work the best for the technique. Perhaps I'll get a set (for bass 4ths) if I want to order any CDs from SE

[James]

Hmmm. I just found out that we call square knots 'reef knots' over here - ie. it's the same thing

I've got two new 9s around so I'll give it a go...

[traktor]

Damn! You'd think that Baden-Powell, the Englishman, could have taught us bloody Americans the proper terminology!

And for any tappers who still have a question about the Reef knot / Square knot, here is a demonstration page, with explanation of the name --

http://www.mistral.co.uk/42brghtn/knots/42ktreef.html

[rjgoos]

I exchanged e-mails once with a Megatar player who used baritone guitar strings (I forget which kind of tuning he was using). In all cases, he reported, they extended beyond the nut/zero fret, and a few had to be "extended" by splicing to old strings. It looked really ugly, but he was satisfied. You would not be able to get baritone guitar strings as light as you would need for the higher pitches of most touchstyle instruments, though. For a low bi-melody" tuning (say a fourth lower than a normal bi-melody tuning, it might work OK.

Jay

[James]

No problems so far with the top melody string. The knot tightened itself as I tuned the string up

[dr_scrimshaw]

http://www.realknots.com/p/k/bhdub8.gif
Square knots are probably OK, I've used a fishermans knot to tie guitar strings, it is a little stronger.

[rjgoos]

Besides a nice knot...a niice pattern, Scrimshaw....very Celtic, don't you think???

Jay

[James]

Hmm, that almost resembles the Discipline logo :)

but I'll keep it in mind when I need a single string replaced. Thanks

[Clark_Kent]

I have a homemade touchstyle and I regularly have to extend the length of the guitar strings I use.
I simply use an old string, cut it a few inches long and leave the ball end on, then I twist the end of the new string around the ball end with a pair of needle-nose pliers (that way I don't have a sharp edge to cause string breakage).
So when I'm done I have a guitar string that clears the nut, then has another ball, then a short lead to go to the tuning machine.
I have saved a TON of money, and it works fine.
You can apparently buy a little twisting gig specifically for making longer strings, but I have only seen one once.