Guitar to bouzouki conversion

[garryireland]

So i should just use the bridge pins and forget the tailpiece? I was thinking of using a trapeze. I see aot of old guitars with thatcset up

Off to the luthier tomorrow. Just a quick pic of my om and the guitar

[mandobassman]

Larry, that looks like a classical. Correct? Conventional wisdom says the bracing will not take the tension of the steel strings. But maybe the lessened downward pressure caused by the new tailpiece is a good thing in this case.

I know it looks that way, but I don't think it was actually designed as a Classical guitar. The bridge has holes to accept ball end strings and it had steel strings on it when I bought it. I am using very light guage strings on it and the break angle on the bridge is so slight anyway, I really don't think the pressure is very high. And, I use flatwound strings, which has even less tension. I've been using it for a couple of years now with no issues.

[bratsche]

Larry, what's the scale length on that guitar conversion? And which brand and gauges of flatwound strings are you using? I'd be very interested in experimenting with other options on mine (so far, I've only used flat-top mandolin strings, which were surprisingly long enough).

bratsche

[mandobassman]

Hi Bratsche,
The scale length is 22-1/2". I bought the strings from Martin Stillion at eMando.com. I told him what I had and the scale length and he told what I should use. He makes the flat wound set from the D'Addario Chromes electric guitar strings and you have the option of ball end or not.

[bratsche]

Oh yeah, I forgot about him! Sounds like a great idea. Thanks!

bratsche