How to make a Cuban Tres - Cheap Conversion

I made a cuban tres out of a Stagg 3/4 size kid's classical guitar. It took about an hour and a half. What you need:
A guitar that you don't mind cutting the nut on
2 sets of extra light acoustic guitar strings
a needle file set
Here's a video about how to string the guitar. • How To String a Tres G...

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

LaBella makes CT750 Cuban Tres Strings (11/31, 14/14, 23/12) are designed for that tuning (G4 G3, C4 C4, E3 E4) but Strings from a set of D'addario EJ41 Strings in these gauges (8/21, 13/13, 26/9) are thinner so they're going to put on less tension, minimize the breakage, & make playing simpler.

[@rubenbrabers4277]

Great! I have a 3/4 guitar and been wanting to do the same conversion for a while. Luckily I found your video, it works perfect! Many thanks!!

[@constantinocruzfentanes2832]

thanks Al. exactly what I'm looking for. Greetings from Oaxaca, Mexico.

[@LaZaritasjourney]

Good job! The sound is fantastic! Thanx for sharing your WONDERFUL talent.🎸

[@murdanivia]

I am sooooo doing this! thanks for the video.

[@TresCubano]

Nice conversion!

[@AlOnkka]

TresCubano Thanks a bunch. I've enjoyed your videos.

[@DannVasconcelos]

TresCubano ī

[@rickygob5872]

Congratrulations! I'm working on the same thing, bat maybe add a chordal. Thanks!!!

[@liamhill156]

Al I have a Yamaha full size classical guitar

[@paulirene100]

Hope your cold gets better

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

12:08 Plays Havana by Camila Cabello

[@JoeLiebgott13]

La hice la converción con una guitarra barrata y me resultó perfecta!

[@AlOnkka]

felicitaciones

[@mauropetrucci]

Hola, estoy pensando en hacer lo mismo, se ha levantado la madera por la tensión de las cuerdas ???

[@calcetasusadas]

para eso es el tiracuerdas, para no dañar la tapa o el puente

[@AlOnkka]

No.

[@7uhc8ijv]

And does your converted tres still live? :-) I want to ask: Did the bridge stay on the guitar though the higher tension of the steel strings?

[@AlOnkka]

The tres still lives! Since I made this video I have gotten better at cutting proper nuts and am thinking about doing an upgrade. The action is pretty high on this guitar right now.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

​@@AlOnkka If you wish you can use D'addario EJ41 Extra Light Gauge 12 String Guitar Strings.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@AlOnkka Here's an awesome upgrade we can do to it. Let's switch out the Nut & Bridge Saddle for a cleaner look, add a Piezo Pickup w/ a Pre amp & Built in tuner cause a built in tuner will make tuning easier. Now for strings we'll switch to D'addario EJ41 & they're Phosphor Bronze Wound Extra Light Gauge 12 String Guitar Strings. D'addario makes strings w/ Colorful Ball ends that eliminate the envelopes cause it saves lots of packaging waste. On a Cuban Tres the outer 2 pairs of Strings are in Octaves (High Octave Strings on the Outside & Low Octave Strings on the inside) & the 2 Unison Strings are up the center, here are the gauges needed for this tuning (G4/G3, C4/C4, E3/E4): 8/21, 13/13, 26/9.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@AlOnkka In this tuning (G4/G3, C4/C4, E3/E4) the following Strings (8/21, 13/13, 26/9) from the D'addario EJ41 String set are a bit thinner than you're average Cuban Tres String set so they're going to put on a little less tension which will minimize the string breakage, & make playing easy.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@AlOnkka So here are the gauges of the strings that you'll need for this upgrade based on D'addario EJ41 Strings in this set up. Starting with the Low & High G Strings we'll need a Regular G String (.021) & a High G String (.008), you'll need 2 B Strings (.013 * 2) & those are going to be tuned up a half step so you can get the Middle C Unison, & then for the Low & High E Strings we'll we'll need an Octave E String (.026), & a High E String (.009). Another thing to note based on the order they go in (8/21, 13/13, 26/9) is for the outer strings the Higher Strings go on the outside & the Lower Strings go on the inside. BTW according to the 12 String Guitar tuning chart, the High G String is the Hardest to tune cause it can break really easily. Their solution is to use a .009 (or thinner) gauge plain steel string to minimize the breakage & tension.

[@bennyxxd8419]

I have another question: In the video I learned that for the E pair of string you use the high e and the d string. But I did not understand which strings I have to use for the G pair and for the C pair. Well I can guess that you perhaps use two b string for the C pair and for the G pair the g string and the a string. But I am not sure.

[@alonkka8469]

Here's a video about how to string the guitar. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZ6skp-tnrOlhqs

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@onkka @UC3OI5nsSHX_mr4McpvyIQYw Alternatively you can use D'Addario Extra Light Gauge 12 String Guitar Strings EJ41. The G String will be the High & Low G strings, the 2 Unison C strings will be the two B Strings, & the High E String will be the Octave Low E String & the High E String in the Traditional Set Up (The modern Set Up uses 2 Unison E Strings).

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Alternatively you can use D'addario EJ41 Extra Light Gauge 12 String Acoustic Guitar Strings (Gauges 8/21, 13/13, 26/9)

[@ftlpope]

My guess is that this is how the Tres was originally made but you need a tail piece to stop the bridge coming off. I made one by using a cheap acoustic guitar and a new nut. I put on a tail piece for the look although it did not need one.

[@AlOnkka]

A tail piece is probably smart for making a quality instrument. But for a $20 guitar, I can report that mine is still holding up.

[@kaisarabuqura356]

thanks for the video. I have a question so I recently bought a tres cubano but one of the strings broke. I live in the Middle East were there are no tres cubano strings I can buy If I install extra light acoustic guitar strings on the tres cubano, would it work? also if so , which guitar string (E, A, D, G, B, E) should I install for each position on the tres cubano G4-G3 - C4-C4 - E4-E4 ?

[@knucklesprayer]

How Cool! i'm gonna prove it!

[@Aidan-Fingleton]

I would like to try this sometime but use eight strings.

[@FrederickMc]

good work

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

11:52 Picks up the Cuban Tres Guitar

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

Magma TC100 Strings would be cool

[@gustavooribemendieta5175]

great!

[@eeclarkutube]

Glad to hear that the tres still lives. Next question, are you still sniffling every 45 seconds?

[@pedrobriceno1635]

Ahaha..... We understand. We are musicians

[@obnyramirez9252]

Hola que cuerdas debo usar para convertir una guitarra en un tres ? gracias...

[@alonkka8469]

de arriba a abajo G E alta estas 2 hacen G B B estas 2 hacen C D E alta estas 2 hacen E

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@alonkka8469 Instead I can use these strings from a pack of 12 string guitar strings, High G String, Low G String, 2 B Strings (Tuned up to C), Octave E String, High E String. They're going to be EJ41 Strings.

[@tatialo37]

cool!

[@carlosacta8726]

Can you convert my Yukulele into a Tres?

[@bennyxxd8419]

Which size of guitar can I use? Only 3/4 or also 1/2 size? And the strings are for 4/4 or for 3/4=

[@alonkka8469]

1/2 size probably works unless it is tuned to A instead of E or something like that. The strings I used are for regular size guitar.

[@bennyxxd8419]

Thank you! :-)

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@alonkka8469 Why can't I turn a full sized guitar into a Large Cuban Tres? The strings I chose for it are from a pack of Daddario EJ41 extra light gauge 12 string guitar strings. 1st Course: Octave E String, High E String 2nd Course: 2 B Strings 3rd Course: High G String, Regular G String

[@LaMusicade4]

That’s actually how the tres was developed... poor folk couldn’t buy one so they converted old guitars.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

A very clever way to reuse old guitars and to get then back up and running.

[@DylanV-g2k]

can someone please tell me the string order like i know the high e goes with the d string.but if anyone could let me know the rest that would be great.

[@9thchord]

Hi!! Great video. I made a conversion out of a 3/4 classical guitar too. It's very hard to play, not in tune and the action is quite high. Did you sand the bridge by any chance? What's the distance between the fretboard and the strings in fret number 12? Thanks again for sharing this.

[@alonkka8469]

+Stef Thanks! Yes, I did sand the bridge with a belt sander. I put in an aftermarket bone bridge and had to take off quite a bit. I just eyeballed it and did some trial and error before I got it down far enough. I don't have the measurement. This one in the video is pretty playable for a $20 guitar and it's about as in tune as the original, but obviously not perfect, especially as you move up the neck. Good luck!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@alonkka8469 The Gauges of Strings we're upgrading to are going to be from a set of Extra light gauge 12 String Guitar strings: High G, Regular G, 2 B Strings (Tuned to C), Octave E String, High E String.

[@thedarthknith3491]

I tried myself with a nylon guitar, but if tune the G string, when I press the 12th fret, it becomes veeeery off tune. Do you know what it could be ?

[@AlOnkka]

If the G string is in tune at the nut (open position) and out of tune at the 12th fret, that means your intonation is off. Steel strings have more tension than nylon so your neck could have shifted and you might have to adjust your truss rod if you have one. If you don't have one, you are out of luck and will have to just play in first position.

[@thedarthknith3491]

@@AlOnkka ouch! Thanks for your answer. I found a solution. I'm tuning the G string a bit lower, so it's less off on the 12th string. Everything is still a bit out of tune, but i like to think that it's just how tres sound haha Thanks for your amazing video, pal! I'm going to make one out of an acoustic guitar :)

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

12:01 Picks up Guitar pick

[@bentuur20]

awesome.. i am definitely doing this on with my old guitar.. but i am having a little confusion about which strings to use…!!! u used martins steel strings.. 1st chorus - high E and D strings 2nd chorus -??? 3rd chorus - ??? and the tuning of the individual strings ??!!! :( please share some light on these.. thank you.

[@AlOnkka]

Good luck KaPtel. Here is a good explanation about how to string the tres and which strings to use.

[@bentuur20]

Al Onkka but i need to know the tuning.. of all individual strings..(from low to high or high to low)... sorry to bother you.. :/

[@AlOnkka]

KaPtel Sorry! Forgot the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZ6skp-tnrOlhqs Mind elsewhere.

[@bentuur20]

thank you so much… :)

[@vassilenstamboliyski632]

Is there a difference between converting a classical or an acoustic guitar? And is there a specific reason why the guitar is 3/4?

[@AlOnkka]

Either style of guitar should work. 3/4 size is closer to the traditional size of a tres. You could do any size really.

[@lliatto]

Hice! I need some help, what string are you using for this?

[@AlOnkka]

Here's a video about how to string the guitar. @

[@eugenioayala-tirado2398]

Ok..first 2 E strings? Then 2 seconds, and then a third and a fifth?

[@juanpa305rm]

muy buenas amigo quisiera saber cuales son esas cuerda hago referencia si es MI DO SOL ???

[@aypapa1]

de arriba a abajo G E alta estas 2 hacen G B B estas 2 hacen C D E alta estas 2 hacen E

[@brunohaine2522]

Do you need to buy 2 sets of strings or just one

[@AlOnkka]

2 sets

[@brunohaine2522]

+Al Onkka Thank you, which strings do I pick out of the 2 sets?

[@AlOnkka]

+Bruno Haine check out this tutorial for stringing the guitar. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rZ6skp-tnrOlhqs

[@titorock21]

Nice

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

@@AlOnkka Why not just use one set of Daddario Extra Light Gauge 12 String Guitar Strings instead EJ41? 1st Course: Octave E String, High E String 2nd Course: 2 B Strings 3rd Course: High G String, Regular G String

[@manueltello1722]

Disculpe usted señor pero la encordadura que debe llevar el tres cubano es la siguiente: como primeras cuerdas son 2 de calibre .009, como segundas 2 de calibre .011, y como terceras 1 calibre .009 (la de arriba) y la otra .022 la de abajo y usted le colocó a la conversión que hizo a su guitarra otros calibres de cuerda. Y así le quedará de arriba hacia abajo SOL, DO, MI, tocadas al aire. El tres cubano debe de afinarse en DO MAYOR. Un saludo desde México.

[@jennifercraig2057]

Could this be done in a similar way with a baritone ukulele?

[@AlOnkka]

Probably not. You need six tuning pegs for the six strings on the tres. A uke has four pegs right?

[@Muzikman127]

I guess you could make a dos haha

[@calcetasusadas]

jajajajaj you smark

[@carlosmacmartin4205]

Trace? It's pronounced Trehs

[@jesshernandez8336]

Cuban trace??

[@jesshernandez8336]

trace? Trës