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Thread: I Finally Found A Use For Old Guitar Strings.....

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  1. #1
    Join Date
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    913 Jackson Lake Rd, Chatsworth, Ga. 30705 (423) 438-1060
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    Default I Finally Found A Use For Old Guitar Strings.....

    I am a pro musician, and have several guitars, which means I have to change strings often. I have always hated throwing them away, but the only use I ever found for them was using the Phosphor Bronze 1st (E) strings for weed-guards on lures and flies, and metal leaders for saltwater fishing. All the other Bronze strings are too stiff to be able to wrap around a hook. Well, I changed the strings on my classical guitar the other day, and decided to try to use the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd strings (nylon) for flies (on a classical guitar, these are all the same diameter......)

    The result was a great looking bluegill buster pattern. The string gave the body some incredible definition and segmentation. I tested it out in the river behind the house, and all the fish tried to destroy it, Redears, sunfish, SM Bass, a few trout, and even a crappie (which I didn't even know was in there...) all attacked it with murderous abandon. Since this was the 3rd string (G), I am calling the fly the G-String.



    G-String

    Hook: #10 2X Nymph
    Thread: Red 6/0 Unithread
    Eyes: Large Bead Chain, tied Clouser-style
    Tail: White Sparkle Craft Fur
    Underbody: Red Unithread
    Outer Body: Used Nylon Guitar String, in this case, the G-String (3rd)
    Hackle, black Craft Fur in a dubbing loop
    Legs: medium black rubber legs

  2. #2
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    Gig, Is the red from the thread underneath the string or did the string have some color to it. I am completely non-musical so I have never looked at a guitar string for more than 10 seconds.
    Want to hear God laugh? Tell him Your plans!!!

  3. #3
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    The red is from the red thread showing through, sort of a translucent look. On classical (nylon) strings, the first three are plain clear nylon (usually) and the last three (bass) are wrapped with a soft metal thread, usually bronze.

    I'll be experimenting with some other styles shortly, maybe using the wrapped strings for a sort of Copper-Johnish type fly.

    Quote Originally Posted by Uncle Jesse View Post
    Gig, Is the red from the thread underneath the string or did the string have some color to it. I am completely non-musical so I have never looked at a guitar string for more than 10 seconds.

  4. #4
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    Natural gut strings from tennis racquets make great looking caddis pupae when wet. You could try these flies with the guitar strings.

    http://www.flyfisher.ro/en/catgut-a-...r-tying-flies/











    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LaNwsEXf5A
    Last edited by Silver Creek; 10-28-2013 at 03:19 PM.
    Regards,

    Silver

    "Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought"..........Szent-Gyorgy

  5. #5
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    Thanks for the link Silver, now I know what to do with the white fur that comes off our cat.
    Want to hear God laugh? Tell him Your plans!!!

  6. #6
    Join Date
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    Great-looking bugs.
    What size hook, and what are you using for the hackle? I'll give them a shot.

    I love recycling......

    Quote Originally Posted by Silver Creek View Post
    Natural gut strings from tennis racquets make great looking caddis pupae when wet. You could try these flies with the guitar strings.

    http://www.flyfisher.ro/en/catgut-a-...r-tying-flies/











    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LaNwsEXf5A
    Last edited by Gigmaster; 10-29-2013 at 03:36 AM.

  7. #7
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    Elk,WA
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    Default

    love the look great idea

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