Hi everyone, my name is Iván Artesi from Pinamar, Argentina, and i'm glad of having found this page!!!..
At this moment i'm trying, with a friend of mine, to restore a Cucculelli 11 string alto-guitar.
When i've bought it, it came with no tuners and no strings.
I've solved the tuners problem, but i'm not shure about wich strings i should put, specially the low ones.
Can I use the six regular guitar string for the higher part and then 6th string repeted 5 times for the lower part? or should i buy specially made string.
In this case, i would like the know the diameters and the most utilized brands.

Hope hearing news soon!
Iván Artesi This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Thanks for sharing data!

You use a regular 6-string set for the first six strings and a 6th string from a regular set for all the lower basses. The successively longer string length adds the extra tension required to allow lower and lower bass notes, so you don't need to get thicker and thicker strings.

I order strings from stringsbymail.com

I use D'Addario normal tension sets. You can order the 6th string individually for the extra bass strings. Here is the link to stringsbymail D'Addario normal tension 6th string.
http://www.stringsbymail.com/store/daddario-pro-arte-j4506-6th-string-e-normal-tension-67.html

Glen

Thank you Glen!
you've helped me a lot!

Welcome Iván!

I agree with Glen concerning the strings.
Good luck with your fine alto guitar!

Best regards,
Sten

Thank you Sten,
I'm delighted for having found this page and start being part of this wonderfull community.
As soon as I finished restoring i will upload some photos.

Iván

Welcome Iván!

The alto guitar has a theorbated that will let you use 6th strings for all lower notes. However, there are some nice alternatives from Hannabach. I use 5 strings of increasing thickness, which gives a very full and rich bass. Also I use the medium tension savarez alliance (the red) for the top six. They add some extra tension, which makes ornamentation a bit harder, but it adds alot of core to the sound. Very warm trebles. I think most of the guys I studied with used Savarez.

But next time I restring the top 6 - I'll try D'addario, for comparison.