Need realistic guitar strings that will stand up away from the neck, just like real ones...
Can I do this in something edible? And I know about spaghetti and stuff like that but not sure I can piece spaghetti together for the entire length of the guitar....
what about shoe string licorice? (It usually comes in red or black, I have used the black for strings)
Hi Kitagrl...
I have 2 guitars in my photo gallery and I used 1mm silver elastic cord that is used for stringing jewelry. I know you mentioned something edible possibly, but I couldn't find anything that looked "realistic" enough for me that was edible. Just a suggestion. HTH...
I have personally used fish line for the guitar that I did, wrapped around tooth picks at either end. Worked well. However, I have seen strings done with pulled sugar. I have yet to try it but really want to. That's probably the only way that you would have to get them edible, long enough in one piece and stiff enough to be "off the neck". Keep us posted!!
I may have to use jewelry cord...how did you get it pulled tight?
I thought about pulled sugar but am worried about it being extremely brittle, and then extremely sharp when its broken.....
The customer says she wants the guitar to look like it could be picked up and played (that realistic) and so I'm not sure if I can make edible strings THAT realistic without using something non edible....
It wasn't easy at all but when I inserted the toothpicks I inserted them at an angle that the wrapped end was pointing towards the 2 ends of the guitar (so outwards, not towards the center). It can't be too tight that the toothpick is then pulled and rips the cake. I then covered the toothpicks. The only other thing would be to use the tiny hole extruder as others are saying with gumpaste (make extra), let it harden for a day or two and try that.....you could airbrush them or dust them silver. Good Luck!!!
I made the bridge out of gumpaste with 6 holes to take the 6 strings. Then I made 6 turning pegs for the other end of the neck out of toothpicks and attached the 6 strings to each and when I inserted the toothpicks into the head of the guitar I was actually able to turn the pegs to tighten the elastic cord up just as you would on a real guitar. It's unfortunate that I couldn't find an edible solution, but the elastic cord gave a very realistic look to the guitar...which is what my client also wanted. They were very happy with the outcome. (The white and black electric guitar in my gallery...it was for a l6 year old young man.)
Good Luck with your guitar!
(The elastic jewelry cord I purchased from Michael's and was just long enough to do the 6 strings for my cake. Less than $2.)
I'll be interested to see what you come up with. I have my second guitar cake sitting on my table right now. The first one I made, I used thread. Worked really well until the first time I picked up the cake! This one I tried everything I could think of, even real wire, the problem is, everything that will hold form, would sag when I let go of it. Any thing that would not sag would tear my fondant. 
I finally gave up & just piped the strings! 
Of course I have not been at this as long as some of you have, so I am sure there will be a better suggestion. Just wish I knew the answer yesterday! Good luck! 
sebrina - did your cake board flex when you picked it up? Maybe you needed a thicker, sturdier board?
I would advise against pulled sugar. I deal with it a lot on croquembouches and any heat/humidity can cause fine threads to simply dissolve or wilt.
The only other thing yu could try is piping flexible RI (use a GP dry mixture), use that unbreakable gel stuff piped out, or use sugar veil. I have never done any of these, however, so they are just ideas to promote discussion 
No, the board didn't flex. The thread was so light that the slightest bit of wind (from moving it, the ceiling fan, or blowing out the candles) would tangle all of them together. Yeah and of course it was all in butter cream so every time it rolled up, it took some of the icing with it. Hey, live & learn!
I used dental floss for strings on my banjo cake, and it worked out really well. I made fondant pegs with a hole through them and after they dried, I just tied the dental floss to it, wrapped it around and poked it down in the head stock. Not edible, but I figured people wouldn't mind dental floss touching their cake.
I used dental floss for strings on my banjo cake, and it worked out really well. I made fondant pegs with a hole through them and after they dried, I just tied the dental floss to it, wrapped it around and poked it down in the head stock. Not edible, but I figured people wouldn't mind dental floss touching their cake.
omg, I just looked at your banjo cake, and it's AMAZING!!! I think the dental floss was a good idea and looked quite realistic. Your other cakes are just as beautiful. You're a true artist!
On this cake I used Sugar Veil for the strings. I was actually able to tie them around the tuning pegs! My only regret was forgetting to paint them silver. (grrrr)
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1164479
On this cake I used silver jewelry cord. I think it looked really good. http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2872061750053175376bImtkO
On this cake I used silver jewelry cord. I think it looked really good.
I agree...although not edible I think the cord is the most realistic looking and for me it was the easiest to work with also.
I used a clay gun and a really small round hole. If you do this, make lots they break really easy. I was having such issues that I could not get them straight on the cake. I am very interested to hear if anyone else had luck with anything else...
I did have luck with using the extruder. I just used grey fondant and dry brushed them with silver lustre dust. I like everything edible (if possible). Here's the guitar:
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1562570
I have the solution to realistic EDIBLE guitar strings..I was determined to find a way to make edible strings as i am very particular about my cakes I had a wonderful idea but before i could try it a new idea popped in my head...it came to me when I realized what a pain it was when i would chop celery and some of it would string off! Yes celery might not be the thing you would imagine on a cake as it is not sweet at all but it is food- and surprisingly strong in string form! I have tested my theory and was pleased with the results.. the only problem I had was a single stalk is not as long as a guitar string- however i was able to tie the strings together to form longer ones with ease- the knots were so small upon giving it a tug that you dont even see them on the finished product unless you seek them out and you have to look hard! to make the strings the way i did: start by chopping off the top of the celery as you normally would, thn with your fingernail or other tool start a string by scraping at the celery until a string begins to form, gently continue to pull down the entire length of celery. You will need to do this many times as not all of the stringed pieces will be exactly matching in size. once you have several pieces pick out the ones with the most uniform size then tie together to form the length you want. I used edible dust luster in gold to color the strings, i have not yet tried airbrushing or coloring with liquid but i will try it in the future. I still intend to try my first idea for strings as soon as I go to the store to pick up what i will need for it, if it works i will share that idea as well! I hope this works out for you guys as beautifully as it did for me!
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%