bridge placement

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Permalink Reply by Jonathan on March 23, 2010 at 10:24am

seems like a floating bridge is the way to go i.e., don't glue it down or anything. the body (cigar box) should support it and if it's strung from the tail the pressure of the strings will hold it down. I haven't actually finished my first build yet but this is what I've gathered from my hours of searching, reading and well ahem....trolling.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Gajeski on March 23, 2010 at 10:46am

I like to leave a recess in the neck that extends for most of the length of the top so that there is nothing to stop the top from vibrating. That said, I've seen it done both ways and the other way seems to work well too.

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Permalink Reply by ty harvala on March 23, 2010 at 11:00am

seems to me the lid which is very thin wood , would cave in somewhat, even a hint after time, from the tention on the strings pushing down, causing the strings to lower, then hitting the frets at box end of neck?

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Permalink Reply by Darwin Gentry on March 23, 2010 at 11:14am

You are right it will dull the sound You want the top to vibrate as much as possible

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on March 23, 2010 at 4:07pm

Nope. its thick enough.

-WY

ty harvala said:

seems to me the lid which is very thin wood , would cave in somewhat, even a hint after time, from the tention on the strings pushing down, causing the strings to lower, then hitting the frets at box end of neck?

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on March 23, 2010 at 4:08pm

+5 Michael.

I cut a 1/4" recess for the lid then about .75" from that I cut an extra 1/6" recess so the lid will vibrate. You will also want to look into reinforcing the neck underneath. See my pics for more info.

-WY

Michael Gajeski said:

I like to leave a recess in the neck that extends for most of the length of the top so that there is nothing to stop the top from vibrating. That said, I've seen it done both ways and the other way seems to work well too.

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on March 23, 2010 at 4:08pm

Floating. Tacked down. Either way works.

-WY

Jonathan said:

seems like a floating bridge is the way to go i.e., don't glue it down or anything. the body (cigar box) should support it and if it's strung from the tail the pressure of the strings will hold it down. I haven't actually finished my first build yet but this is what I've gathered from my hours of searching, reading and well ahem....trolling.

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Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on March 23, 2010 at 4:15pm

You did not say what kind of box it is and how thick the lid is. Most box's will work fine, as Wes has said but there is always an exception. I have an Ashton box with a lid that is about 1/16" thick maybe a hair more and it pushes down really easy with my finger. I am planning to add some kind of support but I don't want much to deaden the sound either. This is an extreme case I think. Wes correct me if I am wrong.

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on March 23, 2010 at 5:09pm

You are spot on Michael. I forgot that there are some boxes that are half as thick than I use. There are also some boxes that, well, are not really wood and they too may be a little on the weak side. I haven't found many of those. I guess I just reject them . I think that boxes like the ones you see at convenience stores don't really make good CBGs.

-WY

MichaelS said:

You did not say what kind of box it is and how thick the lid is. Most box's will work fine, as Wes has said but there is always an exception. I have an Ashton box with a lid that is about 1/16" thick maybe a hair more and it pushes down really easy with my finger. I am planning to add some kind of support but I don't want much to deaden the sound either. This is an extreme case I think. Wes correct me if I am wrong.

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on March 23, 2010 at 11:03pm

Quit worrying and start building...... If you mess something up, you learn and get better.

the best,

Wichita Sam

ty harvala said:

seems to me the lid which is very thin wood , would cave in somewhat, even a hint after time, from the tention on the strings pushing down, causing the strings to lower, then hitting the frets at box end of neck?

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Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on March 23, 2010 at 11:05pm

Then just put on a higher bridge and keep playing.

ty harvala said:

seems to me the lid which is very thin wood , would cave in somewhat, even a hint after time, from the tention on the strings pushing down, causing the strings to lower, then hitting the frets at box end of neck?

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Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on March 24, 2010 at 9:03am

LOL, yea, if it flex's enough it will hit the thru neck sooner or later. : ) Another good reason for a floating bridge, no glue to scrape off

Diane in Chicago said:

Then just put on a higher bridge and keep playing.

ty harvala said:

seems to me the lid which is very thin wood , would cave in somewhat, even a hint after time, from the tention on the strings pushing down, causing the strings to lower, then hitting the frets at box end of neck?

• ▶ Reply

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