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Finally finished!!!

I finally got my first build complete, mostly. My high G string broke as I was tuning it up. As a guitarist, it's nothing new to have a string break every now and then, so I still make due for now.

Anyway, here's my unnamed geetar, feel free to drop a name for it down in the comments if y'all'd like.

Started with an empty cigar box and a 1"x2"x3' slab of poplar, salvaged some copper piping from an old house my dad and myself had to fix, ordered some strings, some fretwire, and a fretting template, and in about 14 hours worth of labor, out came a geetar.

For anybody who is reading this that hasn't built a git yet, don't fret it. (Horrible joke, I know and apologize).

But seriously, It's really simple when you really get into it. Have fun making it, and don't stress about it. I had fun throughout the entirety of my project, even though I stressed majorly about making a fretboard, and once I made the fretboard, I realized it wasn't worth stressing over. It was super simple, easy, and fun.

Anyway, enough rambling.

Thanks to all the people who have given me their advice in the build, you've all helped me a ton, and without all'a y'all, I probably wouldn't have been able to figure all this stuff out and actually build a git.

Oh, and one more thing. I see why you all call this "Madness". Everything that's box shaped that I see now is already turning into a git in my head, and truth be told, I love it.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by JL on January 16, 2018 at 1:24am

canted neck is not big deal, some folks made ones with a deliberately really canted neck, the question of the day is how playable is it?

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on January 16, 2018 at 11:03am

Hi JL, sorry what is meant by a canted neck?

Taff

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on January 17, 2018 at 12:09am

not square to the body.. canted over at an angle...

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on January 17, 2018 at 11:38am

Thanks, I do this all the time to get the correct bridge/saddle height, but never knew it was called that.

Taff

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on January 17, 2018 at 11:26pm

i think the neck is tilted in the other plane Taffy not front to back, follow the string spacing down the neck.

totally not a criticism of the build. i dont think mine is exactly straight either..lol

Permalink Reply by JL on January 18, 2018 at 12:28am

OP said the neck shifted when attaching, 8° out of square to the sides, different from back angle.

Permalink Reply by Roland Wood on January 29, 2018 at 3:51am

JL, I'm not positive that it's 8* off, that's just a guess lol

Permalink Reply by Roland Wood on January 17, 2018 at 11:27am

Plays well, but I definitely can't wait for number 2 in hopes that it'll be even better

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on January 17, 2018 at 11:27pm

no doubt it will, and the third and the fourth...lol

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Permalink Reply by Gary W aka Rev. Bluejeans on January 19, 2018 at 12:45pm

Roland - a couple quick thoughts and suggestions. I've never seen this done, but you could put some screws between the bridge and tailstock to pull the strings over into better alignment (like on your headstock). It should not negatively affect playing or the sound, as the only string length you really care about is the free length between the nut and bridge. Helps to compensate for the shift in your neck, and is also pretty unique! Hope this makes sense!

I swap out bridges all the time! I agree that the copper tube might not be ideal for transmitting vibrations to the box. I've used pre-made bridges, bolts and scrap pieces of wood. It's more a matter of tuning the bridge to the guitar, either for the appearance you want or to best produce the sound.

Sound holes can help; but they can be very simple. Cool ones add to the beauty of the CBG, but a 5/8" or larger hole or holes can also work. I think they contribute to the volume of the instrument, but don't expect huge gains in sound level. Part of it is - they're cool!

Congrats on your first build! Lots of info is available here, as you know. You have a very solid start! Looking forward to your next, and your next, and your next......

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on January 19, 2018 at 1:22pm

Hi, as this is not a tapered fingerboard the strings are the same spacing all the way up, so maybe they do not need fixing in place. The spacing at the tail piece would be the same as the nut.

if you want the strings to better follow the neck, move the tail piece over. This will also remove any side pull on the neck, that could cause issues down the track. Just info for future builds.

cheers Taff

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Permalink Reply by Roland Wood on January 29, 2018 at 3:58am

Much appreciated! Hopefully the neck-cant won't be an issue on the next build. And thats the only reason string alignment was (and still kinda is) such a problem. The only reason it is the way it is on this one is that I got a bit excited and mismarked my drilling point on the neck. But ya live and ya learn, trial and error has always been a big thing in my life.