Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Hans on December 15, 2017 at 1:58am

What kind of bridge are you using? The easiest solution to your problem would probably be a lower bridge. The block of wood string retainer thing that you're tralking about works behind the nut if your strings aren't angled enough, but it doesn't work on the bridge side of things...

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Permalink Reply by Korrigan on December 15, 2017 at 1:59am

It shouldn't be a problem having the fretboard flush with the box. To lower the strings you need to lower the nut and/or bridge. If you place something over the strings between the nut and bridge then it would effectively become the nut, changing your scale length.

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on December 15, 2017 at 2:04am

Hello Diesel.

Trust me, you're not the first person to have this kind of problem. It is correctable and shouldn't require removal of the fret board. But, some more information is needed.

1. Is your main concern that the string action is too high? If the fret board is flush with the edge of the box, then I wouldn't say it is too low.

2. What are you using for the nut? is it a bolt sitting on top of the fret board? A photo would really help to understand what you are up against.

3. Is this guitar fretted or is it a slider? If it's a slider, the action height is not really an issue.

Pressing the strings down with a board doesn't really make any sense. Logic says they will spring back.

Get a photo and you will find a solution somewhere on this board.

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Permalink Reply by David L. on December 15, 2017 at 2:04am

Hi Diesel,

Are you able to post some photos of your CBG face on and sideways please?  Knowing the layout helps to solve the problem.

In general - adding wood to lower strings only works to get strings to sit on a nut or saddle without sliding off and the wood sits outside the nut to bridge/saddle area of the strings.  You are not able to do it along the strings between the nut and saddle because it mutes the string.  Lowering the strings can be done by adding a thicker fretboard, lower height to the nut or saddle or by angling the neck so the head of the guitar moves backwards in relation to the guitar body.  Seeing the design of your CBG will point to which of these are possible.

Regards,

David L.

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Permalink Reply by DIESEL on December 15, 2017 at 7:17am

Thanks for the replies!

Here's how I tried it first. 

Attachments:

• image.jpeg, 1.2 MB

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Permalink Reply by Korrigan on December 15, 2017 at 7:26am

From the pic it looks like you already have some backwards angle on the neck, so that's good. Just need to lower the bridge and maybe the nut. 

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Permalink Reply by DIESEL on December 15, 2017 at 7:34am

Having problems posting pictures... Sorry about that!

[IMG]http://i65.tinypic.com/6pqjgn.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i64.tinypic.com/2gyavr8.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://i68.tinypic.com/2wq4mti.jpg[/IMG]

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Permalink Reply by Korrigan on December 15, 2017 at 7:49am

Looks like your nut is probably ok. Now you could loosen the strings, take out the bridge, pull a string up to where you would like it, measure between the string and the box, head to the hardware store and find a bolt, set screw or threaded rod close to what you measured.

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Permalink Reply by DIESEL on December 15, 2017 at 7:47am

Having problems posting 3 pictures in one post. 

I lowered down to this. 

Attachments:

• image.jpeg, 1.1 MB

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Permalink Reply by Korrigan on December 15, 2017 at 7:55am

Cool, looks like you've got it figured out. How does it feel? Have enough space between the strings and box for your style of playing?

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Permalink Reply by David L. on December 15, 2017 at 8:22am

That looks better.

How does it feel to you now?

Players who like slide would have been happy with the strings the way they were.

Finger pluckers would want them much lower.

Players who do both would want it in between.

Looking at the photos you have a zero fret as a nut so that is as low as it can be,  you have put in a lot of effort to fret the neck so fixing another board over the top is too much work to do, it is a neck through the box with extra wood supporting underneath inside the box (I am guessing from the photos) so trying to increase the neck to body angle will be a pain to do. Finally you might just be able to squeeze out an extra bit from the bridge.

If you are happy with it now then great, if not you might get into slide playing in a big way sometime in the future.  You have a great looking guitar to do that with...and best of all you now have an excuse for guitar number two :0)

Another possibility - A couple of years back I had a similar one and in the end I switched to classical guitar strings - they always play classical guitars  with extra string height due to the increased vibration compared to steel stringed instruments.  The string tension is much lower so you don't notice the increased height.  If you try this be aware classical strings take a week or two to settle in.

Regards,

David L.

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Permalink Reply by Tom T on December 15, 2017 at 8:58am

I like your solution. One of my best players has a threaded rod sitting on the box top like you have.

That should have lowered your string action drastically. What is the string height above the 12th fret? If it's in the 0.100" to 0.125" you should be good to go for fretting and sliding (depending on the string size and tension).

You should tune it up, check the intonation and spend some time getting to know it. I think you have a nice player in your hands.

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