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Just finished first CBG

Just finished today. Found a book about CBG's in the library a couple weeks ago and it blew my mind. I can't believe I didn't know about these! I'm hooked for sure now.

I went with a Honduran theme, since that's where the cigars came from. Found a couple Honduran coins on ebay for 99 cents to add to the theme. Oak neck salvaged from a rough sawn sawmill scrap. Skeleton key bridge was 99 cents too.

More pics under my profile if interested, any feedback good or bad appreciated. I'm already thinking about the next one and the main thing I want to change is the lack of a scarf joint at the head. I don't like this straight neck, too hard for the strings to stay put. Also thinking I shouldn't have fretted. I got a low action and works great for fingering, but slide seems hard.

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Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf on September 30, 2012 at 5:35pm

That looks really nice! Just raise the bridge a little. Low at the nut, high at the bridge... good for sliding and fretting. You could just put a little wooden wedge under the key. ¬_¬

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Permalink Reply by Vinylhed on September 30, 2012 at 7:13pm

Looks smart. Nice one!

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on September 30, 2012 at 11:34pm

Atsa preety git, man. Like Clock sez, boost your bridge. Shim it with a piece of Honduran mahogany ;-). Carefully file some string slots(not too deep!) in your skeleton key. Practice your slide technique - a light touch is required for low action. Accept the inevitable fret clunk - use it to your rhythmic advantage. Number 2 will be an improvement over Number 1, but keep Number 1.

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Permalink Reply by Keni Lee Burgess on October 1, 2012 at 2:44am

First CBG...Sweet! Enjoy playing her, Keni Lee

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Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on October 1, 2012 at 4:33am

Low action is good....contrary to what a lot of folks think, you don't need high action for slide. Having it a tiny bit higher than regular guitar action is good, but only maybe a millimeter (1/16") higher at the nut than regular action and 2-3mm (1/8") higher at the 12th fret is all you need for easy slide playing. That way you'll be able to play slide, do fretted chords and bass runs etc.

Playing slide does need a sensitive and light touch. If you blunder away for ages playing slide on a guitar with ridiculously high action you'll find it difficult to really acquire "the touch".

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Permalink Reply by chevytrucking on October 1, 2012 at 9:08am

Well, thanks for all the comments. When I first posted that I wished I hadn't fretted, I had only played around with it just a little. Later, I tried it some more and maybe it'll be fine. It's a technique thing I guess, I am a beginner and I'm starting to get the feel for it. I tend to get a lot of fret clunk around the high string, just got to get used to it.

I did file some grooves in the key as well as flatten the back side a little so it would sit flat. One of the things that really interested me in CBG was the ablitity to customize. Years ago, I tried to learn guitar and never progressed that much. Part of my problem is really big hands, but with this CBG I spaced the strings at 1/2" and even my fingers have plenty of room now!

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on October 10, 2012 at 5:38am

*like***

Nice job on this, outstanding for a first effort really...
If it don't buzz or fret out right up the neck then I don't know why any of these ppl would be advising you to crank the action. You're already building better than a few of em in my estimation. Great stuff :)

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Permalink Reply by Josh Griffin on October 9, 2012 at 12:32am

Im currently working on my first wooden cigar box guitar. I enjoy building mine and hope to be finished with it shortly. I hope to do the fretting this weekend!

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Permalink Reply by chevytrucking on October 9, 2012 at 8:17am

I much better at building than playing, wish it were the other way around. I'm starting another one, this one for my little girl. It's going to have the diatonic fretting in hopes that it will be easier for her to learn some simple songs. I'm also trying a scarf joint neck this time too.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on October 9, 2012 at 1:36pm

Lucky girl, with that sweet Rocky Patel box! There's something to be said for building nice gits, man. Makes all the player-types want 'em ;-)

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Permalink Reply by frank tennyson on October 9, 2012 at 3:50pm

dab nab it, tarnation, just ain't fair. I labor and am proud os something that looks - well it is not asymetrical, is not looking all nice and finished, when one says "warts and all" the warts is pretty much the sum total of the all. Then I see a first build like this - WOW!

Ok, what is the secret I have yet to discover? This thing is beautiful - I want to do beautiful; I want to build beautiful and play amazing! Please God let me do beautiful and amazing!

Have been thinking a lot of Robert Johnson lately. Where was that crossroad he met the Devil at? Hell, I'm thinking of making my own deal.

"I don't know, but I been told, a three string tar ain't got no soul. If you get up, and truck on down, Ol nick is waitin, at the edge of town. He'll give you licks, he'll give you strokes, he'll make you slick, and take you soul".