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My first attempt..

having done loads of research i started to gather materials, bought a few bits from c.b.gitty and then set about doing what we all have done, build my first cigar box guitar.

i did it over a few months, little bits when i had time between other projects, a job and my daughter.

i dont know how i missed it, but when i strung the guitar the strings are too high from the neck, so i set to work to find out what ive done wrong, i had completely overlooked the fretboard because i didnt want to fret the guitar.

now i have to hunt for a board that will work, sand the finish off the front of the neck and glue the fretless fret board into place..

what spacing am i looking for between the strings and board?

few pics here : http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/albums/kastro

and heres the pic of the nut/strings.

Kas.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on December 11, 2011 at 7:30pm

Well, you don't necessarily have to add a fretboard to the neck. You could just lower the height of the strings by lowering the nut. If you do that, you might have to add what is known as a string tree to hold the strings down against the nut slots.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on December 11, 2011 at 7:32pm

If you have Skype, I can probably explain it better to you over a voice chat.

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Permalink Reply by Kastro Freeman on December 11, 2011 at 7:43pm

the string tree, its a little bar thats screwed into place above the nut? do people make them for their guitars or can you buy them somewhere? i was looking for them on C.B.Gitty but couldnt see them anywhere.

also i do have skype, ill message you the contact.

Dan Sleep said:

If you have Skype, I can probably explain it better to you over a voice chat.

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on December 11, 2011 at 7:45pm

OK, I will be on Skype for a bit tonight, and mostly in the evening East Coast USA time.

Kastro Freeman said:

the string tree, its a little bar thats screwed into place above the nut? do people make them for their guitars or can you buy them somewhere? i was looking for them on C.B.Gitty but couldnt see them anywhere.

also i do have skype, ill message you the contact.

Dan Sleep said:

If you have Skype, I can probably explain it better to you over a voice chat.

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Permalink Reply by Kastro Freeman on December 11, 2011 at 8:17pm

thanks for the help Dan, ill put updates as i do some work on her :)

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on December 12, 2011 at 8:06am

Kas,

Dan will be able to explain it to you, but here's one link as a basis for comparison:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Hardware,_parts/Electric_guitar:_String...

Or you can use a piece of metal (say, a flattened spoon or fork handle) screwed into the headstock behind the nut. A metal strap can serve the same purpose:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_315665-1277-MPB118_4294934399_4294937087_?p...=

Oily

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on December 12, 2011 at 8:08am

Thanks for chiming in. We had a short Skype call last night about this, and he has some stuff he is going to try. He is using all hand tools so he has to get creative, but I am sure he will work something out.

Oily "Strat-O'-Nine-Tales" Fool said:

Kas,

Dan will be able to explain it to you, but here's one link as a basis for comparison:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Hardware,_parts/Electric_guitar:_String...

Or you can use a piece of metal (say, a flattened spoon or fork handle) screwed into the headstock behind the nut. A metal strap can serve the same purpose:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_315665-1277-MPB118_4294934399_4294937087_?p...=

Oily