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Neck help needed :)

Hey Everyone,

I am about to build my first CBG and very excited.... I have collected all the parts and have some great bits to make a complex first build (I am a boat builder so should be alright).

I have a wicked glass topped Cohiba box, which I am cutting all the holes in and have a floating bridge.

My problem is the neck, I have a lovely piece of black walnut which I would like to use. I would like a four string CBG and I dont want to put a fretboard on it, just put the frets directly into the neck. My aim is to bolt on the neck too....

So I am not sure on:

scale length - 25.5?? THat was my thought

Taper the neck? DO I do this?

Radius the fretboard?

What dimensions do I cut my neck too?

I am sure I have missed out loads of questions but would really appreciate some help :)

Thanks very much!!

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on June 14, 2016 at 5:47am

This beginner video might help a bit.

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/basic-neck-layout

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Permalink Reply by Rob on June 14, 2016 at 11:27am

Thankyou!!!

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Permalink Reply by Rob on June 14, 2016 at 11:13am

Thank you for the comprehensive reply! I am excited and start to chop stuff up tomorrow.

I have a bridge and tailpiece from a mandolin coming... and some nice tuners!

Just need to start carving

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Permalink Reply by Rob on June 14, 2016 at 11:28am

So where can I get a printout of the fretboard to cut? I have found one site, but I need to fill in some details myself which I am not confident about...

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Permalink Reply by David L. on June 14, 2016 at 12:11pm

Ted Crocker posted this info on Handmade Music Clubhouse
http://handmademusicclubhouse.com/forum/topics/measure-fret-spacing...

If you are having trouble getting the programs to run look part way down for the post by Randy Webb - he has made a zip file of scale lengths 11" to 25.5". Once you print out the file you need to check your printer hasn't reformatted the size and screwed up the measurements. (Nut to 12th fret should be half the scale length. Or to be more thorough compare with StewMac's chart for the same scale length https://www.stewmac.com/FretCalculator.html).

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Permalink Reply by Kigar on June 14, 2016 at 2:32pm

I also use the stew mac calculator but measure with calipers or lay the neck on a guitar and just mark the fret positions (when I have access to one with the scale length I want)

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Permalink Reply by JL on June 15, 2016 at 1:41am

use a fret calculator and measure/cut the fret slots yourself.

do not do a fret-to-fret measurement, the error in each adds up and your last few frets will be off by a 1/4 in.

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Permalink Reply by Lane Martin on June 16, 2016 at 3:06am

I use FretFind2d (Google will get you there). I save the results as a pdf file, print it out, then stick it on the fretboard (with spray adhesive) and cut through the template. Then just peel the paper off.