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Neck queries

So I've built a cbg before but it was an electric 3 string guitar with a through neck. Thing is my friend asked me to build him a Cigar box uke, a tenor, and I think it would be better if it wasn't a through neck since its gonna be acoustic so how do I attach it?, I have an idea on how to make the neck but will some glue be enough to stick it on?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jillian Baxter on March 31, 2012 at 8:24am

My first build was a Uke with through neck and it sounds fine. The second one is in process now and I routed out a bit of the neck under the bridge and it is even better.

Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on March 31, 2012 at 9:55am

You could make it with a heel and glue it to the box from the outside. Go to the grizzly tools web site, they have a kit uke and you can download the instructions for it. All they do is glue the neck to the body. I think this works because the string tension on ukes is so low compared to steel strung guitars. Please note, I have not yet made a uke so this is just hearsay on my part.

Permalink Reply by PhilUSAFRet on March 31, 2012 at 1:33pm

I'd glue a support inside the box and screw in the neck from inside...can do both...screw and glue. I'm doing a modified version of that for my 29" Kala U-bass insipred bass guitar, but will run brace from front of body to back, and up to top.

Permalink Reply by Chuck Cobillas on March 31, 2012 at 7:39pm

Phil,
I would love to see some pics of that project!

Permalink Reply by PhilUSAFRet on March 31, 2012 at 8:26pm

Gonna document every step.

Permalink Reply by Chuck Cobillas on March 31, 2012 at 8:36pm

Cool, can't wait!

Permalink Reply by Glenn Reither on April 20, 2012 at 7:18am

Ha! I'm planning one of those too. Fretted, cos the fretless one is a bit impractical, given the short scale. Will be very interested to see and hear how yours turns out.

Permalink Reply by James O'Connor on April 1, 2012 at 8:16am

Thanks guys, I think I'll screw and glue it with a heel and a support inside the box. I had a look at that site and its very helpful. I'm probably gonna have more questions so talk to you soon!

Permalink Reply by herb Berwald WWW.CigarGuitar.com on April 1, 2012 at 8:50am

Perhaps its overkill, but I bevel the heal at around a 1 degree angle, then I drill two 3/8 inch holes and install threaded inserts, they are usually brass and are coarse on the outside and 1/4-20 on the inside. Cut SS all-thread with a dremmel to length, install the studs and nut inside the box. I usually install some reinforcement to the end of the box as it will sometimes bow the end due to string tension. This way you can also fine tune neck angle with a shim if needed. I seem to never get the angle right.

Good luck!

Permalink Reply by James O'Connor on April 2, 2012 at 8:48am

Hey guys,another question for you, For a tenor ukulele what should the width of the fingerboard be??

Permalink Reply by Jillian Baxter on April 2, 2012 at 9:02am

I bought some pre-made bone nuts and they are 1 3/8 inches.

Permalink Reply by PhilUSAFRet on April 2, 2012 at 11:34am

Fretboards vary in width a little, depending on maker. 1 3/8" for a tenor uke is about average I know Oscar schmidt makes one model with a wide fretboard. I'm doing 1 1/2" on my bass uke...it's a baritone size instrument.