Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Fomhorach on March 13, 2016 at 12:22pm

Have you just sat back and wondered why this instrument sounds better? Is it the precision of the frets? Is it the size of the body producing deeper tones? Is it simply the scale length? Could it be that you now have 6 strings? Might it be a tapered neck, rounded neck, rounded fretboard?

If you figure out why you like it, you can then dismantle it with a hammer. I'm sure you will feel much better afterwards. Also, you will have all those wonderful left over bits to use.

I'm half joking. Hey if you like the sound it makes then keep it. I tend to like messing about on various instruments just to give my ears and fingers a fresh edge.
I especially like changing scale lengths and switching from amp electric to acoustic.

Next for me is string numbers. :)

Edit.. My guitars usually emerge as mine over time as I dent scratch decal paint etc. The only thing I tend to do is name them, usually a woman's name and write the name on them. Most times I ask a child to come up with the name.

Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on March 13, 2016 at 12:54pm

Oh the shame of it!! LOL  Many of us have treasured factory made instruments in our collection and I would definitely not tear apart my Telecaster to make a CBG. They're simply different instruments and that should be respected. On my collab with Vinnie I felt a bit off about using a factory flute but that was the sound I was hearing in my head so I went with it along with my cigar box fiddle. And if you look at Vinnies original vid of Last Train to Amity you can see that he uses a cool combination of factory and homemade instruments on his loops.Fomhorach gave good advice - try to analyze what it is that you like on that guitar and then incorporate it into future builds. 

Permalink Reply by MadGomer on March 13, 2016 at 1:48pm

We're not gonna toss you out just for having a factory git, it's a safe bet that the majority of us do. If it sounds good and fits you, enjoy the heck out of it and play on. You'll probably find a reason to change things up a bit before long and tinker with the cbg's as well.

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 13, 2016 at 1:49pm

Well to answer the questions asked, I think I like the guitar I bought for a few reasons. It's small enough for me to hold comfortably and get my arms around even when I'm in pain. I love my last build but that box is huge to get your arm around and when my shoulder's hurting it's a total pain. Literally. Also, the thinness of the neck is sooo comfortable when playing. Another thing is the super-low action of the strings. So easy to get a clean note out of that even my pinky is able to do so! Then there's the whole hollow body thing with its deep tones. Just beautiful. I'm considering putting a piezo in it but, as you mentioned Wayfinder, I need to research it first and make sure it's not truly a 1972 build.

All in all, with the above things combined, I've learned a LOT about what I need in a build from this one purchase. It was a super low price of £30 and that makes it a steal simply because of what I've learned about what I like and/or need in future builds.

I think I'll likely keep it as is. If it's NOT a vintage guitar then I may adorn it with stickers and such so that it fits in with how I perceive my image to be. It'd be a lot easier than giving it a cigar box style coat and not as pointless as giving it said coat. We'll see but first comes the research.

Thanks all for the advice and helping me to question what it is that I love about it. It's definitely going to serve me well so thanks to those who mentioned that I should think on these things. Much appreciated.

Bear.

Oh, I should add, the make is a 'Valencia'. Not a big name but none the less a thing of beauty.

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 14, 2016 at 3:17am

Valencia cg160 1/2 Wayfinder. I had a look and it's an entry level "quality" beginners and students half-sized guitar. They're selling them online for around the £50-£60 area so I guess my £30 cost was pretty good, though not an antique it would appear. Not to worry, I'm falling in love with the tone and simplicity of playing and didn't feel this way before I knew it was an el-cheapo so the el-cheapo won't affect how much I like it :)

Oh, this also means that the sticker brigade can go crazy with it luls. Thanks for the help.

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on March 14, 2016 at 3:41am

We need a picture or it doesn't exist.

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on March 14, 2016 at 7:16am

People would disguise a banjo?  Stealth technology has gone too far!

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 14, 2016 at 7:50am

A disguised banjo is a pig, or whatever animal it is that drum skins are made out of, doing a square dance with a stick?

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 14, 2016 at 7:47am

It's definitely a guitar. It's guitar shaped, it looks like a guitar, sounds like a guitar and tastes like a guitar. Oh and it's brown which DEFINITELY means it's a guitar because nothing else in the WORLD is guitar coloured brown.

I'll post a video in a couple of days. Right now I'm getting over a shoulder injury and recovering from too much building. I'm HOPING that I'll have my greatest build to date ready to show in the next week to ten days. For one who professes to be allergic to hard work I've been breaking my mantra with this one.

I'm quickly learning that I need a bandsaw too! I've seen one on the local flea market for around £60 (or at least I THINK he said £60) but it's going to have to wait until another pay day when I can spare the cash. I just hope that he doesn't sell it to one of the uncivilised lot that'd probably use it for something other than guitar making. Silly people. Don't they know that guitar making is where wood work should start and stop?!

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on March 13, 2016 at 3:04pm

Simple solution. 

 1) Do you like it?

 2) Does it sound good and make you happy?

 3) If the answer to those two questions is yes there is no need to go any farther.

 Keep it, enjoy it and be happy.

Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on March 13, 2016 at 3:24pm

meh  . they are call  cbg  mods  . totally acceptable  .

gretch 5850 bo diddley 3 stringer mod

gibson mod 

national  mod

framus mod 

etc etc etc

heh  heh heh    ;-}

Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on March 13, 2016 at 3:59pm

then again  . if  it  aint   broke  or  half broke  ,,  dont  fix  it  .  ;-)

 or  do  ...  ;-)

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