Comment

Comment by Alan Roberts on April 12, 2010 at 5:14am

Slide guitars tend to have higher actions. If the action is too high, just remove the two nets and nest the threaded rod onto a bridge.

Comment by Wichita Sam on April 12, 2010 at 5:13am

First of all, once a threaded rod in under string tension, it's goin' nowhere... the threads cut into the top and it's "no go, no how"... You can put nuts on bolts and have a nice high action, no problemo.... finally you can grind of a portion of the head of a bolt or machine screw so that you keep the look, but the portion that rests against the top is even with the threaded portion of the bolt/screw....

the best,

Sam

Comment by Craig Cox on April 12, 2010 at 4:42am

Actually, what I got were machine screws, so the slotted head is round. But your suggestion gave me this idea: for the bridge, thread two nuts onto either end, raising the screw and the nuts would keep it from rolling. I think I want to play it with a slide, so I'd need a relatively higher action, right?

Craig's List is a great idea, Sam. There's one for the Buffalo area and nearby Rochester, too. Thanks.

Comment by Brian Watson on April 12, 2010 at 4:32am

For string guides, I have been using brass tube that I get at a local hobby shop. I cut a piece that is 1/8" longer than my tail piece and use a ball peen hammer and flair both ends till it fits tight and flush with the wood.

Comment by Alan Roberts on April 12, 2010 at 4:13am

Without the head, a bolt is just a threaded rod. As a cylinder, they will want to roll around. With the head on one end and the nut on the other, it is less prone to go roamin'. Leave the heads on for the moment and see what the string action is like. If it's too high, just say "Alan doesn't know diddlybow. Off with their heads!"

Comment by Alan Roberts on April 12, 2010 at 4:09am

Hold off with the hacksaw for a minute, Craig. I've seen really nice CBGs with the bolt (and the bolt's nut!) used as a bridge and guitar nut. That adds more room under the strings of course. Depends on what kind of action you're looking for. Slide guitar? Finger pickin'?

Comment by Wichita Sam on April 12, 2010 at 3:53am

if you're in a major metro area, try craigs list..... I pick up a lot of cheap combos that way... resell the amp and have the guitar for parts, super cheap....

Comment by Craig Cox on April 12, 2010 at 3:43am

Wichita,
I wondered if that was all that was required for the poprivets. I bought two threaded brass bolts for the nut and saddle. Just have to saw the heads off. And 5 minutes ago I ordered 3 tuners and a piezo pickup from Back Porch Mojo. I hit some yard sales this weekend hoping to find a crappy guitar for some parts, but found nothing. There's got to be hundreds of them out there, with their cheap amps too, sitting in basements and closets. I don't have an amp, yet, so the search continues for that.

thanks for the advice,
craig

Comment by Wichita Sam on April 12, 2010 at 3:31am

Craig,

The guy at Home Depot didn't understand what you were trying to do.... you do not need a rivet gun.... all you want is the pop rivet grommet.... Take a pair of pliers, gently hold the grommet, and slap the nail against a hard surface so that it backs out of the grommet.... now you have a smooth metal liner for the hole that you strings are coming thru.... The cheapest place to get a few pop rivets is at an auto parts store.... usually a packet of 6 for less than $ 2.

Best simple saddle (bridge?) for a beginning builder is a piece of threaded rod (eye bolt, thumb screw, etc.).... That way you have uniform string height and plenty of options for spacing.... And, they transfer vibrations to the top as good as anything I know...

the best,

Wichita Sam

Comment by Craig Cox on April 12, 2010 at 2:23am

I spent an hour Home Depot yesterday, partly with a sales guy who was interested in my project. I mentioned the poprivets, but he said I'd need the rivet gun, too, which made them too expensive for the project. Not true? I bought some aluminum spacer tubes for .85 each, illustrating the problem with the big home improvement stores where everything is prepackaged and more expensive.
David, you're right about how you look at "junk" once you start scrounging for parts. I've already found some nice pieces in a "junk" box in the garage.

How about ideas for a saddle? What materials work best for sound? I was thinking about going to the music store and just buying one, but would love to use something scavenged.

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