Getting started

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on February 22, 2011 at 10:59am

Looks like a good start.

Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on February 24, 2011 at 6:13am

Hard woods like Oak, Poplar, Maple and Rosewood are difficult to find in my corner of the UK, and my supplier tells me Rosewood is an endangered species and illegal to import...?

Nonetheless i found a reasonably priced source of planed-to-size wood for my projects so quite pleased with that, most of the local DIY/lumberyards only carry Pine and other softwoods for building projects.

Cigar boxes suitable for CBG are difficult to find here, too - had to buy some from the US, the boxes are ridiculously cheap but shipping costs are a bit steep...usually 16 -26 dollars each...anything for my Art! :-D

 

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Permalink Reply by Stewart Hutton on February 24, 2011 at 7:15am

Steve

 

I'd like to compare notes ...

 

I got cigar boxes in the UK for £5 each plus £3.50 P&P (for up to 3 boxes) from http://www.whisky-cigars.co.uk/empty-cigar-boxes-lucky-p-4084.html   (they have several websites that point to the same thing). I told them I wanted as big and "nice" as possible and they sent me 2 that seem to be ok. One will be my first CBG, the other is longer and slimmer than I'd like but will be my first stomp box.

 

that's my input. My question is ...

 

Finding hardwood in the UK :(

 

B&Q, homebase, focus - all full of pine. Is that a complete non starter? I've got some pine in my shed that is from 30 years old bunkbeds I dont believe it is going to  warp anytime soon.

 

I'm not sure that I have anyone within 30+ miles of here that is anything like  real wood merchant that could sell me 3ft of hardwood.

 

Best wishes for your builds.

Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on February 24, 2011 at 7:39am

^ great tip about the boxes, will remember them next time i order but they are not too specific about what they send, but would guess most of the 10 inch plus ones could be very useful!

Would suggest you look in Yellow Pages for hardwood suppliers in your area and find a friendly one that "knows of..",

my new supplier is tucked away behind a car wash and only normally supplies to the trade...a little friendly chat opened his door, i came away with two 40" long pieces of Oak 1.1/2" x 3/4" planed perfectly to size for 15 quid, and he's getting some Poplar in soon (-:

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Robert L. Powers Jr. on March 12, 2011 at 5:38pm

Should have some time tomorrow pm.  Anybody have a good pattern for classic f holes.

Permalink Reply by Christopher Nies on March 21, 2011 at 10:52am

Here's an image I've been using: http://classicalfiddle.com/files/F%20hole%20left.GIF

 

I created a word document the exact dimensions of my cigar box, then pasted the image into it. Resized it to make the scale right, copy-and-pasted the image so I had two, and used the "flip" feature of the image tools to mirror-image it. Drag it around to make it look right, and boom.

 

Hope this helps!

Robert L. Powers Jr. said:

Should have some time tomorrow pm.  Anybody have a good pattern for classic f holes.

Permalink Reply by Robert L. Powers Jr. on March 23, 2011 at 10:35pm

Thanks Chris  that helps. piezo arrived this weekend. took a bunch of wood off the neck to fit the box today. after a little sanding will glue the box to the neck this week I hope. too many hours at work, not enough hours to play.

Christopher Nies said:

Here's an image I've been using: http://classicalfiddle.com/files/F%20hole%20left.GIF

 

I created a word document the exact dimensions of my cigar box, then pasted the image into it. Resized it to make the scale right, copy-and-pasted the image so I had two, and used the "flip" feature of the image tools to mirror-image it. Drag it around to make it look right, and boom.

 

Hope this helps!

Robert L. Powers Jr. said:

Should have some time tomorrow pm.  Anybody have a good pattern for classic f holes.

Permalink Reply by Robert L. Powers Jr. on March 24, 2011 at 12:13am

More pictures on my page.

Permalink Reply by Christopher Nies on March 24, 2011 at 8:41am

Great! I completely agree on the work/play problem. When I'm not working on my build, I'm thinking about it.


Robert L. Powers Jr. said:

Thanks Chris  that helps. piezo arrived this weekend. took a bunch of wood off the neck to fit the box today. after a little sanding will glue the box to the neck this week I hope. too many hours at work, not enough hours to play.

Christopher Nies said:

Here's an image I've been using: http://classicalfiddle.com/files/F%20hole%20left.GIF

 

I created a word document the exact dimensions of my cigar box, then pasted the image into it. Resized it to make the scale right, copy-and-pasted the image so I had two, and used the "flip" feature of the image tools to mirror-image it. Drag it around to make it look right, and boom.

 

Hope this helps!

Robert L. Powers Jr. said:

Should have some time tomorrow pm.  Anybody have a good pattern for classic f holes.

Permalink Reply by ChickenboneJohn on March 27, 2011 at 4:34pm

I see a couple of UK guys here..a LOT of my timber comes out of skips..oak & cherry doors off kitchen units, beech, mahogany, utile, oak from furniture, maple, oak and merbau from flooring offcuts. DIY stores are hopeless for hardwood (tho' the square Hemlock stair ballusters from B&Q are OK at a pinch providing you put a decent hardwood fretboard on them). If you can find local timber merchant, then you are lucky...but recycling really is the way to go for decent free timber. I've also bough a load off oak and mahogany offcuts from a furniture maker..but I did have to take half a ton of it. Message me if you need any! By the way....rosewood isn't illegal, and it's readily available. Brazilian (Rio) rosewood is on the CITES list (amongst load of other things), that's the really rare stuff.

Permalink Reply by Robert L. Powers Jr. on March 27, 2011 at 8:49pm

It makes noise!!!  More pictures posted. Used strings 456 and tuned dad. No electrics yet. Intonation is good. My son can play it. I'm going to learn. It is pretty quiet acoustically. My wife likes it. My son can't hear it when I'm strumming rhythm and he is finger picking blues. So my mistakes do not bother him. Electronics next. I want one tuned gcd and my son wants one. So three more fret less and then I'm going to try a fretted 4 string resonator. Do not have a clue how to post a video. Its not the work of art some have made, but it's true to its roots. later.

Permalink Reply by Robert L. Powers Jr. on March 27, 2011 at 8:52pm

All pine is not created equal. I'd try a neck out of pine if it was tight grained and straight.

Stewart Hutton said:

Steve

 

I'd like to compare notes ...

 

I got cigar boxes in the UK for £5 each plus £3.50 P&P (for up to 3 boxes) from http://www.whisky-cigars.co.uk/empty-cigar-boxes-lucky-p-4084.html   (they have several websites that point to the same thing). I told them I wanted as big and "nice" as possible and they sent me 2 that seem to be ok. One will be my first CBG, the other is longer and slimmer than I'd like but will be my first stomp box.

 

that's my input. My question is ...

 

Finding hardwood in the UK :(

 

B&Q, homebase, focus - all full of pine. Is that a complete non starter? I've got some pine in my shed that is from 30 years old bunkbeds I dont believe it is going to  warp anytime soon.

 

I'm not sure that I have anyone within 30+ miles of here that is anything like  real wood merchant that could sell me 3ft of hardwood.

 

Best wishes for your builds.

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