suggestions for string height

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rusty Shackleford ( Mike ) on February 21, 2011 at 9:08am

I used a guitar for myown CBG build and it looked like the strings are about the same height as a guitar, so I went with that and it sounds pretty good...Good Luck!

Permalink Reply by Der Groovemeister on February 22, 2011 at 7:14am

I find that for a fretless it is nicer to have high string action. Then you can just whack the bottleneck on!

Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on February 22, 2011 at 10:58am

On my fretless I like to fret the strings so I try to get them low, at the nut I can hold a medium pick under the string. Bridge needs to be higher or you will get some buzz off the neck. We all like them different, you can always adjust to suit yourself after its done.

Permalink Reply by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw on February 26, 2011 at 5:29am

Hi. On all that I have done so far (grand total or three), I have started with a temporary bridge and nut. Too high, sand/file some off. Too low, add paper. My latest one had so much cardboard glued under the wood that it was looking a bit "Tower of Pisa" like. Play for a while and once you have no inclination to change it make one the same height but with the look that you want. On an ebony nut, even the finished one, if it is a bit too low you can always add a little paper and black it with a felt pen. Nobody will ever know.

Permalink Reply by Der Groovemeister on February 26, 2011 at 8:57am

I don't know about paper... Doesn't it muffle the tone a little bit? In the cigar boxes i got from cigar shops there are sometimes very thin sheets of wood. I use that for when i cut something too low. But then again... it's a Cigar box guitar, not a Les Paul! ;-)

Permalink Reply by Roadkill a.k.a. John Maw on February 26, 2011 at 9:11am

I thought it might, but it seems not to, or at least not to a noticeable extent. I use wood glue to stick it on, so perhaps once that is absorbed it sort of becomes a different substance. As this is only for determining the height of the final bridge it probably isn't that important. Having said that, even the bridge that had several layers of card still sounded much the same as the one that replaced it.

Der Groovemeister said:

I don't know about paper... Doesn't it muffle the tone a little bit? In the cigar boxes i got from cigar shops there are sometimes very thin sheets of wood. I use that for when i cut something too low. But then again... it's a Cigar box guitar, not a Les Paul! ;-)

Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on February 26, 2011 at 1:54pm

Les Paul started with a 4 by 4, I think our cigar box's may be a step better. lol

Der Groovemeister said:

I don't know about paper... Doesn't it muffle the tone a little bit? In the cigar boxes i got from cigar shops there are sometimes very thin sheets of wood. I use that for when i cut something too low. But then again... it's a Cigar box guitar, not a Les Paul! ;-)

Permalink Reply by Der Groovemeister on February 26, 2011 at 2:17pm

Ha ha ha ha!

Permalink Reply by jeff Holloway on February 26, 2011 at 3:53pm

Thanks guys for the input.  So since first posting this question I've decided to go ahead and make this first CBG a fretted model.  I like the idea of using a trial nut and bridge and then adjusting it as necessary.  I'm finishing up the fretboard today so I'll see how it goes. 

Permalink Reply by Emmy DePolo on September 21, 2012 at 9:25pm

I have a new CB gitty guitar..strings are extra light and high off the neck. Playing individual notes are muted. I'm told I should lower string height at nut and bridge. How do you do that?

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 21, 2012 at 9:32pm

I made a beginners video that is posted on my page. It may help answer some of your questions.

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/string-action

But, essentially you need to lower the nut, or the bridge, or both.What kind of nut and bridge does this guitar have?

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 21, 2012 at 9:40pm

And, is it a fretted or fretless model?

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