David Shields's Page

Diane in Chicago replied to David Shields's discussion Daft Question - Neck length in the group Dulcimers and Strummers

"I agree. More fun to come up with a cool way to mount the strings with a hinge or a doorplate or whatever scrap if wood is at hand."

May 5, 2011

David Shields replied to David Shields's discussion Daft Question - Neck length in the group Dulcimers and Strummers

"Mmm, think I'll go for neck-amost-thru in that case. I just feel protruding tailpiece is ugly."

May 5, 2011

Diane in Chicago replied to David Shields's discussion Daft Question - Neck length in the group Dulcimers and Strummers

"I've made several neck-almost-thru builds, where the end of the neck butts up against the inside of the box at the tail end and the tailpiece screws into it, so it functions as a tailblock as well. I build up a pretty substantial heel…"

May 5, 2011

David Shields replied to David Shields's discussion Daft Question - Neck length in the group Dulcimers and Strummers

"Thanks everyone, much clarity ensues. Alan: given that my normal instrument is a bass, everything will seem short! Haven't picked up my 12 string in about 2 years. Diane, Sam: Good point re bridge positioning and tone, I'd not considered…"

May 5, 2011

Wichita Sam replied to David Shields's discussion Daft Question - Neck length in the group Dulcimers and Strummers

"You're in pretty good shape. where the bridge is on th box affects the tone quality... closer to the tail of the box, more guitar, closer to the middle of the top, more banjo like. I tend to use a +3 inches for the head…"

May 4, 2011

Alan Roberts replied to David Shields's discussion Daft Question - Neck length in the group Dulcimers and Strummers

"22" is a BIT shorter than commercial guitars (Fender Mustang 22.5", Gibson Byrdland 23.5"). If you've been playing a Fender Strat (25.5") all your life, it might take a little bit of getting used to it. If you're like…"

May 4, 2011

Diane in Chicago replied to David Shields's discussion Daft Question - Neck length in the group Dulcimers and Strummers

""They" say that you often get better/louder sound if your bridge is somewhat in the center of your box."

May 4, 2011

Wiley Rutledge replied to David Shields's discussion Daft Question - Neck length in the group Dulcimers and Strummers

"It do. Nut to bridge is VSL (vibrating string length) or simply string length. The figures you mention seem about but VSL is the critical length. Fret calculators give distance from nut to fret."

May 4, 2011

David Shields added a discussion to the group Dulcimers and Strummers

Daft Question - Neck length

Lots of discussion re neck length, string length and such, but can I ask for a clarification, cos I'm missing something in my reading. People talk about building a cbg with a string length of 22.5".Is that nut to bridge? Because If I build a thru-neck plank into a box, nut to end of box will be more than 22.5, if the bridge is set somewhere in from the end of the box lid. And do the fret spacing calculators all calculate from a nut-to-bridge distance? (Looks like it to me, but I'm an 'umble…See More

May 4, 2011

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David Shields is now a member of Cigar Box Nation

Apr 26, 2011

Welcome Them!