Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by mike g on September 10, 2012 at 2:22am

on the low side i shoot for at least .5" to give clearance for your pick or fingers. on the high side i would go probably no more than .75" at the bridge if you are making a raked back neck with a tailpiece. once you go higher you create alot of down pressure at the bridge that is usually more than is neccessary. my boxes with raked back neck are usually .5" to .65"at the bridge. hope this helps.

Permalink Reply by Randal on September 11, 2012 at 2:03am

I have only made two CBGs but in my limited experience, in both my CBGs at first the strings were WAY to high and in the process of lowering the strings they both became louder and had more sustain.

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on September 11, 2012 at 2:25am

In my opinion, the distance above the box lid is not that critical, unless they are so close you are hitting the lid when you strum. I made a few beginner's videos that might help a bit. Here is one of them:

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

Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on September 11, 2012 at 2:37am

There isn't really a 'too high', unless it's cos it make it look silly. Some folks put a decent angle on the neck there just to get it higher. The taller the bridge, the greater downward tension pulling it into the soundboard...

Permalink Reply by Keith Stanford on September 11, 2012 at 4:48pm

Hey Dan, I thought I had seen ALL of your videos....then you slip another one at me! <grin>

Seriously, that was the perfect video to send to me as it answered my question completely.

Thank you - Dan, Mike, Randal, and PhrygianKid for your responses....all good stuff!

 

kieta