Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Habanera Hal on March 8, 2013 at 9:28am

17" is a tenor ukulele scale, so yes, it is done.  Personally, I like playing a short scale, whether three or four strings. I'd make the neck using the usual 1x2 stick. (3/4 x 1-1/2 nominal)

Permalink Reply by Port City Frank on March 8, 2013 at 9:57am

    I am building a CBG now with a 17" scale. Like Habana hal said it is a tenor ukulele scale. Use a smaller cigar box and it should sound fine. Good luck Coppa Penny

Permalink Reply by Wiley Rutledge on March 8, 2013 at 10:03am

I think the dulcilulu has a 17 inch VSL so a 3 or 4 string CBG should work fine with that length.

Permalink Reply by Michael Recchione on March 8, 2013 at 11:22am

I just finished one about a week or so ago, with a 470 mm scale length (about 18.5 inches).  It's a 4-stringer tuned GBdg.  I made the neck 1" at the nut, tapering out to 1 1/8" where it joins the box, which is just above the 19th fret.  That allows about 1/4" between strings, with 1/8" margin on either side - this spacing more or less matched an acoustic guitar I find very comfortable to play.  I used regular guitar tuners for it, and, for the first time, used a scarf joint and glued on wings for the headstock. 

I used the "almost through" method for attaching the neck - never tried hinging the neck joint.  An interesting idea - I'd love to hear how it turns out.  A question about the tuners:  Are uke tuners made for nylon strings?  (Maybe you're aiming for nylon anyway ... I know I've had issues putting nylon strings on tuners made for steel strings...)

The box was from Sancho Panza Double Maduros.  I was disappointed when I learned the top wasn't just wood, but with the right bracing (which I happened on totally by accident), the guitar has a really nice tone unplugged, and actually "rings" - the strings I'm not picking will resonate when I hit the right notes, and give almost a reverb effect.  (That could also be the strings, which were the D, G, B, and e-strings from a set of Martin Acoustic Lights.  (They're pretty heavy - the e string is a 12 or 13, I think.  Or it could be the bridge, which is an eye-bolt - my first non-wooden bridge, and it definitely gives a different sound.  Who knows why it happens - I just know it happens, and it sounds really cool when it does.) 

I don't know if you'd like the 1" neck at the nut.  I like a narrow neck, maybe a carryover from playing bouzouki and violin, but I've noticed that most of the CBG pictures on this site tend to have really wide necks and lots of space between strings.    It took a day or two to get used to the very heavy strings on this guitar (heavy strings, strung pretty tight) and the skinny neck, but now it's become a real favorite, and the narrow neck really helps speed, as well as making it easy to stop two or even three strings with the same finger.

BTW - I got into CBG building mostly because I've been forced to switch to shorter scale instruments by orthopedic problems that make playing full-sized instruments painful.  This is the third short-scale build I've done, and I have to say they're a blast.  This is definitely a case where less is more...

Permalink Reply by Tim LaFave on March 8, 2013 at 11:26am

I've built a 21" scale CBG, and it plays nicely, but it's hard for big fingers the smaller the fret intervals. I've also built a 15" uke which plays nicely. The trick with custom scales is to get the fret intervals right, or they won't play in tune. For help with this, see my blog entry on creating your own custom scale length, using the "Rule of 18". With this handy tool, you can create practically any scale you want, and expect it to be in tune. Go with the 1 1/2" stock for a neck; it's already as narrow as you want to get.

Permalink Reply by Michael Recchione on March 8, 2013 at 12:08pm

I wrote a simple Excel sheet to do this for any scale length.  It works in inches and millimeters, and gives the distance from the nut, the distance from the last fret, and the distance to the bridge for every fret. 

I'd be happy to send it to anyone who wants it.  I always work with weird scale lengths - mostly pick them to maximize the number of fret locations that work out to just about an integer number of millimeters from the nut, since my ruler (and my eyes) can't really do much better than that. 

Permalink Reply by Jon Leslie/Runaway Veal Music on January 25, 2014 at 10:16pm

Im interested !!! Can you send it to me ? I have a 17 3/4 neck by mistake cut too much off but I've come too far to abandon it..could use help with fret measurements..thank you.

Permalink Reply by Rob Bennett on April 19, 2014 at 8:52am

Hi Tim Wheres your blog on the Rule of 18"?

Rob

Permalink Reply by Coppa Penny on March 8, 2013 at 11:59am

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on March 8, 2013 at 12:16pm

I built an 18" scale CBG because I had a pretty, but small Viejo Presidente box that I wanted to build and with a longer neck it looked like a fly swatter. Came out nice and has a surprisingly big voice for such a small box. It's a pure acoustic fretless three string, tuned GDg and I'm really happy with it.

Permalink Reply by Coppa Penny on March 8, 2013 at 12:20pm

Thanks for the replies so far. I am just experimenting with the Uke. Tuners (On their way from Ebay). Previous necks I have used have been 42 mm (1 3/4 inch), so I will drop the size down. I have read your blog previously on the ‘Rule of 18”. What I want to do is create a CBG that is as small as practical. I also want to be innovative so I will have to build some test models. I will be using a Piezo pick up. I have bought a small amp with headphones. (It is from Ebay too), I think it is about the size of a cigarette packet.

Permalink Reply by Jim burt on March 8, 2013 at 2:06pm

I make a 4 string cigar box uke on a 13 1/2 scale before...Play good...working on another 1 now...

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