Comment

Comment by Garreth Blackwell on August 15, 2014 at 7:50am

Been meaning to start making and playing all the different varieties of CBGs for years now. Finally did. Made one last night and finished it up this morning. 

I used a small box with a square poplar dowel that I spent a good while rounding over on the back side so it's more comfortable for the player to hold. I sanded the box down a good bit and used a few layers of deck stain to give it a distressed color (solid white with semi-solid federal blue over top). A lot of finishing sanding and a coat of beeswax for some shine finished it out. The nut is a hose clamp, the bridge is a nut and bolt, and the sound holes are filed with small sink strainers. 

I'd love to hear any suggestions from veteran builders out there. I had a blast doing it!

Comment by Phil Thomas on July 23, 2014 at 8:39pm

Looking good Gary. Well done!

Comment by Seasick Mick on July 23, 2014 at 8:14pm

Finish them up and let's see and hear them...

Comment by gary sheldon on July 23, 2014 at 1:47pm

2 Diddley Bows.  7/8 dowells for necks.  I can't make this site work.

Comment by Wichita Sam on July 11, 2014 at 2:04am

gary, yes, that's right.... my bad,;; isn't that an oxy-moron... "decimal inches"?  look up Shane Speal's "How to play a diddley bow" series on YouTube.  It will get you a great start...

Sam

Comment by gary sheldon on July 8, 2014 at 7:25pm

I just finished my first diddley bow.  I used a 7/8" dowell for the neck and a smallish cigar box for the body.  I used a .021"  string, wound.  I think it is a D string.  Is that right Sam?  These strings are measured in decimal inches, not guage, so I am not sure I got the right one.  No frets, no piezo pup (yet).

Comment by Wade on July 8, 2014 at 3:04pm

My first wall wart diddley bow pickup. I broke open the wall wart, yanked out the metal plugs and soldered the wires. I bent back the metal tabs to allow the pickup to be attached with wire. I attached an additional mag to increase output. great sound but may spring for a rare earth mag to increase output.

-can't see it in the pic but I used a screw as a pole piece to go through the top and stick.

 

Comment by gary sheldon on July 7, 2014 at 5:34am

Thanks, sam

Comment by Wichita Sam on July 7, 2014 at 1:58am

for general use I like light gauge wound strings... 21-24gauge. You still get plenty of treble for melody play and it is easier on the fingers than solid strings....

Comment by gary sheldon on July 6, 2014 at 4:37am

I have some extra parts, so I decided to spend a few hours building a diddley bow.  I plan to use a large square dowell for the neck.  I hope it will be strong enough.  I will radius the corners in the back.

With only one string, I am looking for recommendations of what string to use.  

Any suggestions?

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