This group is for discussing the basics of CBG building for newer builders - where to start, what to do, common pitfalls, tips and techniques.
Keep in mind that new builders can find other great informative articles on CBG building, as well as most of the parts you'll need, over at C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply!
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The following is a true story. Unless you believe it then I cant help you.
Hollow body electrics were an idea born of the prohibition era as a place to hide and smuggle hooch.
Then it was discovered the accordion could hide far more beer, the guitar players took notice but quickly grew tired of Oompa bands and Octoberfest concerts and began to look for an alternative.
Once someone pointed out that Banjers not only didn't bother hiding the hootch, but had developed the practice of performing gigs in exchange for a bit o' the ol' recipe. (for strictly medicinal purposes mind you.)
Upon further observation, it was noted that it seemed only the church prudes who objected to this practice, looking down their nose at the barn dance gigs, it was soon decided that a solid body guitar was necessary to get more gigs without the objection of Les Paul's aunt Betsy. Leo Fender soon followed up with a version the masses could afford, by tearing down an old secret speakeasy and using the pine boards for building his first run of Telecasters, using the boards from an abandoned roller skating rink floor for necks.
True story. I read it on the interwebs.
Naturally.
All of my CBGs are hollow bodies. We are all talking about CBGs are we not.
If we didn't have hollow bodies, where would we put all of those donuts?
Comment by Wayfinder 21 hours ago: If the body had no effect on an electric guitar... hollow bodies would never have been invented. : )
Hollow bodies came first...
I have my work box and I think it's good to have one. I've re-set the neck 3 times, filed the frets like mad, built 4 bridges and 3 tailpieces for this thing. It's had a piezo and now a single coil with a simple bone bridge. The thing is full of holes and scars from failed attempts to make it better. I brought it to a builders club last week first time and let me tell you it was a thrill to see how much those guys loved this guitar. They all played it and they said it had The Mojo! Anyway I think I might leave it alone now, but it was key to play around with all this stuff and learn what different configurations will make to the sound of the things.
I remember when guitar setup meant you had an amp and the cable that went between it. Final setup was the pick. You were set up and ready to make noise
The tone wood debate has come to CBG building 101, what's next, note shifters? LOL!
Ok, ok, I was of course exaggerating when I said it only made about 2% difference. It makes a difference. Maybe 2.75%.
Depends on how much beer the "tone wood" has absorbed. Of course, the problem is Basswood absorbs beer too fast, almost like it was balsa. And hard rock maple takes FOREVER to absorb a little beer. And you have to watch pine, beer raises its grain pretty badly. Masonite holds up to a little beer if you clean it off real quick, but plywood can be very adversely affected. Based on this research, you can forget particle board as a tone wood. Once beer soaked it is just no good at all.
This stuff is complicated see?
Thanks for the help everybody gave me yesterday. The hard tail bridge is on, intonation is good. First fret fingered note is a little sharp on all three strings. I'll put it this way, I'm not messing with it any more today. I'm assuming some minor nut filing (it's a threaded rod) will solve the problem at the first fret.. If I'm wrong about that filing, let me know, otherwise I might start thinking that I have half a clue. Again, Thanks. :)
What I've learned over the years is whatever wood you use gives it's own tone to the sound. If you think that wood doesn't offer tone and it's only the pickups. Plug in your git, mute the strings and knock on your git with your knuckle and you will hear the wood vibrations through your amp.
All parts of your git influences the overall tone/sound of your guitar. Body, neck, nut/zero fret, tuners, bridge, stop tail piece, strings, electronics, pickups and the person playing all have a influence. Then you have the cord, effects,amp and speaker that can alter or add to the tone. If wood didn't add to a guitars tone, then all wood guitars would sound the same, which they don't.
Wood can have variables within the type used due to how the tree grew,the moisture content and amount of sap. This can lead to confusion on whether or not a wood type can give a certain tone. There has been a big debate on whether you can get a certain tone from a certain type of wood(Tonewood Debate). Some believe you can and some believe you can't. Personally I think you can because all tree types have different cell structure, therefore they should have different attributes. Then you have to factor in that not all people have the same level of hearing.
Some people have a ear for music, some can't hear high pitch sound and some have difficulty with the quality of sound.
So it's better to just go and play your gits and be happy with what you have. If your not happy, change it to something else, experiment with different things til you find what makes you happy. Or you can argue the points if that makes you happy. ;)
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