Comment
Since I'm in Michigan and my saws and sander are in the outside garage , I make a dozen or so necks while the weather is nice and then I have a stock to work through the winter. I always seem to run out in March and I'm out in the freezing garage cutting and sanding necks!
Whether you batch build or go at it one at a time really depends on whether it's a hobby or a business. Either way, the knack is making sure you pay attention to what you are doing all the time, and taking care with each piece, irrespective of whether it's one guitar or fifty. You'll know when it's time to build in batches, demand for your instruments and the pressure to organise your time effectively will be the deciding factors. You still need to be creative: it runs through everything, from the aesthetics, through to organising your workflow, sourcing parts and selling the finished product.
Reading all these comments is certainly inspiring . Just the diverse nature of the whole process speaks to what building CBG's is all about.This is not supposed to be assembly line work, it.s an ART FORM, it's SELF EXPRESSION. On that note, I have to say that everything I see is potential CBG decor. I spend a lot of time in the Salvation Army, Good Will, Flea markets and garage sales, this is part of the experience I enjoy, the hunt.I have got a nice collection of stuff . I have seven complete four in the works and about eight in planning, all shapes and sizes. HAVING A BALL. Happy building to all.
My builds are more of "wander over to the build and do something".
I honestly don't think ' this is what I should do next'.
My biggest thing is finishing the thing and starting another. When I'm in the middle of a build, no problems. It gathers speed and I take pleasure from guiding it to its conclusion. That bit in the middle (especially considering my fiscal position) just takes ages to gather momentum.
I believe that mass production kills the uniqueness of the instruments. Sorry if you do this it's just my opinion. There's also the fact that if I was building the same guitar over and over again(or even building the same guitar in a batch) I would be bored. It wouldn't seem like an adventure, it would have devolved into a job. That's just a no no to me. Where's the fun and excitement in evolving my skills if I know I can produce something x10?
I want to reach beyond my capabilities in every build I do because that's where the fun is for me.
I rarely build the same box at a time, but at some level necks are necks. I mostly use maple, and will process 10 scarf joints at once... saves a bunch of time. Fretboards I buy from a flooring supplier in 1/4" pieces that are 8-10" wide, and 4-6' long. THose get cut to size in bulk. Then I will fret-slot 15-20 at a time, mark them all for inlay dots and drill.
The necks later get engaged to a box, and then I'll mark and dado the necks, shape them. Fretboards get inlay, trimmed, and glued to the neck, then they all get sanded smooth. The individuality then sets in and I work on 1-2 at a time... fretting, notching boxes, mounting, etc.
Uke Fretboards...
To me the individuality comes in sound hole placement, making a floating bridge, and setting the intonation...
For as much building as Shane does, I'm surprised he cuts C-Notes and F-Notes... I find that takes a long time. It is certainly beautiful, but scroll saw work is slow...
Thanks for the comments.
I have the same philosophy. I also have a way of pacing myself so I take my time with certain parts of the build. I will sometimes start with a box, and get sound holes in it before I order parts or start the neck. I take my time with stuff like fretboards and soundholes when I don't have all the parts to finish the build, otherwise I won't stop working until it's got wet finish on it or it's done. I have pulled many an all nighter building these things.
Started by Bill Andy in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Southern Ray on Tuesday. 11 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Bill Andy in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Taffy Evans on Sunday. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 26. 8 Replies 1 Like
Started by Southern Ray in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 26. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by BrianQ. Apr 25. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Rich Butters in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Crazed Fandango Apr 22. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Nomad Jack in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by J. D. Woods Apr 17. 7 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Moritz Voegeli in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 14. 6 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Tom T in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 9. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 4. 7 Replies 1 Like
Started by Timothy Hunter in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 27. 1 Reply 2 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 10. 1 Reply 3 Likes
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by BrianQ. Mar 9. 4 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies 1 Like
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Ken I in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Brian partington Mar 8. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 6. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 5. 4 Replies 2 Likes
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 LikesMay 30, 2024 from 6:30pm to 10pm – The Casual Pint of Huntsville
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!
You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!
Join Cigar Box Nation