Howdy all,

I picked up this interesting CB guitar at an estate sale this weekend.  It actually works and as you can see, someone invested some money into this.  Grover tuners, SD Humbucker, etc.  Problem is, the action is ridiculous.  I don't understand the bridge configuration.  At first I thought, perhaps they played slide but there are also guitar straps on this thing.  I want to make this playable but I am not sure what to do...  

P.S. I cannot find a neck and headstock shaped like this one.  Don't know if they did this themselves either but the frets are sharp and this could have used a real fingerboard...  

P.S.S.  To top it off, they screwed the whole thing shut.  

THANK YOU!!

Views: 570

Attachments:

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

a profile shot might show how bad the action is and give ideas on what can be done...

Good point... at work but I will try to get one.  Thanks!

At the headstock, are the strings bent on a zero fret or on the nut?

The distance from this point to the 12th fret should equal the distance from the 12th fret to the bridge. I think you have to reposition the bridge, and all strings should pass over the inlays on the bridge.

Now, with the bridge in correct position, what's the action on the 1st and 12th fret?

The bridge configuration is a start at a fully compensated bridge, where each string gets its own compensation, but from the picture it doesn't look finished,

Yes, you are right!  I posted a pic above.  Thank you!

Yeah, bridge looks like a homemade attempt at a compensated bridge, but whoever did it either didn't understand proper compensation, or maybe had another reason. JL's pic shows one version of individual string compensation. Interesting construction: two different boxes slapped (probably screwed) together, the neck looks to be screwed into the top of the box in at least two locations, the "fretboard" is def homemade...difficult to be sure because of the pic, but does the neck have a slight twist to it? Zero fret, hand cut nut, homemade tailstop, and the "T" logo at the top, 12 frets to the body, 6 strings: homemade guitalele. And a humbucker.

How's it tuned? In A? Agree with Moritz: at least from the pic, it looks like the bridge needs to move further back toward the tailpiece to be properly intonated...which may be why the bridge is compensated the way it is.

Being me, I'd start unscrewing the thing to see what's under the hood, look for construction details. When you say the action is ridiculous, presumably you mean it is too high for proper fretting. That's fixable with a new bridge. But first, measure the scale length; looks like it could be around 18-19". Once you know the actual scale length, you could get a Tune-O-Matic fully adjustable bridge from AllParts.com, and pop that on there, to go with the tuners and pup. Should run you about $35 for a Gotoh, and about 75$ for a Schaller.

Good idea, I will check that out.  Yep - it has as many screws as Frankenstein!  I think the T logo must have been the owner...?  It was not tuned at all, missing B string.  Yes the neck looks a bit off but I think that will be easy to fix...?  Maybe...here are some close-ups...
Thank you!

Attachments:

what does the nut and first few frets/fingerboard look like from the side?

Hmmm... I will check (at work) but as I recall I was somewhat able to fret the 1st three frets...

The neck is not secure...  :(

Wow! That guitar really needs a doctor. That said nothing is impossible.

That bridge looks like it has individual saddles for intonation, but i suspect it's not set up well, also just scaling the picture it looks like your bridge needs to move forward a couple of inches to make it double the length of nut to 12th fret, i'd start there, measure nut to 12th, then bridge at double that, but i fear that will take it to, or at least close to the pick up, with only 12 frets outside the box,  if it's not easily fixed, it looks like a good candidate for a new neck, whether self made or purchased, just noticed that it is 2 boxes joined, shortening 1 of the boxes at the join may , in the end be the easiest way to keep it looking the same but working, but surgery is required i'm pretty sure

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you Poorness ! for loving it ! appreciated!"
12 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
12 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
13 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Punch Project!

She now sports gold metal CBGitty knobs, speaker and an Artec 2.5 watt speaker. Finished this in…
14 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Project Punch!

Gonna finally get back on this long-delayed project that is more than half complete. (The matching…
14 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
16 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
16 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"I appreciate the kind words Papa D! I have always loved the look of these cigar boxes. Glad to have…"
19 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
22 hours ago
A.D.EKER posted a video

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

The recorded History By Alan Lomax for the library of Congres of the Blues, from Mc Kinley Morganfield (Aka Muddy Waters) the in this take recorded Tribute ...
22 hours ago
Papa D commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"Beautiful..Nice work Doug.."
yesterday
Papa D commented on Papa D's photo
Thumbnail

american1 Sun Glo

"Thanx AGP & Doug..  4 more coming soon"
yesterday

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->