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Really high string action -- what am I doing wrong?

At this point, I've built 2 CBGs -- one with a fingerboard and one without. In both cases, I kept the designs relatively simple, and kept the necks (one bolted, the other through-box) as close to zero angle as possible. However, upon completion, both guitars have really high string action as you get closer to the bridge. Are they bowing? Will angling the neck about 5 or 6 degrees downward combat the high string action? A CBG without a fingerboard wouldn't be difficult, but a fingerboard certainly wouldn't sit right on the body...

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Permalink Reply by Fergus Morris on September 2, 2010 at 4:58am

This old discussion may be of interest to you. I posted a reply to it as well as many other people who know lots more than I do.

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/class101/forum/topics/high-acti...

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Permalink Reply by Mister Scott on September 2, 2010 at 5:26am

Fergus Morris said:

This old discussion may be of interest to you. I posted a reply to it as well as many other people who know lots more than I do.

Thanks, Fergus. I tried doing a quick search of the forum, but didn't seem to find this. Thanks for the heads-up!

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Permalink Reply by Mister Scott on September 2, 2010 at 6:06am

Whiteowl said:

I think they do bow or 'tighten' a bit. Mine seem too. I do not make the saddle and bridge until it is strung.

That's a really good suggestion. I really hadn't thought much about doing it that way...

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Permalink Reply by Mister Scott on September 2, 2010 at 9:02am

Of course, now I realize that the box used for my last project, even with bracing, had major weak spots on the side used for the soundboard. Good to know for the future.

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Permalink Reply by Michael R Cossey on September 2, 2010 at 11:46am

May I ask what type of wood did you use for the neck? Oak, Poplar, other? With or without a fingerboard?
Mike

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Permalink Reply by Mister Scott on September 2, 2010 at 11:49am

Michael R Cossey said:

May I ask what type of wood did you use for the neck? Oak, Poplar, other? With or without a fretboard?
Mike

Hi Mike,
The neck on the latest is maple. I epoxied a non-adjustable truss rod (a 1/4" metal rod I got at Lowes) into a groove down the center of the neck. On top of that, I added a finger board made of red oak. The neck was bolted + glued to the side of the box, which I believe was cedar.
-Scott

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Permalink Reply by Don Thompson on September 2, 2010 at 12:24pm

If you look down the neck, does it bow?

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Permalink Reply by Michael R Cossey on September 2, 2010 at 1:46pm

Scotty, I wish I could get maple around my area....sounds like a nice CGB, sorry about the bowing, Ive been reading the link that was posted, nice info...Hey I would like to see any pics of this build of yours if you have the means ...Thanks ...Mike

Scotty C. said:

Michael R Cossey said:
May I ask what type of wood did you use for the neck? Oak, Poplar, other? With or without a fretboard?
Mike

Hi Mike,
The neck on the latest is maple. I epoxied a non-adjustable truss rod (a 1/4" metal rod I got at Lowes) into a groove down the center of the neck. On top of that, I added a finger board made of red oak. The neck was bolted + glued to the side of the box, which I believe was cedar.
-Scott

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on September 2, 2010 at 2:46pm

So a couple of things I gotta ask is

- Are you making a neck thru deisgn? That is neck goes thru the box? if so...

- Do you make any relief in the neck for the lid and do you have any extra for resonance (see example here).?

Obviously I do as my example above but I also add more depth to the neck to compensate for the weaker area left by these recesses. This is a bad example but it works well. No bend.

I've made many necks at the .75" thickness of poplar and no bend BUT I do reinforce the neck in the box. and this one has a 'truss rod' of 1/8"x1/2" steel rod from lowes in a 1/8" channel. No bow there at all.

Just a thought

-WY

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Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on September 2, 2010 at 2:48pm

Some old plans for that are here.

-WY

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Permalink Reply by Mister Scott on September 2, 2010 at 3:17pm

Wes Yates said:

Are you making a neck thru deisgn? That is neck goes thru the box?

Hey Wes,
Nope, it's a bolt-on design. Although after reading a discussions and inspecting the build further, I've come to the conclusion that using the side of the box that opens as the soundboard was mistake number 1. Blind to me the entire time was the giant seam running down the center of it, mostly covered by the CB's label. It appears that the pressure of the strings and the bridge/saddle may eventually split the soundboard in half. Mistake 2 was making the bridge/saddle slightly higher than the nut.

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Permalink Reply by Mister Scott on September 2, 2010 at 4:50pm

Wes Yates said:

Some old plans for that are here.

Also, Wes, for the last 2 weeks, I've been eagerly awaiting the finish of my previous build so I could get to work trying out your laminated neck instructions.