Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by john mackay on January 6, 2015 at 7:37am

sorry I cant help.

thanks for posting the vid. never heard of them but they are good.

I like listening to them and save them on my list.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Danny B. on December 23, 2017 at 1:24pm

Did you ever work it out? I am planning to do one too.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Uncle Fred on December 24, 2017 at 10:50am

I made a 25.5" Strat like, fret-less, solid body, 4 string with a fat bass string a few years ago.  You will need to use a bass tuner if the bass string gets up toward .060" or .065".  If I build another one I want to use two pickups, one for the 3 treble strings and one for the bass string so I can send the bass string into a bass amp.  Your regular guitar amp speaker may not hold up to a loud bass string and you will want to be able to control the bass volume separately.  I like tuning mine to G1-G2-D3-B3 and used .075"w, .038"w, .028"w, .014" strings.  The 75 was from a bass set and the others regular guitar strings.  I ended up tuning it several ways with different strings.

I also made a 25.5" two string, fret-less, bass CBG that I like a lot and would not change anything.

To answer your question, based on the size of a cigar box, I "estimate" the scale of Aaron Moreland's guitar to be about 33".  If those strings were what he used, I'm not sure what the tuning was.  Use a string calculator to choose your strings.  Make sure you can find long enough regular strings if you make it that long scale.  I wouldn't make it much over 25.5" myself.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Danny B. on December 25, 2017 at 2:48pm

Sure appreciate the advice. I'll use it!!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Danny B. on December 27, 2017 at 9:13am

How did you handle the bridge/tailpiece? I'd love to see a pic if you have one!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Uncle Fred on December 27, 2017 at 10:47am

I offset the neck through the cigar box to give plenty of clearance for the pickup.  The strings go through holes in the tail extension of the neck bypass.  The bridge will have a wood block under the top to brace it to the neck offset.

I added a radiused block to the top of the tail extension so the fat bass strings would have a radius.  You can see the copper string grounding plate.  The neck is 3/4"x1-1/2" red oak and plenty strong.

Uncle Fred

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Danny B. on December 28, 2017 at 2:48am

Love that thing! Can I see the 4 string bass hybrid too? (The Arbuckle bass/guitar?)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on December 25, 2017 at 9:16pm

Looks like regular guitar scale to me with a bass string added for lower tone. I'm sure the bass string is tuned an octave lower than the root note tuning of the other strings for deeper bass tone.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jerry Jordan on December 28, 2017 at 7:10am

So I had to look in to what ya'll are talk'n about.,.,That CBG reminds be of a Kingbow or a Lowbow.,the pickups look like the style Johny Lowbow builds., From the Guitarworld pics it appears to be about a 30 inch scale.,,.I bet he'd be happy to tell you all about it.,.,.,cool guit.,.,for a second I thought it was a Lowbow instrument.,,.he has built a few just like it that I have seen.,,.,.enjoy .,.,looks like a fun build and neat to play.,.,.,Rock On.,.,Happy Holidays!!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on December 29, 2017 at 7:01am

I've seen them live.  didn't get out tape but pretty sure longer than standard guitar scale.  Guessing 28-30"

the best, Wichita Sam

• ▶ Reply