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What Should I build and why?

Hello fellow musicians, Thank you all for making my very 1st post here so informational for me and hope others with the same questions found it helpful . I know you can't answer everything because whats good for each of us is different. I am ready to build my 1st CBG and I am torn between fret less vs fretted. Now I would like to know what you built for your 1st and your advice to my 1st build and why. I own many brand name instruments and the reason for cbg is its simplicity and not really sure i want to stray away from its roots and make it modern like our guitars of today. I am also wondering who, builders on the net , should I follow for their building techniques and why ? I am really finding many great musicians that play cbg and look for hours late at night, just loving the culture. Thanks for helping out !

wizzo

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Permalink Reply by Mark Bowen on February 27, 2018 at 2:17pm

I went all-in for my first, a 3-string fretted CBG with a bone nut and such. I'm proud of it, I had fun, and I still love to play it a few years later. That said, I learned a few things that I should have done differently, and guess what? I'm still alive! You can make mistakes - it's OK!

My advice for a first timer is to build a diddley bow. Can't get much simpler, and in my opinion, you can't build a more fun instrument to play. You don't even need a tuner - I used a bolt, nut and a few washers to hold the string on some of mine. The one here uses a wood screw and a washer to hold the string. Sounds great even without a sound hole. Can't get much simpler!

Don't be afraid - jump in, the water's fine!

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Permalink Reply by wizzo on March 1, 2018 at 3:49am

thanx mark for chiming in on the tuner and first build questions, much appreciated. I have almost everything now accept my tuners. Thanx again.

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Permalink Reply by Blues Frog on February 28, 2018 at 11:18am

Well My first one was actually the Gitty kit. I put it together in about a half an hour and was instantly hooked. That being said, my first custom design was a three string fretless with and old humbucker pickup in it. I was stunned by the sound that came out of it.

Where am I going with this? Simple, it doesn't matter what you build for your first one because there will be many to follow. Just have fun with it and keep trying new things. My latest came out so good I am almost afraid to build the next one for fear of it not being as good. But, I will continue to build whatever comes to mind and enjoy every minute of it.

Build what you love and love what you build!