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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on October 2, 2018 at 7:58pm

Nope. Your experiencing 'beginner pains'. There a lot like growing pains. Only with beginner pains you get to decide what the final product looks like. : ) 

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Permalink Reply by Larry Ratliff on October 3, 2018 at 1:07am

Larry Ratliff
I watched a video from Chicken Bone John and he suggests setting the fret board at approximately 1/8 to a 1/4 above the edge of the cigar box so the action isn't to high. Looks like I'm going to have to take some more wood off to bring the fret board up a little higher to set the correct intonation. Does this sound about right to you?

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Permalink Reply by John Czarnecki on October 3, 2018 at 12:33am

I'm working on CGB #7 right now, but in all honesty I have to admit that #6 wasn't a CBG, but rather a full up Strat. Each and every one of my builds has had learning curve-itis, where I've run full-tilt-boogie into that wall that marks out what I know, what I think I know, and what the reality of the build actually is. Learning stuff all the time, methods of work, sequence of build events (what's gotta come first, what wants attention later) that kinda stuff. And admittedly, as I've progressed, my builds have gotten more and more involved. Patience, and keep your eye on the long ball.

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Permalink Reply by Larry Ratliff on October 3, 2018 at 1:08am

Larry Ratliff
I watched a video from Chicken Bone John and he suggests setting the fret board at approximately 1/8 to a 1/4 above the edge of the cigar box so the action isn't to high. Looks like I'm going to have to take some more wood off to bring the fret board up a little higher to set the correct intonation.

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Permalink Reply by Larry Ratliff on October 3, 2018 at 12:43am

I watch a video from Chicken Bone John and he suggests setting the fret board at approximately 1/8 to a 1/4 above the edge of the cigar box so the action isn't to high. Looks like I'm going to have to take some more wood off to bring the fret board up a little higher to set the correct intonation.

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Permalink Reply by Webster Miller on October 3, 2018 at 2:30am

Larry,

I highly suggest doing exactly that.  I now build all of mine with the fretboard 1/4" above the top of the box AND with a neck tilt (1/8 - 1/4" higher at the bridge end of the box).  This gives your picking hand a lot of room btw the strings and the top of the box.

My 1st build where the fretboard was flush with the box:

A latter build with it 1/4" above the box and with neck angle (look at all the space btw the strings and box top):

I now build all my necks with 2 pieces.  It's simply easier to build as notching hardwood isn't exactly easy and you only have to cut one small notch at the body/neck junction for the lid. 

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Permalink Reply by Frank Scott on October 6, 2018 at 10:34am

Love those photos Webster. That is how I am trying to get mine rebuilt. I am eager to see how it turns out. Thanks for posting.

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Permalink Reply by Larry Ratliff on October 3, 2018 at 3:07am

Thanks so much, I would rather catch this issue now than when I string it up and find out the action is too high.

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on October 3, 2018 at 8:13am

Solid Webster 

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on October 3, 2018 at 6:04pm

Like Webster, I go for about a 1/4" above the box and rake the neck a little also, it all helps with intonation, playability and break angle over the bridge, one of the simplest ways to lay it out is to place something on the box , roughly the same height and position you want your bridge set to, then set up a nut the required distance away and run a straight edge between the 2, it will show the string line and from there you can work out box clearance etc by raising or lowering your nut and /or bridge to suit, then at final setting up you just need to lower them a little for better intonation if you set them a touch high in your mock up.

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