Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by KOOL DOG HOOCH on June 6, 2019 at 1:01am

I keep hearing " There's no rules!" My project has a 30.5" scale with a buttload of add ons. As far string size goes Shane Speal and Del Puckett say "try whatever feels right"! If it walks like a duck and sounds like a duck......! Just my 2cents.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 6, 2019 at 8:11am

I have 2 guitars that are Baritone scales 27" and 28". You can find a "fret calculator" on Stewmac's site.

I use the mm measurements because they are so close and almost impossible to mess up Get a metal yard stick at Harbor Freight or similar store that has standard and metric measurements on it.

Permalink Reply by Tim Pannabecker on June 6, 2019 at 1:19pm

Thanks Paul,

ill ask about strings and tuning after my build.   

I appreciate your help on this remarkable journey.   I struggled with the standard 6 string and blues are my gig.   I have never enjoyed instruments like a personal made, 3 string, open G tuned CBG.  But I enjoy branching out to new and challenging builds.

its guys like you that help guys like me, and I want you to know that i really appreciate it.

Permalink Reply by KOOL DOG HOOCH on June 6, 2019 at 10:58pm

Tim, I'm new to this game also. My first project is a 30.5" scale on a 17" box. So I had/have a buttload of questions about anything and everything, don't be shy, ask away! I came across this article that may shed some light for you! Here's the link. Hope it helps.

 https://geargods.net/tutorials/how-to-choose-string-gauges-for-your...

Permalink Reply by Tim Pannabecker on June 7, 2019 at 2:09am

Thanks for the reference.  I guess the Baritone Guitar is simply about a longer/higher scale.   I must have made it more complex than it is.  No Rules Rock on.

thanks Will

Permalink Reply by KOOL DOG HOOCH on June 7, 2019 at 3:54am

LOL, someone told me "KISS" Keep It Simple Stupid! Apperantly everyone over thinks the first build. I'm doing it right now with "what ifs" which turn into wouldah, couldah, shouldahs. Just go with the flow, if you f it up get another box it's not like we're building a $3000 ax.

Permalink Reply by Tim Pannabecker on June 7, 2019 at 7:25am

Will you are right.  I think once you have built 6 different setups in CBG.and they stay in tune and intonate correctly and/or you are having fun,

ITS ALL GOOD. 

So I look for new and/or challenging projects.  I’m not a great woodworking type, so I buy necks and fretboards, customize and shape the necks and have been satisfied with the look and playing now.

so I have plans for dual humbuckers, with piezo.  A mag, piezo, Resonator.

i heard the Baritone and I like liked the sound.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 7, 2019 at 8:56pm

Longer/Lower scale. Think Bass. Bass is 28' to 30" for Short Scale Bass, 32" to 34" for regular scale bass. Baritone is in between Guitar and Bass, 26" to 28". Difference between Baritone Guitar and Short Scale Bass is the gauge of strings. Baritone strings are longer than regular string sets and are gauge 68-56-44-26w-18-14, Bass(short and long) 100-80-65-45.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 7, 2019 at 8:42pm

You can use regular gauge strings up to 28" scale(if they are long enough). I use D'Addario 10's on 24.5" scale on up to 28" scale. Tuning has to be lower than what you do on a 25.5" scale though. My 28" scale is tuned drop C - drop B while 26" to 27" can usually be tuned drop D - drop C.

Shorter scales(19" to 24") usually require heavier gauge strings like 11's or 12's.

10's - 11's - 12's refers to the size of the highest string in a set of 6 strings(High E).

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 7, 2019 at 9:21pm

Intonation is a whole other can of worms. Haha

Not every string will have intonation at the same length.

Ever see a guitar with the bridge at an angle? That's the right way to get intonation for every string. If your bridge is straight up and down, you won't have intonation for every string.

A single piece bridge like a screw/bolt/key should be at the right scale length(from fretboard side of the nut to bridge), then the low string side should be moved 3mm towards the end of guitar while the high string side gets moved 3mm towards the fretboard. If this doesn't achieve intonation, then a little tweaking will do it.

If you have individual saddle pieces, then each saddle will need adjusting  separately but with the same idea of angle.

Permalink Reply by Tim Pannabecker on June 8, 2019 at 2:29pm

It’s more than just an angle it needs to be movable and not glued

I love the hard tail rollers, great flexibility.   If I can’t make art and intonation, I don’t keep it.

my last two build intimated to a sharpe or flat, but the same not different octave.  That’s an allowable tolerance, isn’t it?

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on June 9, 2019 at 6:56pm

As long as the 12th fret is a octave above the nut, your in good enough territory. ;)

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