Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chris Ballard on December 8, 2010 at 4:23pm

I have built 5 so far all with Single pickup design. I use a neck through design, sort of. I dont put the neck through the lower end of the box, only the upper end closest to the fretboard. I cut a recess in the neck where the pup will clear the neck. I fasten the pup to the backside of the box top. I built one Piezo pup, but it picks up every little noise, and feedback like crazy. Not sure what went wrong there, so I have been sticking with single coils. Oh yeah I use a pair of pliers to pull out the pole pieces that aren't used and drill a hole in the top for the remaining pole pieces to stick through.

Hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by NashvilleAl on December 10, 2010 at 6:47am

Chris, Thanks for responding.

 

So, if I understand correctly, I can rout out the neck where the pup goes. If I want to do a neck-thru design, can I glue a board underneath the neck to give it support (especially where I'll rout the spot for the pups)?

 

Also, another question. What are using to cut pup opening in the box? I've seen some pups which have a decorative trim ring, which I suppose would cover up a rough cut. But the majority single pups I've seen all do not have any cover. How do I get a nice precise cut? Any tool recommendation?

 

Thanks!

Chris Ballard said:

I have built 5 so far all with Single pickup design. I use a neck through design, sort of. I dont put the neck through the lower end of the box, only the upper end closest to the fretboard. I cut a recess in the neck where the pup will clear the neck. I fasten the pup to the backside of the box top. I built one Piezo pup, but it picks up every little noise, and feedback like crazy. Not sure what went wrong there, so I have been sticking with single coils. Oh yeah I use a pair of pliers to pull out the pole pieces that aren't used and drill a hole in the top for the remaining pole pieces to stick through.

Hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by rich poulin on December 10, 2010 at 9:40am

When I've built using the single-coil pickups I usually use the lid as the soundboard. This way I can build the neck with the heel, reinforcing, pickup cutout etc. all as a unit and drop it into place. The pickup gets screwed to the lid and the neck below it has a deep enough notch to allow it to adjust vertically. Here's a sketch of the layout...

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Permalink Reply by Shawn on December 10, 2010 at 11:33am

I use a dremel with a downward cut bit. Lay down some blue painters tape trace around the pup cover and cut inside lines with dremel sand up to line. Check fit and repeat till it just fits right. Push cover till it hit bottom mounting ears ( the part that the screws go into) then mark holes remove pup cover drill holes. Stain edge of cut out with close match then remove blue tape. Makes a nice clean look. I mount my dremel in a router base should have said that first. One other trick I glue sand paper to a wood dowell of the proper size to sand the half round ends of the pup cavity. Made lots of them using the spray glue you can get at home depot as well as some on the wood slate that are in the cigar boxes you know the ones inside around the edge we take out and discard. They make great cheap sanding sticks. I put 100 grit to 220 grit on a bunch and use them on all kinds of areas like nut shaping , saddle shaping as well as pup cavity shaping. Man I should put that over in secret tool post. Sorry for going on.

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Permalink Reply by Justin on December 10, 2010 at 11:48am

Having not even finished my first build, I'm far from an expert. But I did cut a nice hole for my pickup and I can tell you how I did it. Depends a lot on the tools you have available to you.

 

My pickup has rounded ends, so I measured and it's 3/4" wide. I measured and laid out two 3/4" holes the proper distance apart. I drilled them with a forstener bit and connected them with the scroll saw. You could just as easily do the straight cuts with a coping saw if you don't have a scroll saw. Leave a little extra meat on your cuts so you can size them with a file. This left me with a perfect cutout my pickup slides right into.

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Permalink Reply by NashvilleAl on December 13, 2010 at 4:34am

 

Rich,

 

Thanks for the diagram. That is awesome! I appreciate your response. I've order a pickup off the internet. I'm going to try to build this over the holidays.

rich "scrapwerks" poulin said:

When I've built using the single-coil pickups I usually use the lid as the soundboard. This way I can build the neck with the heel, reinforcing, pickup cutout etc. all as a unit and drop it into place. The pickup gets screwed to the lid and the neck below it has a deep enough notch to allow it to adjust vertically. Here's a sketch of the layout...

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Permalink Reply by NashvilleAl on December 13, 2010 at 4:36am

 

Thanks for the all the responses. I've ordered a pickup off the internet. It's pre-wired with volume/tone knob. From looking at the picture, I wonder if the shafts are going to be to short to go through the box lid? I may be back, with more questions and help!

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on December 13, 2010 at 7:08am

Chris,

Please post some pics (inside and out) if you can.... piezo's aren't bad if you do them right, they have to be handled with care... wound pups are always going to be stronger.  After doing "neck thrus" with wound pups the way you describe, I finally gave in and started doing bolt on necks with all my wound pup CBGs.  In the end, it doesn't take any longer, gives a better product and is adjustable as a bonus....

 

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

Chris Ballard said:

I have built 5 so far all with Single pickup design. I use a neck through design, sort of. I dont put the neck through the lower end of the box, only the upper end closest to the fretboard. I cut a recess in the neck where the pup will clear the neck. I fasten the pup to the backside of the box top. I built one Piezo pup, but it picks up every little noise, and feedback like crazy. Not sure what went wrong there, so I have been sticking with single coils. Oh yeah I use a pair of pliers to pull out the pole pieces that aren't used and drill a hole in the top for the remaining pole pieces to stick through.

Hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on December 13, 2010 at 7:11am

the pot shafts may be too short, depending on the length of the shaft and the thickness of the top... but, dont worry, you can always "thin" the top on the underside with not loss in appearance to your CBG... I used to thin with a knife, but now I love my Dremel sanding wheel.  I would guess that I thin about 1/2 of the tops where I install pots....

 

hope this helps,

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

Al said:

 

Thanks for the all the responses. I've ordered a pickup off the internet. It's pre-wired with volume/tone knob. From looking at the picture, I wonder if the shafts are going to be to short to go through the box lid? I may be back, with more questions and help!

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Permalink Reply by NashvilleAl on December 13, 2010 at 8:26am

 

I was thinking about taking my drill press and using a forstner bit to cut some of the thickness out. Also, wondering if this is method is overkill. Maybe using a knife will be better. I don't have a dremel.

 

 

Wichita Sam said:

the pot shafts may be too short, depending on the length of the shaft and the thickness of the top... but, dont worry, you can always "thin" the top on the underside with not loss in appearance to your CBG... I used to thin with a knife, but now I love my Dremel sanding wheel.  I would guess that I thin about 1/2 of the tops where I install pots....

 

hope this helps,

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

Al said:

 

Thanks for the all the responses. I've ordered a pickup off the internet. It's pre-wired with volume/tone knob. From looking at the picture, I wonder if the shafts are going to be to short to go through the box lid? I may be back, with more questions and help!

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on December 13, 2010 at 11:35am

great idea.... "adapt and overcome!!!"

Al said:

 

I was thinking about taking my drill press and using a forstner bit to cut some of the thickness out. Also, wondering if this is method is overkill. Maybe using a knife will be better. I don't have a dremel.

 

 

Wichita Sam said:

the pot shafts may be too short, depending on the length of the shaft and the thickness of the top... but, dont worry, you can always "thin" the top on the underside with not loss in appearance to your CBG... I used to thin with a knife, but now I love my Dremel sanding wheel.  I would guess that I thin about 1/2 of the tops where I install pots....

 

hope this helps,

the best,

 

Wichita Sam

Al said:

 

Thanks for the all the responses. I've ordered a pickup off the internet. It's pre-wired with volume/tone knob. From looking at the picture, I wonder if the shafts are going to be to short to go through the box lid? I may be back, with more questions and help!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mark Myers on December 13, 2010 at 1:19pm

Any one have the wiring diagram for a single coil to a volume knob?

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