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First build problem

It looks like I might have screwed this up. Following the instructions for building a 3 string. I notched the box for a thru box neck. It said to notch to allow the lid to close. The lid is about 1/8 “ thick and when I got to thinking about it i looks like the strings will be to high so what do you all think and perhaps a fix idea. First build as you can guess. hope the pics show up

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Permalink Reply by William McCauley on October 28, 2011 at 10:29am

You didn't screw up. It looks like you need to relieve (notch) the neck where it goes thru the box. I have included some pics of how I do my necks. I don't use thru the box neck, for no particular reason. One of the pics shows how much I relieve the neck inside the box. The neck is 3/4" thick and I think the relief is 1/4" (probably close to 3/8") . I hope this helps. The other pic shows how I mount the neck inside the box.

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Permalink Reply by Marcus P. Clarke on October 28, 2011 at 12:09pm

It looks like you brace the neck on the inside of the box just below where the top of the box sits. How do you attach the strings at the tail. The method shown looks very stable.today I braced the iniside and notched where the neck goes. I'll send you some pics, see what you think. I like your method pic 1. I'd like to get a way to do my builds in the future. I have plenty of boxes and necks. I'm retired this year and have plenty of time...Peter

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Rose on October 28, 2011 at 12:38pm

Don't worry about messing up. It takes an awful lot to screw up a CBG to the point that it can't be salvaged. They are very forgiving. I'm somewhere in the vicinity of 20 builds (hard to keep count, because I've given most of them away), and I've never completed a build without a mistake of some sort. But I'm not unhappy with any of them. As others have said, it will be pretty easy to work the kinks out of your guitar, and when you're done, it will be the coolest thing ever.

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Permalink Reply by William McCauley on October 28, 2011 at 1:01pm

I like to use a hinge from the big box store. There are pics on my page of how I do it. Congrats on your retirement, stay healthy and enjoy it.

Marcus P. Clarke said:

It looks like you brace the neck on the inside of the box just below where the top of the box sits. How do you attach the strings at the tail. The method shown looks very stable.today I braced the iniside and notched where the neck goes. I'll send you some pics, see what you think. I like your method pic 1. I'd like to get a way to do my builds in the future. I have plenty of boxes and necks. I'm retired this year and have plenty of time...Peter

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Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on October 29, 2011 at 10:44pm

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Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on October 29, 2011 at 10:50pm

This shows a spacer the same thickness as the box top used under the fingerboard as on the drawing. Shows as the walnut strip running up the neck as a decorative feature.Take no notice of the finish work, is still in progress.

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Permalink Reply by Marcus P. Clarke on October 30, 2011 at 6:59am

The drawing is going to work well for me, truth be told I have made 4 different designed necks the past few days and with several of the designs people have shared with me, All have turned out well with my 4 boxes. Neck building seems to be a chore in itself. The more I build the better they work. I am still a long ways off from completing a CBG. Thanks so much for the input it was a great deal of help...Peter

Michael Fred Johnson said:

This shows a spacer the same thickness as the box top used under the fingerboard as on the drawing. Shows as the walnut strip running up the neck as a decorative feature.Take no notice of the finish work, is still in progress.