Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bazinga762 on March 5, 2015 at 5:13pm

Oh, the hardware I have is NOT guitar hardware.  I'm still looking for tuners, etc.

Permalink Reply by Bazinga762 on March 5, 2015 at 5:15pm

Last P.S:  One of my friends got a hardwood door shipped to him on a pallet made of PURPLE HEART.  Yes, a pallet.  I don't want to just go on eBay or whatever and put this sort of stuff out there for wood turners.  I'd like to keep it musical, if you can relate.

Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on March 5, 2015 at 5:56pm

what do you do?

you become a hoarder...

it sounds like you already wear that hat quite comfortably...

for electronic components many things can be found (old computers, tvs are good - hookup wire, pots, capacitors, mystery coils)  but its pretty much inevitable you'll need to buy output jack connectors and solder.    Its also inevitable that you'll buy tuners and fretwire.  You should go to the CB Gitty store, just look around this page for an ad, thats the bloke who runs this site.  Their prices are the best you'll find and they really make an effort to keep your shipping costs down, unlike some prominent luthiery supply companies I won't name..

You can get a pretty cool pickup from a wall wart step down transformer, just peel off all the unwanted guff and add a magnet 

Permalink Reply by Brian Revels on March 6, 2015 at 3:00am

I would try making some pickups and use your excess hardware (eye-bolts and such) for the tuners and string trees.  

I might be interested in a trade for some stuff, depending what all you're wanting vs. what you want to trade for.  I might not be able to do it just now (still cleaning out my garage, and getting organized), but might be able to figure out something soon.  

Permalink Reply by Brian Revels on March 6, 2015 at 5:00am

It's pretty simple.  I know a lot of people who prefer the looks of them to traditional tuners because of the rustic, "I threw this thing together with whatever I could find" look to it.  And believe it or not... I actually like these as good as traditional tuners.  Using eye-bolts and wing-nuts actually works like a Floyd Rose in locking in your tuning once your strings have stretched out.  Most of the ones I have done stay in tune better than some of my traditional 6-string, professionally-made guitars.

Check out one of the detailed pics I have of my "Fancy Uncle Crow" guitar.  That will show one way to do it.

Here is a video for Makezine... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKg20Cg7gUA. This is where I first saw the idea for eye-bolts and wing-nuts that was different than anyone else's (FYI, I would only pay attention to the part about the eye-bolt tuners... everything else is hit or miss for good advice on making a good sounding CBG).  This last way to do it rarely requires string guides/trees.

Hope this helps... good luck! 

Permalink Reply by Monterey on March 10, 2015 at 11:22am

Here is a link to an article I saw a while back on Tennessee Music Boxes. They traditionally used eye screws as tuners.
http://home.usit.net/~sandyc/mb.html
Also they used to use fence staples or broom wire to make frets. I used broom wire for fretting my Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer, bent it with pliers first, pre-drilled the holes and tapped it in. Works good and looks authentic
https://books.google.ca/books?id=o6QeBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA85&lpg=P...