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6 Stringer build Help

Posted by JFTL on August 24, 2010 at 4:59pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

Hey All,

 

Recently purchased a 6 string CBG kit off the bay from Tinyguitars. It came with a used guitar neck in good condition, Cigar Box pre-cut for the neck, three pieces of cherry wood cut to support the box where the neck and bridge will be attached, a bottom fed guitar bridge, and some  curtain rod rings (holes are already pre-drilled in the box). Game plan is to get it all assembled (obviously), add two humbuckers with a 5 way switch for coil shunting options, and possibly a piezo/preamp setup.

 

Now for some questions...

 

 I'm planning on using the tele style bridge that is pictured below.

 

 

I'm assuming I would glue the supports as pictured below.

 

 

I'm hoping to use string ferrules on the bottom of this, would I be able to mount them to the bottom under all of the support boards, or would that not work with the bridge support being glued to the lid itself.

 

More to come I'm sure. =)

 

Thanks!

Kevin

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Replies

  • JFTL August 26, 2010 at 1:11pm
    Julian: That's my concern as well. More and more I think I'm going to just have to do this with the top loader and fasten everything together for strength. I'll likely set it up like a hollowbody wiring harness so I can get to all the wires if need be.

    Don: Initially that was the plan, but the more I look at it, and the more input I get from you guys I'm thinking that's just not going to be feasible.

    Mark: Yup, I was eyein' your pics last night. I kinda wondered if that's what you had done with your bridge.=)
  • Mark Werner August 26, 2010 at 11:26am
    I recently completed my first 6-string electric, and went for a through-the-body approach for the strings.
    First thing I had to do was go out and buy an extra-long drill bit, none I had were long enough!

    I also cut away the area where the bridge is mounted to allow the top to open for access to the electrics. The result worked OK but is rather ugly....
  • Don Thompson August 26, 2010 at 6:00am
    Looking at the picture I don't think the hinges are not going to work for you unless you remove the neck first to work on the insides. Perhaps that is what you had planned.
  • Julian Perry August 26, 2010 at 4:03am
    I'm kinda having the same dilemma with my six string build. My bridge is drilled for either through body strings or top loading, and was gonna go the top loading way, however I'm a bit woried about the weight of pull of the strings on the box lid. Ideally I want to be able to open the lid for any repairs and such, so I'm thinking of screwing it shut. With this set up tho, the hole weight of pull from the strings is on the box lid, whereas If I pass the strings through the body, the strings will in effect be pressing down on the box lid, keeping it tightly shut. I'm kinda making it up as I go along, because I've only built neck-through four stringers up til now!
  • JFTL August 26, 2010 at 1:45am
    Hey Josh,

    Thanks for all the tips! I think I'll go with the top loader just to make thinngs a little easier on myself. Since this is going to predominantly be an "electric" I'm not as worried about sacrificing some sustain, frankly I'll just happy if it all comes together =). I'm planning on using a tele style control plate, and already have a scematic for using a 5t4p switch with two humbuckers for some interesting switching options. Electronics are more my forte', so about anything I do will have some kind of weird switch option =).

    As is usually the case now that I've gotten my first taste I'm already planning my next build before this one is even done. It's going to be a 4 string guitar scale with a neck through and a license plate resonator top. lol.

    Thanks!
    Kevin
  • Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) August 26, 2010 at 1:36am
    Also, since you're only going to have two pickups, can I suggest that you use a 3-way switch and make either your tone or volume knob a push/pull pot and use that for coil splitting?
  • Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) August 26, 2010 at 1:34am
    A top loader bridge is a good alternative and probably a better choice for your first go round. One thing to keep in mind for later builds: top loaders don't sustain as well as string-thru-bodies. The effect is small but it is there.

    JFTL said:
    I'm beginning to wonder if doing a top loader bridge like the one pictured below would be the easier way to go.

    C20_a.jpg

  • Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) August 26, 2010 at 1:33am
    No problem, but a six string like this is pretty ambitious for a first time build. Still, I continually see first time builds that blow my first build way, way out of the water, so what do I know?

    You might be able to do that but I advise against it. For one, you may have issues getting the lid to close easily over the neck once it's set in place. In fact, I almost promise you will if the neck pocket is cut correctly. Second, for a string-thru-body, you really want everything glued solid. If you have any close gaps there is a very good possibility that two separate pieces of wood will vibrate together during play, which will create a buzzing, sitar like sound.

    For a typical neck-thru this is less of a concern and it's a lot easier to preserve the box's ability to open.

    JFTL said:
    That's an excellent idea. You'll have to forgive me this is my first CBG, so I'm really in the learning process still. Do you think I could still build it so that the lid can open, or will it need to be all glued together?

    Thanks!
    Kevin
  • JFTL August 26, 2010 at 12:55am
    I'm beginning to wonder if doing a top loader bridge like the one pictured below would be the easier way to go.

    C20_a.jpg

  • JFTL August 26, 2010 at 12:10am
    That's an excellent idea. You'll have to forgive me this is my first CBG, so I'm really in the learning process still. Do you think I could still build it so that the lid can open, or will it need to be all glued together?

    Thanks!
    Kevin
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