A new guy needs some encouragement

I ordered my CBgitty basic 3 string kit this week and today I made it up with a poplar neck and a punch cigar box. I ordered enough materials to make 2, one for my 4 year old to play with and one I planned to put a piezo in for myself. I'm, optimistically, an intermediate guitar player with 10 years of experience on a standard acoustic. Was wanting to get some more authentic blues sound as well as play with a slide and have been very excited to have a nice basic cigar box guitar.

Then I built one. Build went fairly well except that I thinned the headstock too much on one side and am having some problems with the tuner on the highest (tone) string. I could accept problems with that string as my own stinking fault, but I'm having huge problems with the other two, as well. Unless I hold the guitar with the EXACT same pressure all around, I'm getting crazy fluctuations on open strings, like a half step or more on a single pluck of the strings (I'm playing fingers if that makes a difference).

I'm pretty discouraged and have decided it'd be best if I put down the CBG for the night. I also picked up my Hohner for a little "CBG Blues" therapy.

I would really like to make the CBG thing work for me. I love the concept and love some of the individual tones I've gotten out of my CBG. However, as is, it's not practical for anything but a toy for my 4 year old. Anything I should try to make this one work, or to have better success with the other materials I have for next time?

Replies

Ron "Oily" Sprague February 2, 2014 at 9:48am

First thing: Don't Panic

Second thing: you can fix it. It may not be pretty, but it will, ultimately, be fixed. We are not the Government, and we're here to help you.

Third thing: consider trading with your 4-year old (or does his have the same issues?).
- jawbone > Ron "Oily" Sprague February 2, 2014 at 10:20am
  
  Gosh Oily - I think trading your child for a guitar is a bit extreme!!!!
  There should be some other solution!!!
  :-)
  - Marcus Darwell > jawbone February 2, 2014 at 10:32am
    
    A 4 yr old for a nice git??? GOOD TRADE 8-)
    - Kyle > Marcus Darwell February 2, 2014 at 11:47am
      
      Yes. Action is very high. Didn't think it would impact the open strings and, since I wanted to learn slide didn't think it would be an issue as long as I'm gentle and don't play with left finger pressing the strings to the neck. This was my sons guitar to begin with but wasn't sure what I did wrong. (Although I did sacrifice already. I workout on a heavy bag and really liked the Punch box but so did he). Neck did seem like a likely problem but I thought I'd be good with the instructions from cbgitty. I will try to add a picture.
      - Kyle > Kyle February 2, 2014 at 11:53am
        
        Here are the first pictures.
        CAM00097.jpg
        
        CAM00098.jpg
        
        CAM00101.jpg
        
        Kyle > Kyle February 2, 2014 at 11:56am
        
        So brief story. Its a through neck. No glue yet. One small sound hole. 4 1/2 inch headstock. Total length of neck with headstock is 34".
        CAM00100.jpg
        
        robert jones > Kyle February 2, 2014 at 12:42pm
        
        Yep, it's your neck bending inside the box. Add a strip of bracing along the bottom of the neck inside the box to stiffen it.
        
        Kyle > robert jones February 2, 2014 at 12:46pm
        
        Thank you all for your help
darryl kernaghan February 2, 2014 at 8:20am

kyle,i feel robert is close to the mark,if you,re getting variations on open strings,it suggests something is moving or at least flexing,altering your scale length,some pics,or at least a good description of your neck,box connection will bring you some help i,m sure
robert jones February 2, 2014 at 7:59am

Most likely the neck is moving, either at the box connection or the neck itself is bending.

It might be possible to correct but you would need to show and describe the build for analysis.

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