Hi all

I'm halfway through building my first 3 string CBG kit. I bought a Pre-Wired Magnetic Pickup Harness like this one http://www.cigarboxguitarparts.com/page/3/

How deep into the neck should this pick up sit? Should the black plastic mounting plate be on top of the cigar box lid or inside the cigar box?

Would cutting deep in to the neck damage the neck and should I therefore brace the neck?

Presumably this is the method I should use to brace it?

http://www.cigarboxguitarparts.com/cigar-box-guitar-quick-tips/cbg-daily-quick-tip-quick-and-easy-neck-braces/

Sorry for all the questions? But I appeal to this forum for a little help on my first project.

Thanks in advance,

Ben

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Replies

  •  if you are using single coil pickups hacking into the neck will be unavoidable unless you use Flatpups, the neck could be braced by glueing a strip of wood beneath it, but removing wood from the neck is a no-no in my book, it will weaken the whole structure. (-:

    306256983?profile=original

    • That's not necessarily accurate, whether or not the neck has to be notched is entirely dependent on the method of construction and the height of the pickup.

      The way I construct my necks there is 3/4" between the top of the box (exterior) and the top of the neck (internal); with a 1/4" fret board that leaves a full 1" of height to place a standard single coil into, plenty of room for adjustment without resorting to cutting into the internal portion of the neck.

      That being said, I like those Flatpups and won't hesitate to second your recommendation of them.

      • Think outside the box. Literally. Why not suspend the pickup ABOVE the strings? Make a C-shaped metal bracket for the pup, that fits over the strings, with the pup facing down toward the strings. Then you don't have to compromise the neck. Learn to think about building these gits in different ways. Get crazy.
  • 306253247?profile=originalThis is what I did - but this was because I didn't want to put holes in the plate.
    I used a real beefy chunk of wood just to accommodate the pickup. The pick up top sits about 1/8 above the wood.

    • This is sweet!  Does it have just the magnetic pickup or is there a peizo in the box?  I wanna do something like this but 3way switch between peizo and mag.  How can I mount a rod peizo under the bridge?

      • This one is just the mag - I tried all sorts of combinations and finally made a new neck and just went with the one mag.
        Rod in bridge?? Just make a bridge and put a rod in it, saddle on top and drill a hole thru for the wire.

    • wow that looks amazing - im still a newbie - got a 3 string kit from CBG but if I like the sound of it i hope to do some more adventurous ones

  • You could also buy a pickup from Elmar at

    http://www.original-flatpup.com/

    They are very thin, only about 5-6mm thick, and sit on top of the box lid. No cutting necessary.

  •  Pics would a great help , but what ever you've used to make the neck I'd glue another piece of the same to the underside of the neck so it double the thickness inside the box and let it stick out the front of the box about 2ins and shape it to form a heel , plenty of pics on here or look at my last build , you'll need to measure from the underside of the black plastic cover (that sits on top of the lid ) to underside of the pickup subtract the lid thickness then you'll have to allow extra for up and down adjustment .

    • sounds good - so you wouldn't add a bronze brace to the neck/box?

      I have plenty left over wood so I am interested in this solution  - when you say about 2 ins sticking out the front - you mean at the end - my CBG is a neck-thruugh cigar box so already has about 2 ins sticking out - would be no big issue to have another piece underneath it using superglue.

      Do you have any pics of your last build so i can compare?

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