#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Box size verses scale length ???

I am building a cbg for order and the box is 12 and 1/2 " inches long I use a 24and 1/2" scale length so the fret board is running way into the box. So the Question is how do yall handle this?????

The box is what the customer wants and I am at a lose as to do I just let the scale length run over the box with unusable frets or just cut it short at the end of the box????

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jimbo Cawthron on June 8, 2014 at 3:30am

I dont want to run the string ends much futher then this build. he wants the can reso type build in the black box.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jimbo Cawthron on June 8, 2014 at 3:27am

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jimbo Cawthron on June 8, 2014 at 3:33am

I think I am stressing out over nothing after I slept on it. But thanks for the input.

I get this way when some one orders specifics, most of the time I just build and it works out for the good!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on June 8, 2014 at 4:11am

yes, the total string length is def a consideration, especially if you shift the whole lot by having more frets (neck) clear of the box. Cheaper strings are often considerably shorter than the name brands, barely enough to do a fender sometimes. You can shift the ball ends closer by making a cool tailpiece and still have it free of the top, suspended only from the box end by a tailgut or similar. They're reasonably easy to knock out from sheetmetal or a bit of fingerboard scrap

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on June 8, 2014 at 4:48am

Trapeze bridge, like so:

http://image.dhgate.com/albu_234417840_00-1.0x0/6-string-bass-guita...

You can make 'em from forks, like I do, or metal spatulas, like one of Seasick Steve's, or from wire coat hangers, etc. or like those on a violin from scrap with a tailgut, like the Kid is suggesting.

That's a sweet looking box, Jimbo.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jimbo Cawthron on June 8, 2014 at 6:20am

Yes, I definitely dont want to mess it up!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jimbo Cawthron on June 8, 2014 at 6:23am

Now that is a interesting bridge!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Randy S. Bretz on June 8, 2014 at 7:54am

It`s not a bridge ..it`s a tailpiece

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on June 8, 2014 at 8:03am

Randy's right, it's a tailpiece. It would be one possible solution to your problem...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JL on June 10, 2014 at 4:59am

As long as frets 12-17 can be comfortably used to play at the octave position i would think you are good.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Primitive Acoustics on June 10, 2014 at 5:30am

I just finished a guitar with a 13 1/4" length box. The neck joins the body at the 17th fret with a 25 inch fret scale.

Easy access up the neck and it stays in tune better than any guitar I own.

The Koa tailpiece design is holding up so far. The metal mount is just a piece of L channel that I epoxied and screwed the wood to. Similar mount to your photo of Twins 06. I cut a thin metal strip and placed it inside the string mount compartment to keep the strings from pulling through. You can vary the length of the tailpiece to fit your need, might work for you or give you other ideas to try.