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Canjo tuning

Hi all,

Have a stupid question on canjo tuning.

I've built a couple with a .013 steel string and tuned to C

Does that mean that fret 1 should show D on the tuner ? then E etc ?

I've followed the scale length and fret spacing in millimetres from the cbgitty canjo guide.

It sounds ok when I play it but not getting a D at fret 1 etc ..

Any pointers for me ?

Thanks a mill

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on November 22, 2020 at 7:05pm

Hi, as I mentioned I cant see the photo, but, if you did use a round bolt and you did not shorten the distance from the first fret to the end of the fingerboard, the scale length would be wrong. The distance from the end of the fingerboard to the centre of the bolt [string contact point] could be the difference causing the problem.

But I'm fishing in the dark here as I have no photo, just a row of numbers.

Taff

Permalink Reply by declan foley on November 23, 2020 at 5:24am

Thanks All,

I'll have a look again tonight.
Based on your input I guess the string is too high ..
is there a recommended height over the frets ? 3 mm ?

I will have o punch a new hole in the can too as the 'bridge' position is definitely too high

I'm still not 100% clear on the advice Taff :
"if you did use a round bolt and you did not shorten the distance from the first fret to the end of the fingerboard, the scale length would be wrong. The distance from the end of the fingerboard to the centre of the bolt [string contact point] could be the difference causing the problem."

thanks

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on November 23, 2020 at 10:57am

Hi, Sorry declan, i thought it hard to understand.

Let me try this. At the start of the fingerboard [peghead] the nut would sit flush to that end of the board [the start of the scale length]. Call this the leaving point for the string from the nut].

Now if you place a round bolt in that same position as a square faced nut, the string contact {the leaving point of the string] is in the middle of the bolt , which would be back from the start of the fingerboard.

Taff

Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on November 23, 2020 at 11:19am

Taff, I’m able to click on the links using an iPhone & iPad, not sure what you’re using? However, here’s that pic, which is not a bolt, but looks a high for a canjo? I build my Canjo’s with a flat screw for a nut like gitty does, which poses this same problem of being sharp if it is adjusted too high off the neck?

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on November 23, 2020 at 11:40am

Hi Brian, thanks mate, I get a warning from my net provider on my PC and iPad that the site where the photo is, is unsafe. But I can see photos posted direct to this forum.

OK ,I see it all ....said the blind man.....just store what I said away for another time.

I would have thought that even if the string is too high you would still get a D note, at least a D plus however many cents, or D sharp - ish.

Hight over the first fret try 15 thousandths and at the twelfth fret 2mm. That's acoustic guitar setting, ball park for fingering not slide..

Taff