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Courage or caution ? Neck Advice needed & stupid question

Hi everyone,

I am stuck with my plans for my first build and needed a little advice.

I am planning to build a 4 string ('cause I really love 4 stringed instrument... ukulele and bass player) licence plate guitar. Having no boxes (find a cigar box in italy -where I live- seems impossible at a reasonable price) and having an hobbyist woodcarver father with a huge lab and lot of machinery I have all the tools to build my instrument.

But here is the dilemma : be brave or cautious ?

First idea was make something gumbo guitar 4 string plate resonator. Simple but pretty, but with some adjustments (I really don't like "pass through" necks). Just make the box, round a rod of hard wood (oak in my case), make a sturdy bracing, cut rod to accomodate the tuners and here you go (well, not quite simple and a lot of checkpoint missed, but you know what I mean).

Seems reasonable and seeing it is my first time project, I am going fretless. But then I though : just make a simple "shaft" neck or try to carve one ? Is it too ambitious for 1st project or I should try ?

Second (and here is the stupid question) : I saw a lot of people put a floating "bridge" (usually a screw) on a license plate resonator and seems good to me. But, isn't the screw going to warp the plate with the string pressure ? Or the "weight" of the pull isn't enough to warp it (I have a '79 american metal plate to use in this project so sturdy metal)

Hope everything is at least understandable... english is not my main language.

Sorry about the mistakes and thanks a lot for your advices.

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Permalink Reply by MrStones on January 7, 2017 at 10:13pm

Thank you Kigar! Another great idea. You're giving me so many great ideas! Thank you again

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on January 5, 2017 at 7:18am

If it is going to be a slide only guitar , which I think it is, then there is no need for a fretboard, you can get all the "action" you need by using taller bridge and nut. I also think we( I know I did) misunderstood when you said "Shaft" for the neck, I thought you meant a round dowel. Gluing on a fretboard will add strength to the neck, but with oak I do not think you will need that.

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Permalink Reply by MrStones on January 5, 2017 at 9:23am

I do apologize. As I said, english is not my main language and I used a wrong word. Thank you again !

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Permalink Reply by MrStones on January 5, 2017 at 9:28am

Moritz, I post you here 'cause I can't reply directly to your message (the button is missing...) ok, thanks a lot I will take care of it.

Well, my first idea was to put a thin metal sheet (that I will hammer cautiously down to form a rounded shape... I found rounded back makes sounds better on ukulele... but they are not made of metal) also on the back... too much metal ? Wood is better ? Thanks again !

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on January 5, 2017 at 10:11pm

some dobro's are made entirely of metal...

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Permalink Reply by MrStones on January 7, 2017 at 10:12pm

Yes, you're right Timothy :) thanks a lot ! Let's go for a metal back!

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on January 7, 2017 at 6:08pm

because you're building the box, a license plate guitar is ideal for a Fender style bolt on neck. Add a 2-3" head block and drill through for neck attachment. Voila. It frees the inside for electronics and max resonance. And you get an adjustable neck angle too.

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Permalink Reply by MrStones on January 7, 2017 at 10:11pm

Wow ! That's a great idea. I don't know exactly how to do it, but I would really like.

I mean, Is the head block only outside the box ? How deep should be the head block ? And how is secured on the box ? Glue or bolted ?

And if the neck is 1" deep, how deep should the "drills" go inside the neck to be safe ? Should I add glue too ? Thanks a lot !

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