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First build problem

Posted by Marcus P. Clarke on October 27, 2011 at 7:24pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

It looks like I might have screwed this up. Following the instructions for building a 3 string. I notched the box for a thru box neck. It said to notch to allow the lid to close. The lid is about 1/8 “ thick and when I got to thinking about it i looks like the strings will be to high so what do you all think and perhaps a fix idea. First build as you can guess. hope the pics show up

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Replies

  • Marcus P. Clarke October 30, 2011 at 1:59pm
    The drawing is going to work well for me, truth be told I have made 4 different designed necks the past few days and with several of the designs people have shared with me, All have turned out well with my 4 boxes. Neck building seems to be a chore in itself. The more I build the better they work. I am still a long ways off from completing a CBG. Thanks so much for the input it was a great deal of help...Peter


    Michael Fred Johnson said:
    305748983?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024This shows a spacer the same thickness as the box top used under the fingerboard as on the drawing. Shows as the walnut strip running up the neck as a decorative feature.Take no notice of the finish work, is still in progress.
  • Michael Fred Johnson October 30, 2011 at 5:50am
    305748983?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024This shows a spacer the same thickness as the box top used under the fingerboard as on the drawing. Shows as the walnut strip running up the neck as a decorative feature.Take no notice of the finish work, is still in progress.
  • Michael Fred Johnson October 30, 2011 at 5:44am
    305748922?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024
  • William McCauley October 28, 2011 at 8:01pm
    I like to use a hinge from the big box store. There are pics on my page of how I do it. Congrats on your retirement, stay healthy and enjoy it.

    Marcus P. Clarke said:
    It looks like you brace the neck on the inside of the box just below where the top of the box sits. How do you attach the strings at the tail. The method shown looks very stable.today I braced the iniside and notched where the neck goes. I'll send you some pics, see what you think. I like your method pic 1.  I'd like to get a way to do my builds in the future. I have plenty of boxes and necks. I'm retired this year and have plenty of time...Peter
  • Ryan Rose October 28, 2011 at 7:38pm
    Don't worry about messing up. It takes an awful lot to screw up a CBG to the point that it can't be salvaged. They are very forgiving. I'm somewhere in the vicinity of 20 builds (hard to keep count, because I've given most of them away), and I've never completed a build without a mistake of some sort. But I'm not unhappy with any of them. As others have said, it will be pretty easy to work the kinks out of your guitar, and when you're done, it will be the coolest thing ever.
  • Marcus P. Clarke October 28, 2011 at 7:09pm
    It looks like you brace the neck on the inside of the box just below where the top of the box sits. How do you attach the strings at the tail. The method shown looks very stable.today I braced the iniside and notched where the neck goes. I'll send you some pics, see what you think. I like your method pic 1.  I'd like to get a way to do my builds in the future. I have plenty of boxes and necks. I'm retired this year and have plenty of time...Peter
  • William McCauley October 28, 2011 at 5:29pm
    You didn't screw up. It looks like you need to relieve (notch) the neck where it goes thru the box.  I have included some pics of how I do my necks. I don't use  thru the box neck, for no particular reason. One of the pics shows how much I relieve the neck inside the box. The neck is 3/4" thick and I think the relief is 1/4" (probably close to 3/8") . I hope this helps.  The other pic shows how I mount the neck inside the box.

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    100_2126.JPG

  • Mr.C October 28, 2011 at 10:22am
    If you look where you buy your neck wood.threr bins below have small precut woods
  • Richard G Caudill October 28, 2011 at 2:03am

    yes to high ,, should have notched the neck        bad illustration ,, but here goes   -------__________-----  lid fits into the drop down points ... It'll leave ur entrance hole too deep will have a gap ...suggestion ,,,take a piece of ur 3/4 inch stock ,, cut to fit inside the box ,, notch it out so u get a tight fit to ur neck ,,, then take some small pieces and make a "window casing" type deal to cover the empty space , u need to notch the neck all way tru ur box body   so u can get vibration from lid ,,, i normally try to notch the exit side approx 1/8 inch deeper than entrance ,, that gives the neck some angle backwards and let u make a little higher bridge ,, which will get ur playing ,pick action off the top of the box ...

    probally b a lot more people will offer suggestions also  ,, look at em and see what u like best before u cut anymore     ok ?!!

  • Thomas Smith October 27, 2011 at 10:25pm

    I buy at The Home Depot.

    Tom

    Marcus P. Clarke said:

    Where could I buy the fretboard? That way I could lower the notch in the box. should I let the fretboard carry over the box say a couple of inches

    c storz said:
    What you forgot was to notch your neck to comsate for the lid .or add a fret board u can buy 1 1/2 red oak strips that are 1/4 thick
This reply was deleted.