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First build, question about neck, pickup, and stability

Yesterday my parts from cbgitty arrived in the mail. Shortly after I began to saw my 3/4 inch by 1 1/2 maple to start on the neck and cut slots out my cigar box to fit in a through neck design. I did a bunch of drawings for where I wanted everything to go. I wouldn't say I hit a road block, but I found a decision I can't make on my own.

After gluing my neck to a support piece that is directly under the neck through the body, I kept thinking that perhaps the glue may not be strong enough to support the neck after I cut out the spot where the pickup goes. And I don't want to cover the writing on he box with the pickup. So my question is this. Should I put the pickup between the bridge and the crest on the box, or between the crest and the fretboard???

I added these pics to help you get an idea of what I'm working with.

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Permalink Reply by Brent on April 5, 2013 at 9:00am

I will be adding pics once I get home and I can use a laptop instead of this dumbass iPhone.

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Permalink Reply by Reeds Taylor on April 5, 2013 at 9:02am

I'm not sure what your problem is, but this is how I do mine with that style pick up. Hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by Reeds Taylor on April 5, 2013 at 9:09am

Sorry I read your post wrong...Its entirely up to your taste too where you want your pup....at the bridge gives a deeper tone...at the neck gives a nice mellow bluesy/jazz tone... of course if your looking too get a particular sound, there are many other things too consider such as string gauge, are you using bone, wood or metal for a nut and bridge.....but its a cbg...there are no rules!

Here's my first 4 string, and my favorite...just after my Longhorn build that is. (got it right the first time around), done like explained .... http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/b?context=album&albumId=259... and this one I just finished... http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/veteran-s-build-complete?contex...

Good Luck!

Reeds

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Permalink Reply by Brent on April 5, 2013 at 12:35pm

I plan to use metal for bridge and nut

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Permalink Reply by Brent on April 5, 2013 at 12:04pm

My main concern was that if I did a cutaway to fit the pup, that it would weaken the neck. Have you ever had an issue with that happening? That's why I was thinking of keeping the cutaway far from the neck, near the bridge. Although I've seen countless cbgs with pup near the neck. I guess I'm just paranoid.

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Permalink Reply by Reeds Taylor on April 5, 2013 at 1:20pm

Screws are your friend Brent...you see in my pictures...from where I put my pup too the end of the box at the neck has 4x1 1/2" deck screws....and then there's more further down the neck ...It doesn't show that in the diagram....I had 2 in the pic...but it didn't feel safe for me...so I put 4...just like a bolt on neck(but only inside the box) and never had any issues

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Permalink Reply by Brent on April 5, 2013 at 4:06pm

Awesome. I'm going to add a bit more wood where I think it'll help and use either wood screws or small nuts and bolts. Thanks for the good advice. No wonder why you are so helpful, you are a fellow Canadian. If my first build goes well, I had thought about a Stompin Tom cbg as my second project.