hello CBG nation! seems i posted on my blog instead of here, so here it goes again. im a lurker comming out of the dark. i fist read about CBG's in a local throw away paper. i then went on the internet and found SO much info on them i saw some great vids too. great sound, raw and gritty. being as i have zero musial skills and about the same woodworking skills, i said to myself , "self, i need to build one of those and learn to play it" and i just finished it. crow style. a buck for the box, red oak board and some hardware. rough? you bet. but it makes noise with the weedwacker strings and fishing line. i will get some real strings from my friend who is a real musician ( shamless plug here-Los Fabulocos lead singer/accordian player-Jesus Cuevas) and get to playing. thinking about my nex
t build...hmmmm electric CBG..yeah!! thanks to all for the great info here. mark
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Next time you can save on the neck part by drilling holes instead of the 3 little screws above the nutt.
Just send your strings into the holes so you can get better tension on the strings and it will ease
tension on the whole neck so it will not bend ;-)
If you want louder sound, reduce number of sound holes, one of them might be enough, and the smaller size
the better ; every hole you make
in the soundboard will reduce your sound quality, tone, loudness, because it vibrates less. (simple
luthery rules)
ps: sorry for the edit, I forgot, you can also place the box higher so the neck will be a little tail after your
box and it will give a better sound ;-)
Thats cool Hoodrat. I too had no guitar skills when I started my cbg voyage. I was inspired by a local fella here in Fl. named Ben Prestage (look him up on YouTube, he's the real deal!!) Never the less, I am haveing sooo much fun with my janky 3 stringer and many more builds to come.
I use fishing line REGULARLY on my builds. They work great, especially electric (I use piezos). VERY nice build you have there! Just remember the Zen of it: Be true to the box, and the box will be true to you. CHEERS!
I like the weed whacker strings and fishing line idea. Do you play with a slide on nylon strings? I wonder what it sounds like with and without an amplifier, clean and distorted.
Replies
man good job on this build!!! YOU GOTTA make a video of this instrument. i've been absent for like a week but i'm glad i checked in ... well done!!!!!
i'm so proud! welcome to the NATION buddy!
Next time you can save on the neck part by drilling holes instead of the 3 little screws above the nutt.
Just send your strings into the holes so you can get better tension on the strings and it will ease
tension on the whole neck so it will not bend ;-)
If you want louder sound, reduce number of sound holes, one of them might be enough, and the smaller size
the better ; every hole you make
in the soundboard will reduce your sound quality, tone, loudness, because it vibrates less. (simple
luthery rules)
you can see an exemple here
http://cigarboxguitars.com/resources/workshops/how-to-make-a-diddle...
ps: sorry for the edit, I forgot, you can also place the box higher so the neck will be a little tail after your
box and it will give a better sound ;-)
Have fun :-)