#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

First Fretted CBG: Action Questions

Ok, my google-fu failed me here... I'm working on my 11th CBG, which will be my first Fretted toy.

I've figured out how to cut the frets, how deep, setting and filing fret wire, kerf on saw, etc.

Instead of making a separate fret board, I just fretted the neck.

Now it comes to action and angle. . . in past builds, I've lined up the neck surface with the box surface. Since I have no fretboard, I've dropped the box surface just under 1/4" for pick clearance.

How high should the strings be at the first fret, and at the 12th? Looking at my acoustic, it's about 1/32" and 1/8". Any tips/tricks?

John in San Diego

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on January 8, 2014 at 8:01pm

Hi John, looks like you're going in the right direction, good call on raising the neck above the box lid. In terms of action, it's up to you really but as a non-slide player (or bad slide player) there's a good intonation trick I picked up on this site (although I can't remember who suggested it):

Fret the 2nd fret, keep plucking one string at a time, and while you do this bring your finger down on the first fret, behind your other finger. If you hear the note sharpen, lower the action a little by making the slot on the nut a little deeper. Once you are happy with this, sand a little material from the bottom of the bridge at a time to adjust the action at the other end, 1/8" on the 12th should be fine.

Good luck man!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on January 9, 2014 at 2:58am

another quick check is to place a 25 cent (quarter) coin in top of 12th fret...strings should just 'touch' top of coin. For the upper neck, a plastic card (bank card, etc.) will give a close spacing at 1st or second fret

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David McQueen on January 9, 2014 at 3:13am

Another one is clearance at the nut from the fret board is about a dime.

For back angle, you can run from neck parallel to fret board up to about 5 or 6 degrees back angle. The back angle allows a higher bridge for the same action and hence more downward string pressure on the box. The first is a typical straight through body neck. 5 to 6 degrees is getting you into the archtop or gypsy jazz guitar territory. Gypsy jaz guitars have 9/16" to 11/16" high bridges.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on January 10, 2014 at 9:27pm

Thanks for the tips. I finished it tonight, (midnight,here)... Action at 1st fret is .042", at 12th is .10. I have some buzzing on the 10th on the G string, I figure I nee to re set that fret.

Intonation got progressively better as I lowered the nut. My next will get more back-angle so I can put in a higher bridge. It's interesting that the intonation is better further down the neck, but it makes sense when I considered the angles and pressures involved. I used CBGitty's paper templates as a guide. Given the stretch at the first 2-4 frets, I might back set future ones just a smidge to improve intonation, but I'm probably just being picky. Hell, I need to spend more time learning to play, but I'm having too much fun building...

Now I just can't remember if this is #11 or #12.

I glued the box closed tonight, after I glued in the piezo. I'll post a pic when I get the clamps off tomorrow.

John

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David McQueen on January 11, 2014 at 1:04am

Check the frets above the 10th to see which one is high. Then check to see if it is full seated all the way across. You might be able to place a small block of wood on it and tap with a small hammer to bring it in line. Alternately, dress it with a small file or sanding block. I am sure others have much better info than me regarding fret dressing.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on January 11, 2014 at 12:52pm

Don't forget to adjust bridge for dialing in the intonation. Strings stretch, thus becoming longer, when pressing down to fret a note. To accommodate string stretch, the bridge must be adjusted/angled. I recommend watching Youtube for videos describing the process.

Point being, don't add a "smidge" to the fret measurements to adjust intonation...bad idea.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on January 11, 2014 at 2:01pm

Thanks! I'll look!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on January 12, 2014 at 6:17am

Farmer Ted: Great advice. I was doing this on all my builds, but with the fretted version, I wasn't doing it right... Found this youtube vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZVRCMJLnm4

which told me to check intonation with a very light touch. When I did that, the intonation is nearly perfect, after adjustment.

Even checking 3rd and 5th frets it's super close. I'm hooked! Now I'm off to build my fretting miter box so I don't have any slips or scars on my fretted necks.

Thanks again!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by TwoShoes on January 11, 2014 at 2:58am

I've been out of the shop and away from the nation for awhile, but I'm starting to think about Spring! I don't deserve to breathe the same air as some of the builders around here, but I came up with a goofy way to set the action that works for me. It isnowhere near as refined as individually tuning each string's slot, but it gets there quick and works for my tin ear!

I described and posted some pics here:

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/set-action-w-custom-shim...

Part of what got me back to CBGs was a talented guitar player was over recently and I showed him my collection. On my best CBG, he said I had gotten the action perfect. I almost blushed! I used above method to set action.