Howdy Ya'll...

I thought to make a 4 string, fretted CBG for my first build.  I thought if I could build this one then any 3 string I did subsequently would be a cinch.  Well, I think I bit off more than I could chew.  

The build turned out pretty good for a first time ever making anything like this, but the frets are off, sort of.  The harmonics are dead on... beautiful, but using a fancy vibration tuner, and a stompbox as well, when fretted the strings don't ring true.  The notes fretted are wrong and it is hard to tune by ear.  Don't get me wrong, it actually sounds close and plays okay when chording and strumming.  But the intonation is wrecked.  


The top string is currently tuned to "A".  So open I get an "A".  Fretting the first fret I get an "A" at +150. 2nd fret plays "B" at -150.  3rd fret is "B" at +150, etc... etc... HELP! 

I am using a 5/8" bolt for the nut and bridge (only the bridge has a thin piece of wood below it).  I swapped out for a smaller nut bolt (the next size down) and took out the piece of wood under my bridge.  I even swapped out my tail piece for one with 4 holes.  I also added string trees/keepers to the headstock.  These all helped the sound of the thing, reducing some slight fret and string buzz, but that's about it.

Thoughts?  Advise? 

Views: 4402

Attachments:

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

or of course

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/profiles/blogs/measuring-frets-the-ea...

just check your printout with a ruler ,if 0-12 is correct you're in business

wfret is rubbish

here :)

Attachments:

It's not 100% finished (still need something for strap posts and a latch to keep the box shut, and I need to angle my bridge a bit to help the none wound string on the bottom), but for the most part she's not bad at all.

I haven't done extensive testing, but harmonics are spot on and the frets appear to be extremely close as well.  I will have to play around a bit to determine how bad and where, but it would seem measuring from the middle of the nut (bolt) did the trick.  

I guess it really is often the little things that make the difference that all the research in the world doesn't tell you.  Thanks for all your help.  

Hey Phrygian, I glanced around, but didn't see any. Do you have any vids on how that scale sounds.  That length shorter than either of the two I tried. The first one was close to a Gibson's scale length of 24.75", and this last one was a 25" scale (similar to a Paul Reed Smith).  Yours appears to be 23.6".  I know it's a stick in a box (as I have been told at least twice by ChickenBone John), but how much does the scale length affect the sound on these things?

Maybe this should be put into a different discussion.  Bottom line, I appreciate everyone's advice, encouragement, and direction.  :-)

Attachments:

 Nice printout , but how you get them ? , I've put the app on my Iphone  but how do you turn a pic on the Iphone into that printout you've posted ?

There's a hack :D

 Ok so how can you say Wfret is useless and yours is the D's B's if us mere mortals can't make use of it ?   :(

There isn't really a hack, the printout you see is from v3 which is still in beta. There is code is v2 which does the printing but there's no UI element to activate it, I abandoned it at the time and (because) it's nowhere near as refined as it is in v3 and did not feature the head design tool anyway. Thanks for being a user, the update is hopefully around a month away, I'm working hard at it.

WFret is not useless, please don't misunderstand me, I just think the printouts are hard to follow with no dot markers etc plus a lot of guys have had trouble getting it to work for various reasons, I was just offering up something painless for the fella. I'm working on something that is truly 'plug and play' and does a lot more than just fret slots. But I'm not claiming to have met any D's who were prepared to part with their B's. :)
Anywho... There's a template, enjoy. The tuners on that head should be a very close match for mr gittys budget open back jobbies

No template ???

no it isn't

Mate probly half my videos are that scale length. It's just a wee bit shorter, like a fender capoed to fret two or so. I tune em up to G mostly so the tension is a wee bit more than on a guitar, I use .011 sets mostly


http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/scales-are-fun
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/jingles-1
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/bruce6bang-1
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/tassie-strummer-24-1-12
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/autumn-moon-ii
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/tim-tam-lullaby

There's more than you can probly be bothered watching right there, those ones are def all 600mm (23 5/8")
I like the shorter scale cos there's notes you can't reach in open tunings if you go to 25

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

Dar Stellabotta posted a video

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

This video is the unboxing and the demonstration of a beautiful, six stringer built by Louie Lamanna. Join Louie and I June 15 at the second annual Pittsburg...
58 minutes ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter to you too Andries! The passion is definitely in full swing. Turns out I’m…"
1 hour ago
A.D.EKER commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter Doug ! the Passion is in full swing !"
2 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Ricky D's photo
2 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
2 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked Doug Thorsvik's video
5 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked A.D.EKER's video
5 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked Doug Thorsvik's video
6 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked Ricky D's photo
6 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked Ricky D's photo
6 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked Ricky D's photo
6 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked Ricky D's photo
6 hours ago

Events

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->