So I built a neck almost through body CBG with a piezo rod in pickup. Just strung it up and the mahogany neck (bought this one pre fretted from CBGitty) flexes up and action is ridiculously high.
Problem one, I mounted the neck flush with the sound board
Problem two, I made a four string so neck tension is higher :(
Problem three, I did not adjust the neck angle three degrees
I did use a zero fret
So. To go back in and raise the neck ( no fretboard, just fret on neck) I will have to really thin the neck through the body. I suppose I could brace this inside somehow and shim up the back in the process to get the angle, but I'm worried about the strain on the neck given the bowing I am seeing.
I did glue this so will likely destroy the box in the process. No big, I can gt a new one. Thoughts on better ideas?
Oh, I do not play slide well yet. Have just started messing around with slide in the last few weeks to gt ready for this.
I do have two necks in the works. Both red oak both will have fret boards. Just finishing the frets on one now. The next git will be a "solid body" ( box filled with poplar, routed out for electronics) four string electric ith a hum bucker pick up. This will have bone nut and a hard tail bridge. Any tips on getting neck set right for good action appreciated.
Thanks all! Have a blessed week!
Ab
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I just finished up my first 4 string slide using poplar and oak and I feel like it is my best yet.But i made some real goofs before I got it right. I love the sound of the CBG and all mine have been acoustic since I travel a bit and just like to play anywhere. The boxes are easy to get and the neck wood I get at home depot so when I messed up all I was out was time.You can add strength by adding a rod under the fretboard but I just brace inside the box.practice makes a good CBG.
To help in strengthening your builds I glue a piece of wood at the back end of the box for the necks back end to sit on and also adds strength for a piece of wood on the outside of the box where I put the string anchors.
On wood that is soft and bends I usually will glue a piece of scrap oak to the underside of the neck piece thats inside the box. Simple fix that seems to work well. Cheat anyway you can... :)
For strings I use the Ernie Ball super slinkies... Much lower tensions needed on builds. I also use wood nuts and bridges built from some very hard wood I have. This stuff is so hard its taken teeth out of my 1/2 blade on my bandsaw. So I file it as low as I can get away with and if I make a mistake... I take some of the sawdust that I filed, put some in my mistake and add a drop of very thin crazy glue. Problem solved.
Ab Wilkinson > BP - RabidSalad -August 21, 2015 at 1:05pm
Y'all are awesome! I did elect to take everything apart (much easier than I feared) and fixed it. I started off with a 3 degree angle (calculated height on the neck angle calculator tool I googled... nice) and set everything up. I didnt like it. neck was so thin at the body that it was bowing. I sanded it all back down and braced it with another 3/4" x 1.5" piece of mahongany glued and clamped and shaped to a heel. fret board now sits 1/4" above the body and no angle needed. i did glue two 1/2" small pieces of wood to the bottom of the box to support the rest of the neck. It is plenty strong now, no bowing, no buzz, strings are just about perfect where i like em... Lovin it. I will post some pics when i get home if anyone is interested.
I agree with everyone else's comments. I would suggest a separate fretboard is pretty crucial for a 4 string. I have recently started using a non-adjustable mild steel rod in my 4 string necks to further reduce the risk of bowing.
On my 31st build (solid body 4 string, the one on my profile pic) I just did a straight Strat style neck joint, although I usually have some back angle. I have no complaints with how it plays.
For a quick fix, Darryl is right. A little work can salvage it fairly easily. Slide is fun, I'd encourage working with it more to get proficient. I build both types depending on whim, time, random bursts of ambition. If I'm putting a mag pup in it's likely to get frets, but it's no guarantee. Last one I finished is a baritone with a 4 pole base pup under the lid with no frets. Love that thing, sounds mean as hell. Next baritone will probably be fretted. It helps to plan out your builds as far as you can. The 3 degree kick is nice but I've only done one with the neck angled, all my others are straight as I can get them. still play just fine.
I agree with Daryl. Adding a fretboard will "lower"the string height by raising the neck. I had that problem and lowered the bolt I used a nut deeper into the neck which helped. As for slide, cant help there as I have just started fooling around with one myself. Good luck.
Replies
Feels nice when things work out well... especially so after a face palm mistake and you can fix it up right.
And yep a pic of the done deal would be nice.
image.jpg
Looks great.
To help in strengthening your builds I glue a piece of wood at the back end of the box for the necks back end to sit on and also adds strength for a piece of wood on the outside of the box where I put the string anchors.
On wood that is soft and bends I usually will glue a piece of scrap oak to the underside of the neck piece thats inside the box. Simple fix that seems to work well. Cheat anyway you can... :)
For strings I use the Ernie Ball super slinkies... Much lower tensions needed on builds. I also use wood nuts and bridges built from some very hard wood I have. This stuff is so hard its taken teeth out of my 1/2 blade on my bandsaw. So I file it as low as I can get away with and if I make a mistake... I take some of the sawdust that I filed, put some in my mistake and add a drop of very thin crazy glue. Problem solved.
Y'all are awesome! I did elect to take everything apart (much easier than I feared) and fixed it. I started off with a 3 degree angle (calculated height on the neck angle calculator tool I googled... nice) and set everything up. I didnt like it. neck was so thin at the body that it was bowing. I sanded it all back down and braced it with another 3/4" x 1.5" piece of mahongany glued and clamped and shaped to a heel. fret board now sits 1/4" above the body and no angle needed. i did glue two 1/2" small pieces of wood to the bottom of the box to support the rest of the neck. It is plenty strong now, no bowing, no buzz, strings are just about perfect where i like em... Lovin it. I will post some pics when i get home if anyone is interested.
Thank you all for the helpful advice!!!
Ab
good news Ab,enjoy
I agree with everyone else's comments. I would suggest a separate fretboard is pretty crucial for a 4 string. I have recently started using a non-adjustable mild steel rod in my 4 string necks to further reduce the risk of bowing.
On my 31st build (solid body 4 string, the one on my profile pic) I just did a straight Strat style neck joint, although I usually have some back angle. I have no complaints with how it plays.
For a quick fix, Darryl is right. A little work can salvage it fairly easily. Slide is fun, I'd encourage working with it more to get proficient. I build both types depending on whim, time, random bursts of ambition. If I'm putting a mag pup in it's likely to get frets, but it's no guarantee. Last one I finished is a baritone with a 4 pole base pup under the lid with no frets. Love that thing, sounds mean as hell. Next baritone will probably be fretted. It helps to plan out your builds as far as you can. The 3 degree kick is nice but I've only done one with the neck angled, all my others are straight as I can get them. still play just fine.
I agree with Daryl. Adding a fretboard will "lower"the string height by raising the neck. I had that problem and lowered the bolt I used a nut deeper into the neck which helped. As for slide, cant help there as I have just started fooling around with one myself. Good luck.
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