Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by bairfoot cajun on August 27, 2009 at 5:25pm

Paul you can make them with any scale length you want to.i have made several and used at least 4 different scale lengths.25.5 and 24.75 and 23.0 and 21.0 i usually determine the scale length by the size of the box with proper looking proportions. small box example 4x6 in. would get a shorter scale.larger box example 6x8 in.longer scale. on just about all the ones i have built i use a heavy guage string that would be the top E or the top A from an acoustic set fer more vibration. guage is something like .052 --- or .046-- or .042 something kinda heavy. hope this helps you but fair warning when it comes to didley bow,s you cant just make one you will want to make a few once you find out how fun they are to build.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ben on August 28, 2009 at 2:01am

I usually make mine with a 16 foot scale length, a 1" steel cable, and play it with a "Nine Pound Hammer."

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Nathan King on August 28, 2009 at 7:51am

Post some pics Ben!! :-)

Ben said:

I usually make mine with a 16 foot scale length, a 1" steel cable, and play it with a "Nine Pound Hammer."

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Dave V on August 28, 2009 at 2:15pm

I think the only rule is that you need a string long enough to span the length of the board you use, plus enough to tie at each end.

Sort of like Abe Lincoln's answer when asked "How long are your legs?" He replied "Long enough to reach the ground."

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on August 28, 2009 at 5:10pm

also depends on whether you are talking about a plank diddley bow or a diddley bow built on a cigar box... Also what sound your looking for and how you're going to play it (sticking string and using slide or plucking string and "fretting" against the neck or some combination)

look on youtube and figure out what you're looking for, then ask the question again.

the best,

Wichita SAm

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Doug on August 29, 2009 at 3:24pm

Thanks, I'm going to use a CB and round neck. That is as far as I have gotten. I'll take you advice and check out u-tube because I know nothing about them.

Wichita Sam said:

also depends on whether you are talking about a plank diddley bow or a diddley bow built on a cigar box... Also what sound your looking for and how you're going to play it (sticking string and using slide or plucking string and "fretting" against the neck or some combination)

look on youtube and figure out what you're looking for, then ask the question again.

the best,

Wichita SAm

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on August 29, 2009 at 4:22pm

Paul, here are three pics of a Diddley Bow of the style you describe....Made with a section of old clothes pole, a CB, a tuner and some bolts, it's a pretty straight forward build. You have to trim material from the head to expose the tuner peg, you have to cut a groove for the nut (here I used a 1/4 inch bolt... I have since replaced it with a piece of 1/2 inch dowel rod in order to play slide instead of fingerstyle), you have to cut holes in the box for the trimmed pole (need to "raise" the pole so that its top is above the level of the box)... you need to relief the pole under the box to free the box to vibrate fully.... then string her up and go... It's set up for 25 inch scale, although the bridge isn't set so there's considerable room to move it around. String termination is a sheet rock screw.... bridge is a 3/8" bolt and nut. I added a piezo pup... either way works. hope this helps... the best, Wichita Sam Paul Doug said:

Thanks, I'm going to use a CB and round neck. That is as far as I have gotten. I'll take you advice and check out u-tube because I know nothing about them.


Wichita Sam said:

also depends on whether you are talking about a plank diddley bow or a diddley bow built on a cigar box... Also what sound your looking for and how you're going to play it (sticking string and using slide or plucking string and "fretting" against the neck or some combination)


look on youtube and figure out what you're looking for, then ask the question again.

the best,

Wichita SAm

• ▶ Reply