Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on February 23, 2022 at 11:13am

Hi JillB, I have a video I made about building a cbg, but It would take me too long to work out how to show the neck assembly part only, so I hope these photos will do.

I agree that anything inside the box will affect performance to some degree. You will notice that I have put part of the neck block outside the box for this reason, in the form of a heal. If the photos do not show enough please ask.

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I use insert nuts in the neck and furniture assembly bolts, which often come in a pack at the hardware store.
This method makes it easy to change neck angle and keeps a good bridge height.
Enjoy good luck Taff

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Permalink Reply by JillB on February 23, 2022 at 5:10pm

hi Taff, many thanks for these pics, worth 1,000 words and very much appreciated. Nice idea using the furniture insets and bolts.

Considering that the two neck holding bolts are fairly close together, do you have any problem with the neck moving when the strings are at full tension?

Your how-to video sounds interesting. Any chance of a link to it please?

Kind regards, Jill

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on February 23, 2022 at 11:48am

Hi  Jill .  folks  do this many different ways .  the easiest , and most popular is running the neck  the full length of the box . some even   let the neck  stick out the other end . (makes a great tailpiece.)  this is usually  glued to the  bottom side of the lid. (if you are installing a pickup ( fatter t than the neck) you may want to  cut the neck there and brace it with another piece of neck wood underneath .(see pic)

And there are 2 camps that will argue  both ways if it sounds better  glued to the top or bottom . or a space cut out between the lid and the neck . 

most  builders that have done it both ways will tell you they dont notice a difference .  or will lean towards the  glued up solid sounding better ..     but  YRMV

Hope that helps ,

ps .. if this is strictly an electric guitar .. it matters even less.

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on February 23, 2022 at 12:21pm

I will add that some folks will shave off a  thin layer ( about the thickness of the lid) on  the part of the neck that goes in the box. This helps your fretboard line up higher than the box . and more strumming space / better action.  but most of the time  the thickness of the fretboard will still bring it above the box enough . 

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Permalink Reply by JillB on February 23, 2022 at 1:05pm

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on February 23, 2022 at 1:18pm

Jill . due to a site glitch .  you must click  the "html" editor" button  on the top right of the text box before you  click" add reply" . otherwise your comment wont show up . 

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on February 23, 2022 at 4:00pm

Simple block of wood to glue or screw to will get the job done.

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Permalink Reply by JillB on February 23, 2022 at 5:06pm

Thanks for the tip about the html editor, Sam, and for posting the pic.
It looks like you have two blocks of wood glued to the sides, which the neck will sit on, presumably glued and screwed to the blocks.
Bearing in mind I have never made one, your pic also shows a block of wood glued to the underside of the neck, the one with lots of squeezeout.
My question is - why do you need the short piece glued to the neck? Could the neck by fitted to the two end blocks?

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on February 23, 2022 at 5:39pm

The block glued under the neck is to reinforce it after the neck was relieved under the top to let the top vibrate freely. This would be a point of weakness if not reinforced.

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on February 23, 2022 at 6:57pm

Here’s a video talking about fitting the neck to the box, but if you watch the video by Del Puckett on how to build a cbg from start to finish, he goes over what you’re asking in real time, you just have to watch the whole thing to get the big picture?

https://youtu.be/1AnsVkZTV8M

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on February 23, 2022 at 7:01pm

Also, if you look in the Resources tab under “How to build”, there are a few on building simple 3 string cbg’s?

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on February 23, 2022 at 7:25pm

A couple of things to consider when choosing a method  or creating your own method . 

1-  Do you want the box to open ? highly suggested ,especially if you have electronics that may need repair later. (or add an access panel on the back.)  (if you glue to front and back method  you may be locked out )

2- Do you want to be able to open the box without  having to remove or loosen   the strings ?  ie . (strings through the neck inside and neck attached to lid ). A tailpiece may hold the lid shut since it is attached to the back)  

3- do you want to be able to change the strings without opening the box . ie .. tailpiece  , or string access holes in back of box.

etc .. etc..

just some food for thought.

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