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Just finished first CBG

Just finished today. Found a book about CBG's in the library a couple weeks ago and it blew my mind. I can't believe I didn't know about these! I'm hooked for sure now.

I went with a Honduran theme, since that's where the cigars came from. Found a couple Honduran coins on ebay for 99 cents to add to the theme. Oak neck salvaged from a rough sawn sawmill scrap. Skeleton key bridge was 99 cents too.

More pics under my profile if interested, any feedback good or bad appreciated. I'm already thinking about the next one and the main thing I want to change is the lack of a scarf joint at the head. I don't like this straight neck, too hard for the strings to stay put. Also thinking I shouldn't have fretted. I got a low action and works great for fingering, but slide seems hard.

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Permalink Reply by Sumner McLain on October 10, 2012 at 3:08pm

Extremely clean first build. Very very nice finish and everything

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Permalink Reply by frank tennyson on October 11, 2012 at 8:16am

Wow, if looks could kill - you definitely don't need advise in providing a great looking product. My first two builds sounded great, since I did not have a good idea of what I was doing. UNITIL I did my third build and found out what a build is suppose to sound like.

Point is, I do not believe the height is what makes the difference. The angle from the attachments - furrells and tuners to the bridge and nut, and the construction under the bridge are far more important. Perhaps putting a wood "strap" in front of the bridge between it and the furrels to force a greated angle for the strings coming up to the bridge may help. Same thing between the tuners and nut to create and angle for the strings coming up to the nut there. This may also help with the strings staying put. Just a thought. No garuntees.

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Permalink Reply by chevytrucking on October 11, 2012 at 9:14am

I think my main problem with the low action, at first, was I'm new to slide playing. After a week or two now, it's doesn't seem so bad. The other problem, maybe, is the strings. I put extra light strings on it since I didn't know how strong my neck would be. Again, after a week or two, I've realized that my neck is absolutey not a problem, I'm going to put heavier strings on it one of these days. I think the oak neck, which is doubled through the box, is strong enough for any strings or tuning, I was just scared it would flex when I was building. Newbie guessing.

P.S. Post some pictures of your stuff, I looked at your page and didn't see any.

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Permalink Reply by TruckDrivingFool on October 13, 2012 at 3:37am

That's an awesome first build.

Larger strings with definitely help with the slide playing. Even though the action on my regular 6 string is low I like playing slide in D on it. That said I have found even with the higher action on the two I've built I really like tuning to E on CBGs for the extra tension.