Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on August 25, 2011 at 9:11am

I would highly recommend the strat-a-spheric suggestion.  Get a second box and work on a second neck.  Start a fresh build with your mistakes clear in your mind.  Once you get something satisfying to play, then go back to the somewhat more frustrating rework of your original build.  Or just go onto #3 to #300.  :)

 

My first build sits there looking pretty except a few mistakes that make it unplayable.  I'll get back to it sometime.  Maybe.  :)

Wes "STRAT-A-CLYSMIC" Yates said:

"Or you could start on build #2, fixing what went wrong on #1. Most of us go through this. Let us know what works for you, and post pics of the fix(es) that worked for you. Others will definitely have the same or similar issues with their first build."

 

Yup. Heck my first one I replaced the neck and on my Macanudo P/C acoustic, I've not only replaced the fretboard once, but refretted it recently.

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Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on August 25, 2011 at 3:23pm

Hi David.

After reading this thread and looking at you photos, I like the idea of removing the box from the neck, turn the neck around so that the fret side is down, and then reattach the box. Then remove the tuners, add about a 1/4" thick board to the new bottom side of the headstock (cut board to size, glue on & let dry), then drill out the holes for the tuners and remount the tuners. This assumes you did not bother to round the back of your neck. If it's still pretty square, then the neck should be able to be turned over. Then string it up and see how well the strings work. I prefer using a machine bolt that I cut the head off for a nut, and another machine bolt (usually larger) with a nut as the bridge. With the cut out, you may bot need a string tree. But if you do, a quick and dirty solution is to use a tie-wrap to hold down the strings as the bend down off the nut on their way to the tuners. If it plays pretty go, then go back and fret the neck to make it easier to play. As a beginner, you may prefer to fret it like a stick dulcimer which uses a diatonic scale. You can use wood putty to fill the fret slots on the back of the neck if they feel or appear objectionable to you. Then spray the neck black (before adding your frets).

 

There's a lot to learn when building your first several cigar boxes, and so you should be prepared to make a few mistakes along the way. We are here to offer help / advice. Let us know how your CBG(s) turn out.

 

-Rand.

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Permalink Reply by William McCauley on August 26, 2011 at 6:25am

After looking at your pics I would move the the attaching point for the strings on the box lower and on the front side of the box. Use a brass hinge or something similar (there plenty of ideas in the gallery section). Also use an eye bolt or piece of thread-all for the bridge. As for the neck, I would cut off the shaved portion and glue another piece of wood (half the thickness of the neck) to the bottom. Try to get it similar to the red neck shown in this post.

Another thought, just scrap this one and do another one, keep the box, it looks pretty good. I added a pic of my first one ,I hope it helps

Attachments:

• 100_2015.JPG, 606 KB

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Permalink Reply by David Beasley on August 27, 2011 at 1:24am

I am already doing the brass hinge idea, but instead of an eye bolt I'm using a number '1' like you would see on the front of a house I thought it would be a nice touch and it is as thick as an eye bolt

William McCauley said:

After looking at your pics I would move the the attaching point for the strings on the box lower and on the front side of the box. Use a brass hinge or something similar (there plenty of ideas in the gallery section). Also use an eye bolt or piece of thread-all for the bridge. As for the neck, I would cut off the shaved portion and glue another piece of wood (half the thickness of the neck) to the bottom. Try to get it similar to the red neck shown in this post.

Another thought, just scrap this one and do another one, keep the box, it looks pretty good. I added a pic of my first one ,I hope it helps

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Permalink Reply by DonnieC on August 26, 2011 at 7:52am

I concur with the others, you'll be less frustrated if you move on to the next one. I have 4 necks hanging on the wall that got misengineered. Take a look at a bunch of different neck/headstocks from the side and find common features, angles and measurements, then draw something out with your own style. You'll do fine, d

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Permalink Reply by William McCauley on August 27, 2011 at 3:59am

The number 1 sounds cool. What did you decide about the neck?

David Beasley said:

I am already doing the brass hinge idea, but instead of an eye bolt I'm using a number '1' like you would see on the front of a house I thought it would be a nice touch and it is as thick as an eye bolt

William McCauley said:

After looking at your pics I would move the the attaching point for the strings on the box lower and on the front side of the box. Use a brass hinge or something similar (there plenty of ideas in the gallery section). Also use an eye bolt or piece of thread-all for the bridge. As for the neck, I would cut off the shaved portion and glue another piece of wood (half the thickness of the neck) to the bottom. Try to get it similar to the red neck shown in this post.

Another thought, just scrap this one and do another one, keep the box, it looks pretty good. I added a pic of my first one ,I hope it helps

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Permalink Reply by David Beasley on August 27, 2011 at 4:59am

Well my dad cut off the head stock and has made a new one and glued it on but the neck is still the same

William McCauley said:

The number 1 sounds cool. What did you decide about the neck?

David Beasley said:

I am already doing the brass hinge idea, but instead of an eye bolt I'm using a number '1' like you would see on the front of a house I thought it would be a nice touch and it is as thick as an eye bolt

William McCauley said:

After looking at your pics I would move the the attaching point for the strings on the box lower and on the front side of the box. Use a brass hinge or something similar (there plenty of ideas in the gallery section). Also use an eye bolt or piece of thread-all for the bridge. As for the neck, I would cut off the shaved portion and glue another piece of wood (half the thickness of the neck) to the bottom. Try to get it similar to the red neck shown in this post.

Another thought, just scrap this one and do another one, keep the box, it looks pretty good. I added a pic of my first one ,I hope it helps

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Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on August 27, 2011 at 12:19pm

Sorry Man, and when you say the neck is the same, you mean the strings are still hovering above the nut?

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Permalink Reply by William McCauley on August 27, 2011 at 1:09pm

I'm confused, send a pic.

David Beasley said:

Well my dad cut off the head stock and has made a new one and glued it on but the neck is still the same

William McCauley said:

The number 1 sounds cool. What did you decide about the neck?

David Beasley said:

I am already doing the brass hinge idea, but instead of an eye bolt I'm using a number '1' like you would see on the front of a house I thought it would be a nice touch and it is as thick as an eye bolt

William McCauley said:

After looking at your pics I would move the the attaching point for the strings on the box lower and on the front side of the box. Use a brass hinge or something similar (there plenty of ideas in the gallery section). Also use an eye bolt or piece of thread-all for the bridge. As for the neck, I would cut off the shaved portion and glue another piece of wood (half the thickness of the neck) to the bottom. Try to get it similar to the red neck shown in this post.

Another thought, just scrap this one and do another one, keep the box, it looks pretty good. I added a pic of my first one ,I hope it helps

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Permalink Reply by David Beasley on August 28, 2011 at 1:12am

I made no changes to the neck, the new head stock, bridge, tail piece and string trees of some description should solve the problems.

 

I have uploaded the unfinished headstock but bare in mind it is unfinished and it will have a nut, string trees of some description, be "smoothed out" and varnished; http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/056?xg_source=activity and I didn't tilt it either I just carved out the face of the headstock but I may have to make it deeper....  

Dan Sleep said:

Sorry Man, and when you say the neck is the same, you mean the strings are still hovering above the nut?

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Permalink Reply by William McCauley on August 28, 2011 at 4:47am

That looks good.  Hope it works for you, keep us posted.

David Beasley said:

I made no changes to the neck, the new head stock, bridge, tail piece and string trees of some description should solve the problems.

 

I have uploaded the unfinished headstock but bare in mind it is unfinished and it will have a nut, string trees of some description, be "smoothed out" and varnished; http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/056?xg_source=activity and I didn't tilt it either I just carved out the face of the headstock but I may have to make it deeper....  

Dan Sleep said:

Sorry Man, and when you say the neck is the same, you mean the strings are still hovering above the nut?

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by David Beasley on September 2, 2011 at 11:11am

I have finished the CBG now but it's not perfect, but hey, it's my first one it's allowed to not be perfect right? I do have pictures and I plan to upload ASAP but I don't have them handy right now! So stick around I'll upload them soon :)

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