I have just started making my first 3 string cbg and am confused about the length of the neck. I am making mine 25.5" from the nut to the bridge will this be OK? Sorry to bother you guys with this but I just want to get it right. Many thanks John E Curley (UK)

Views: 7116

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

John, if you want a 25.5 scale DO NOT cut your neck length 25.5 inches.....you need too know that if you want a 25.5 scale that is measured from the bridge too the nut. you need too consider the head stock...and the tail...now with that said....take your blank neck.....place it on your box.....leave an inch for the tail.....now place ur saddle...and measure your scale length too the nut....marked it and now measure another 5 inches for your head stock.....now you have your full neck length.... Here's a visual that may help.... 

Thank you for your quick reply. I should have said that I have the overall length sorted it was just the distances between the nut and bridge I wasn't shore about. 

Thanks a lot for your help.

25.5  is  a  popular   length  and  it  is   fine  . 

Thanks very much just wanted to make sure I'd got it right. Cheers. 

I've made mine 25.5, just because that was the same as the guitar I had.

neck length and number of frets will depend on the size of the cigar box, not the scale length, 25.5" is from the bridge to the nut -

big box = shorter neck less frets

small box = longer neck more frets 

overall from tail to headstock the through neck will be the same length on every build, around 35 inches   (-:

Many thanks for your info. I think I have it right but we will see when it's finished. Thanks again.

You must be a Fender guy. Fenders and classical guitars are 25.5, but that isn't a hard and fast rule for any guitar, and certainly not CBGs!
Sorry for resurrecting an old thread, but, note it's reasonable, but incorrect to think that 25.5 in (648 mm) scale is necessary. Its closest to the classical guitar scale, and most Fender electric guitars use a scale length of 25.5 in., but Fender has also built some 3/4-size student guitars with a scale length of 22.5 in (572 mm). Most Gibsons are 24.75 in., and the Gretsch Sonic Baritone is 29.25 in (743 mm). The Harley Benton ST-Junior is 19.4 in (492 mm). I found this all on Wikipedia, but my point it is that it's ridiculous to say every build must be 35 inches! I could further illustrate shorter fretboards with ukeleles, or six string "guitarleles", but the important thing to remember is that big boxes do not necessarily need a shorter neck or less frets and vice versa. You can google "fret calculator", which will give you adjustments for different length fretboards, or get a set of special luthier rulers. Fret length is a mathematical formula. This is why "the anonymous pick" says 25.5 in.(total) is a fine length. A much smaller fretboard, in a variety of lengths is easily doable.

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

Pin Tin Banjo

Started by Michael Bowlin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Nov 1. 11 Replies

EBE tuning

Started by Thomas A Morphew in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Carl Floyd Oct 30. 2 Replies

Blog Posts

My first CBG from Captain Nemoff.

Posted by Vlad on November 29, 2023 at 3:41am 0 Comments

New Album 2023

Posted by Gary O'slide on November 5, 2023 at 2:41am 0 Comments

Spammer Alert, Beware!!!

Posted by BrianQ. on September 11, 2023 at 6:30am 1 Comment

Latest Activity

Chance left a comment for Doug Thorsvik
"HiGreeting Doug, Better late response than never.  First, off all of my builds are fretless…"
14 minutes ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Poorness Studios's video
Thumbnail

Wooden & Plastic Slide (Swannee) Whistles Compared

"I like the wood one better Kale! It has a richer tone. But the plastic one sounds good too; seems…"
55 minutes ago
Chance commented on Chance's photo
Thumbnail

#3

"Rod piezo straight to jack..."
58 minutes ago
Chance commented on Uncle Harry's Delta Blues's photo
Thumbnail

roi tan box 80 yrs old

"Such an awesome build.  I have a few antique wood cigar boxes (over 100 years) and some from…"
2 hours ago
Chance posted a discussion

Sliders only.

Am I the only builder around who solely builds un-fretted, stringed instruments?  Many builders…See More
3 hours ago
Chance updated their profile
4 hours ago
Chance posted photos
4 hours ago
Uncle Harry's Delta Blues updated their profile
8 hours ago
Uncle Harry's Delta Blues joined Andy Stone's group
Thumbnail

Cigar Box Ukulele

Does your cigar box contain a jumping flea?
8 hours ago
Uncle Harry's Delta Blues commented on Uncle Harry's Delta Blues's photo
Thumbnail

roi tan box 80 yrs old

"I ended up restaining a tad darker and now they POP, Pics to follow."
8 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked Poorness Studios's video
8 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked Chance's photo
8 hours ago

Events

Music

© 2023   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->