Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by John Sawyer on January 21, 2014 at 6:33pm

Try this...

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/neck-cut-too-short

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Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on January 21, 2014 at 7:33pm

I think as long as you don't carve too much material off the neck, and you make sure the neck is very securely fixed to the box (see Michael Fred Johnson's pics in John's link) you should be OK.

My first 4 stringer developed a bow and it turned out it was bowing from the neck recess inside the box. I glued blocks to the inside of the box and securely glued and screwed the neck to them, and the problem was solved!

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Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on January 22, 2014 at 12:27am

The "neck thru the box" method works well until you run into the issue in question. Many builders add braces and such to deal with the removal of neck material in the box to make room for pickups.

But there is an alternative, a "leap in builder's evolution", if you will.

Think along the lines of a bolt on neck.

Depending on how deep the box is, you may install a length of wood inside from neck end to tail end. For example, if inside depth of box is 1.5", and the top lid thickness is about 1/8 to 1/4", then use a piece of 1x2 for the insert. then build neck similar to a bolt on neck like seen on an electric guitar. When you have cut the access area for the neck to the box, make it nice n clean/tight. Once it is fixed/glued/screwed/bolted to the insert, and with the fretboard glued on, you should have a neck that is slightly above the lid of the box.

This method leaves plenty of room inside for the pickups, and leaves more of the lid to vibrate freely.

In the beginning of my journey, I did the "neck thru" style. Now I exclusively make bolt on necks for all my builds.

Cheers, and have fun.

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Permalink Reply by Gary Reichel on January 22, 2014 at 2:40am

Hi Scott aka farmer Ted, any photos of your bolt on neck technique?

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Permalink Reply by Matt on January 22, 2014 at 11:44am

I'm gonna have to second Gary Reichel's request.  I'm actually more redneck rig hillbilly than woodworker, and I'm not sure I follow.  

It might be good to mention here that I am a professional worrier, and likely to overbuild everything and still believe it won't work.  I've never put together a real guitar...and to be perfectly honest, its always been a mystery to me that a standard acoustic guitar doesn't just fold in half anyway.

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Permalink Reply by David McQueen on January 22, 2014 at 4:01am

I am pretty sure that I have built two with the same pickup you are describing, both with a neck through to end of box design. I put a half inch thick brace the same width as the neck inside the box. I wanted to guitar to totally dissassemble if needed, the the brace is screwed on with 10 screws, 5 on each side. Here is a link to a pic in in my photos:
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/oak-4-string-for-christmas?cont...

The neck has a back angle of 1/2" in 10"

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Permalink Reply by Matt on January 22, 2014 at 11:37am

That, sir, is just what the doctor ordered, I think, for this application.  I just didn't know if it would work.  Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on January 22, 2014 at 4:47am

Making room for a resonator cone is a similar exercise, but in a much larger dimension than a little pickup.  Here's how I did my first one with a little sled inside the box.

Here's another way

Hope that gives you some ideas.

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on January 22, 2014 at 9:15am

Hmmm, that looks familiar...

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Permalink Reply by Marcus Darwell on January 22, 2014 at 9:40am

I like the sled idea....might try that....looks neat and tidy

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on January 22, 2014 at 11:14am

Both worked very well.  The copper cone guitar that Ron recognizes has two extra wood screws going into the box edge parallel with the neck.  There was a very slight amount of twist that resulted in the neck tipping up under tension without them present.

The sled works very well.  I don't have a picture of my Grumpy Old Git insides, but if you look at the end of my latest video, you can see it.  Sort of the same idea, but all glued up as one piece instead of screwed together.  It floats in the box.  The sled in my first pic is glued into the box and the neck is screwed to it, but not glued.

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Permalink Reply by Matt on January 22, 2014 at 11:40am

Mr Finger, sir, thank you a dozen times for your input.  I loved that guitar, and I so badly want to build myself a resonator, but I've been worried and confused how to keep it together.  I'm liking that sled idea.

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