I have been bitten by this CBG bug and have 5 red oak necks glued up with 13 degree scarf joints. Three of the necks are 1 3/4" wide and two are 1 1/2" wide. The wider ones I ripped from larger boards and figured I would use the wider boards for 4 string guitars but 1 3/4" is really huge for 4 strings.
Wondering what is your width at the nut for a 4 string, are you still using 1 1/2" stock? What type of neck reinforcement are you using for 4 string necks if any?
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Thanks to everyone for the comments. I have some ideas about changes in my next instruments. This was so therapeutic for me. I worked very hard on them but the sense of pleasure was worth the effort.
#1. Get my wood from a lumber dealer and not Home Depot. I picked up a REALLY nice piece of perfectly quartersawn red oak this afternoon that is enough to make at least 4 necks from a lumber yard. Much better selection.
#2. Going to reinforce the boxes and put reinforcement in areas where I want to mount strap buttons so the screws will have enough wood to do their job.
#3. Work slower and have more fun.
Very fine work. May I share an observation which is strictly esthetic.
With all the precision detail work you do ... is it possible to relocate the four neck mounting screws to the back side of the box. Seeing those 4 screw heads seems contrary to all the effort and other aspects of your beautiful design.
With all due respect and no slight intended. I, myself, have always struggled with this issue in my own builds unless the design was rustic ... Yours are just so wonderful and over the top that I see those screws as a distraction ..... just something to ponder for future builds.
Well, you are so nice and thank you so much for the nice words, but keep in mind that I am a newbie to cbg and I'm learning on every instrument that there is something I don't like.
I put the screws on top because #1 I didn't want to glue the top[ to the neck and #2 I wanted to avoid having a buzz on either contact point. Also my neck does not reach the bottom of the box.
On my current build, which is going to be gorgeous if everything falls into place, the neck inside the box does reach bottom and I will be screwing from the back. I'm really pumped about this one because it is my first time working with magnetic pickups.
I really appreciate and value your input and the lid screws are as you point out a distraction.
Charlotte
Ms Charlotte ,, U do outstanding work !! I am most impressed !!
Charlotte,
Very nice work! Glad you got 'em done for Christmas. I like the chamfer on the tailpiece for the string ferrules.
Very nice work.
I thought about string trees, but on this kind of peg head I don't think I'd like it. I can also leave the neck a little thicker which will result in a shorter post.
It is hard to say what part of the build was the most enjoyable. This was a definite mood elevator and I'm hoping my daughter will be posting a youtube video with hers (photo #2)
Clockwork & His Wolf "Spot" said:
Pretty sweet. And your just up the road if I need help. I'll note the 15 deg angle. Need a cabinet grade blade for the power miter saw. Looks like I need a workbench too.
You can also increase the strings down angle with string trees/retainers.
They can be made to look very elegant. Anything from a metal bracket
going all the way across the headstock and parallel to the nut, a simple
screw, to something professionally purposed to the task (as featured in
the dreaded Stew-Mac catalog).
Well, first off, Merry Christmas and happy new year to everyone here. I'm happy to say that I completed 3 guitars in time for giving them as presents for Christmas. It was close, but I got them finished. I have a few observations from these first three that I'll pass along. I used a 13 degree scarf joint and I think the angle is too shallow because there isn't sufficient down angle coming off the nut to suit me. Next build will have a 15 degree scarf. These things sound better acoustically than I would have thought and the things I bought from CB Gitty were perfect, inexpensive and got here fast. This was a very rewarding project and I can't wait to make the 4th. Here are some photos of the finished guitars.
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