Hello!
I've built my first cbg (see the pictures) and can see the appeal in building and playing your own instrument - something which I hugely enjoyed doing.
However, being a mere novice, I admit my cbg is quite rough around the edges and therefore I'm intending to build a second which hopefully will look and sound better. But before I start the second build I thought I'd ask a couple of questions on a couple if matters that are worrying me:
1. This time around, I've bought a single coil humbucker pickup with volume control. Can anyone tell me how to wire this or provide a diagram? Even though I can solder, I'm worried that I'm out of my depth on such a matter but am still keen on making it work.
2. The box I'm using is quite shallow and i will need to cut a slot in the 2x1 in order to mount the pickup (the 2x1 neck travells through the box) which means at one part of the neck, it will only be about a half inch thick. Even though the neck will be made out of Oak, I'm worried that the tension from 3 strings will cause the neck to bend dramatically or even snap. Is this likely and do you have any suggestions?
Sorry for the long-winded questions!
Thank you!
Thanks for your suggestions, they've certainly cleared quite a bit of the confusion I had surrounding the problems. I've seen just the diagram I need, doesn't look to difficult (famous last words!).
I'm sure to come back looking for help in the next few days.
Brilliant! Thanks again!
P.S - @Oily I'm thinking of remaining with a fretless design for this one. I'm intending on developing my technique the more I build (ie - worrying about one thing at a time) and am sure to include frets on the next project.
Another option would be to surface mount the pup on the top of the sound board. Since this will mean your strings will have to ride a bit high, you would then probably want to add a 1/4" fingerboard on top of your neck, so that your action isn't too high, assuming you also want to fret the neck as well as play slide.
And now, a bit of CBG building philosophy;-):
The thing luthiers have discovered over the course of several centuries, and that many here including myself are rediscovering, is that when you change one design element (in your case, adding a magnetic pickup), it forces changes in other design elements, causing you to be creative in how you solve the challenges these changes present you. The engineer in me would also recommend working your design out on paper first, but that's just me ( and I don't always do this myself). Other builders seem to be able to come up with workable solutions on the fly. Look around the site as Mark and Dan have suggested, and you will see just how creative CBN members can be at solving the same challenges that every builder ( now including you, and Welcome!), faces.
Let us know how you solved your particular challenge, and if possible, post audio / video of how the thing sounds.
Research pickup and electronics topics starting here. Wiring diagrams and tips have been covered there many times over.
The neck question, yes the described design wont likely work out. Consider one of two things. "Filling the box" and making it effectively a solid body, or make the neck design wide enough in the box to make up for the thin cut away for a pickup.
This topic is covered in discussions here and in several of the other building group areas. Also look at a few of the build pictures for ideas.
Dont hesitate to post further questions, there are many here willing to help!
Replies
One thing at a time (he said from the Land of Free Advice;-) ) sounds like a good plan for developing technique. Can't wait to see your build #2.
Oily
Thanks for your suggestions, they've certainly cleared quite a bit of the confusion I had surrounding the problems. I've seen just the diagram I need, doesn't look to difficult (famous last words!).
I'm sure to come back looking for help in the next few days.
Brilliant! Thanks again!
P.S - @Oily I'm thinking of remaining with a fretless design for this one. I'm intending on developing my technique the more I build (ie - worrying about one thing at a time) and am sure to include frets on the next project.
Another option would be to surface mount the pup on the top of the sound board. Since this will mean your strings will have to ride a bit high, you would then probably want to add a 1/4" fingerboard on top of your neck, so that your action isn't too high, assuming you also want to fret the neck as well as play slide.
And now, a bit of CBG building philosophy;-):
The thing luthiers have discovered over the course of several centuries, and that many here including myself are rediscovering, is that when you change one design element (in your case, adding a magnetic pickup), it forces changes in other design elements, causing you to be creative in how you solve the challenges these changes present you. The engineer in me would also recommend working your design out on paper first, but that's just me ( and I don't always do this myself). Other builders seem to be able to come up with workable solutions on the fly. Look around the site as Mark and Dan have suggested, and you will see just how creative CBN members can be at solving the same challenges that every builder ( now including you, and Welcome!), faces.
Let us know how you solved your particular challenge, and if possible, post audio / video of how the thing sounds.
Good luck!
Oily
Like Mark says, there are a bunch of wiring diagrams in the electronics group here.
I did something similar, and I just reinforced the back side of the neck with some scrap, then glued and screwed it to the neck like so:
Research pickup and electronics topics starting here. Wiring diagrams and tips have been covered there many times over.
The neck question, yes the described design wont likely work out. Consider one of two things. "Filling the box" and making it effectively a solid body, or make the neck design wide enough in the box to make up for the thin cut away for a pickup.
This topic is covered in discussions here and in several of the other building group areas. Also look at a few of the build pictures for ideas.
Dont hesitate to post further questions, there are many here willing to help!
Mark