Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by craig bodsworth on November 19, 2012 at 1:07am

he makes cbg on regualar basis, im surprised he hasnt noticed this problem. iv messaged him about it but im happy to repair myself, good practice if i want to try my own build sometime...

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Permalink Reply by Maddog on November 19, 2012 at 1:55am

Absolutly Craig, should be an easy fix for ya. You may have to get a different tailpiece as was mentioned before but it will all fit after that is done and play just fine. Have you noticed on his other builds if the 12th fret/saddle placement is off or can you even tell? I tried looking at the other items he has for sale and it says there are none so maybe he is remedying the problem.

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Permalink Reply by craig bodsworth on November 19, 2012 at 7:48am

if you look at his feedback it links to other cbgs, they appear to have same issue from what i can see.

anyway i have moved bridge and made temporary tailpiece from plywood. it sounded volumes better but still not quite right, so i experimented with bridge position until i could tune strings with tuner and also tune string to string on 5th fret with same result. i had to move bridge further down than equal of nut to 12th fret. it now sounds like a guitar but still not in tune properly! i put the fret board of both my cbg and standard guitar together to compare and the frets are not quite placed the same, some higher, some lower... starting to think the work hasnt been done to reasonable standard. im gonna contact the seller again coz im not after an ornament i want to play the damn thing!

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Permalink Reply by David L. on November 19, 2012 at 8:10am

They probably have different scale lengths so the frets will not match. If you double check the 12th fret position and double it to give the scale length then go to the Stewmac fret calculator
http://www.stewmac.com/FretCalculator
It will give you an idea of where the frets should lie.
To sort out intonation you usually check the open string against the string fretted at the 12th fret and if intonation is good it should be an exact octave higher.  Also if you are aiming to finger pick rather than play slide if you drop the string height at the bridge it will be easier to get the intonation sorted out.  If you plan to play mainly slide intonation isn't a problem as you are not stretching the strings down to the frets.  (Hope this makes sense)

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Permalink Reply by craig bodsworth on November 19, 2012 at 8:40am

i checked the fret position calculator (20 frets, scale length 632mm) the first few frets looked ok but the further down i got the more out they were, some were 10mm out near the bottom...

open and closed on the 12th fret gives same note but not in tune.

just picked up my standard guitar to strum a few chords it felt like heaven!

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Permalink Reply by Busyhands Slim on November 19, 2012 at 10:41am

The frets should not be off by more than .001". You have a poorly made instrument there, one that probably can't be played (at least, not higher than the first position). I would ask for a refund, but given the distance, that may be difficult to achieve.

I hope you haven't left positive feedback for him yet. And I hope we'll ALL check the seller's feedback before buying an instrument without the opportunity to play it first.

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Permalink Reply by craig bodsworth on November 19, 2012 at 10:52am

this is his reply when i asked for a refund- "I am sorry but as the description says I don't offer a refund especially after 30 days. Also please remember this not a fender or a gibson guiatr but rather a homemade cigar box guitar made to function in manner that will provide a authentic Delta blues sound. This sound will be somewhat rough and tangy. Keep in mind it is hand made and not the percision instrument you are looking for. Most people buy these instruments to occassionally play and then hang up for a conversation piece. With you being overseas and the time involved as well as shipping I just can't refund you money."
i already left positive feedback! i had checked his other gutairs had recieved praise so thought i was ok, guess i got unlucky here...

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Permalink Reply by David L. on November 19, 2012 at 11:40am

You could try opening a paypal dispute via the resolution centre

http://resolutioncentre.ebay.co.uk/

or you could use the bits to put towards one of your own design.

 

Good luck,

David

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Permalink Reply by Maddog on November 19, 2012 at 1:49pm

After looking at the pics from the ad it appears all the lower frets (towards the neck) are off therefore it will never play correctly. If you look at the fourth pic the space between the last fret and second to last is very close. The next five appear to be spaced exactly the same, will not play right ever. If this guy wants to build wall hangers he had better say that is what they are in his ad, he says they are " All my guitars are hand made and have a nice sound." and "creating a great Delta Blues sound". The last time I checked Delta Blues sound was always in tune. If this Joker won't stand behind what he sells maybe a little CBN feedback is what he needs.

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Permalink Reply by Maddog on November 19, 2012 at 2:00pm

What I would do if it were me and this gent (and I use the term loosely) won't do anything about it. See if you can remove the fret board and install a new fret board with fret makers only and make her into a slide only git. If it appears the fret board will not come off remove the fretwire and skin the fret board with 1/8 oak and make the correct fret markings and use as a slide only git. You will have to raise the nut and saddle a bit.

If the frets are off all the way down moving the bridge around won't help, you need to get rid of the frets this joker has layed out.

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Permalink Reply by craig bodsworth on November 19, 2012 at 9:29pm

iv opened a case on ebay...

if it doesnt work out i will attempt to repair myself as im quite handy. is it possible to buy replacement fretboard with frets on all ready to go?

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Permalink Reply by David L. on November 19, 2012 at 11:29pm

Good luck with the eBay case.

I doubt you will find a prefretted fingerboard the right width and trying to cut down a board with frets would be hard work (it can be done though Garage Hermit chopped down a strat neck for a 3 stringer http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/new-project-viotar-6?context=user ). It might be worth starting a discussion topic on the Brits are coming group (don't just add a comment as it will be lost quickly) and then those more local to you might be able to point you in the right direction.

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