I am working a box fiddle for the first time.  In fact it is my first experience with a fiddle period.  For me it makes sense that if I want to learn to play a fiddle, I want to learn all about it from construction up.  So that is what I am doing.  Plus for me I am more include to continue with learning something if I have already put a lot of effort into it. 

 

I have read over all the discussions here and have gained alot of knowledge from all the builders, experinced and novice alike.  I greatly appreciate all the info on dimensions that I have found.  There is an abundance of info on the soundbox but little on neck dimensions.  Now I know this is pobably mostly up to the builder but I am curious, about the width of the neck.  General speaking about how wide should the neck be at the soundbox and at the nut?  As well how thick should the neck be at the soundbox and nut?  I imagine the neck has a lot o fstress on it from the strings.

 

Finally I read in one of the discussions that the bridge should be 6" from the tail.  Is this specifically the tail of the instrument.  or the the tailpiece where the strings attach?

 

If any of the questions have already been answered I apologies, and any aid would be thankfully accepted.

 

Bobby 

Views: 254

Replies to This Discussion

Six inches from the actual tail end of the instrument.

I'd recommend getting a pre-shaped factory fingerboard -- that is the hardest piece to get just right and makes a huge amount of difference.  13" scale (from bridge to nut), some neck angle and you are good to go!

For my fiddle I followed the dimensions of the neck from a plan in the plans section of this site. I think I used a piece of wood about 3/4 thick. I wouldn't worry too too much about the force of the strings here. It's really not that significant actually.

For the bridge I think the real rule of thumb should be to put it in the middle of the length of the box. This happens to be around 6 inches from the tail on a standard fiddle, but note how the body length is about equal to the scale length. If your box isn't 12 or 13 inches long, don't fret. your neck will just protrude from the body that much further. Whatever you do, don't put the bridge 6 inches up if your box is only 9 inches long! Just put it in the center, where it can have the best leverage on the top. The top is a diaphragm; The more it moves the better.

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


Discussion Forum

Bow for cigar box fiddle

Started by Phil Thomas. Last reply by Phil Thomas May 23, 2017. 2 Replies

My First Cigar Box Fiddle

Started by Tim LaFave. Last reply by Alan Hawkins Mar 4, 2016. 7 Replies

Pochette build

Started by Jaber. Last reply by Jaber Jan 20, 2016. 2 Replies

First cigar box fiddle

Started by Slow Slough Guitars Dec 22, 2014. 0 Replies

First "cello" build

Started by Jaber. Last reply by Jaber Apr 26, 2014. 7 Replies

Building the "Stumpwater" fiddle

Started by Al Lyons. Last reply by Gipson Fat Fingers Shoemaker Feb 7, 2014. 29 Replies

Bass

Started by Redbelly. Last reply by Reeds Taylor Sep 21, 2013. 3 Replies

how to add an adjustable shoulder rest?

Started by Paul Cooper. Last reply by Paul Cooper Aug 29, 2013. 6 Replies

Tremendous online violin making site!

Started by Diane in Chicago Jun 15, 2013. 0 Replies

"Tips on How I Build a CB Fiddle"

Started by Tim LaFave. Last reply by Tim LaFave May 25, 2013. 4 Replies

Newbie from Asheville, NC

Started by Al Lyons. Last reply by Diane in Chicago Jan 10, 2013. 2 Replies

Little travel fiddle

Started by Diane in Chicago. Last reply by Diane in Chicago Jan 9, 2013. 9 Replies

3/4 Ohio fiddle

Started by the cigarbox table guy. Last reply by Yellowbelly Flatt Dec 30, 2012. 5 Replies

some violin pics

Started by Elmar Zeilhofer. Last reply by CrocBite May 22, 2012. 4 Replies

CB Fiddle #2 and furthermore

Started by Diane in Chicago. Last reply by Elmar Zeilhofer May 21, 2012. 18 Replies

My first attemp at a cigar box fiddle. :-)

Started by Rick Hunt. Last reply by Rick Hunt Mar 18, 2012. 23 Replies

How to take a fiddle apart?

Started by Dave Onastik. Last reply by Diane in Chicago Mar 13, 2012. 5 Replies

Build Update

Started by Bobby Wallen. Last reply by Order99 Mar 3, 2012. 5 Replies

First time build and I have a few questions

Started by Bobby Wallen. Last reply by Tristan Chambers Feb 22, 2012. 2 Replies

Latest Activity

Doug Thorsvik posted a video

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

Cigar Box Guitar Slingers - Spokane, 195th Zoom Mtg 03/25/24. Only 1-finger chords, free songbooks here: https://www.cbgslinger.com/download CBG SOF Songbook...
54 minutes ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you Poorness ! for loving it ! appreciated!"
17 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
17 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
18 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Punch Project!

She now sports gold metal CBGitty knobs, speaker and an Artec 2.5 watt speaker. Finished this in…
18 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Project Punch!

Gonna finally get back on this long-delayed project that is more than half complete. (The matching…
19 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
21 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
21 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"I appreciate the kind words Papa D! I have always loved the look of these cigar boxes. Glad to have…"
23 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
yesterday
A.D.EKER posted a video

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

The recorded History By Alan Lomax for the library of Congres of the Blues, from Mc Kinley Morganfield (Aka Muddy Waters) the in this take recorded Tribute ...
yesterday
Papa D commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"Beautiful..Nice work Doug.."
yesterday

Music

© 2024   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 -->