Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by MadGomer on November 5, 2019 at 3:04am

I have only been building fretted so I'll let the guys who know fretless answer your first part. As for the tuners, lay it out however you prefer, then just be sure to use the tuning machines that give you the desired direction for the actual tuning. You can do three to one side or 2&1, entirely up to you. If you grab a set of 6 tuners from CB Gitty you'll have three of each so depending on how you choose to lay out your headstock you can build 2 different three stringers. Keep the gear on the tuner peg oriented towards the bridge. If you buy "Fender style" (6 to a side) tuners you'll have 6 identical tuners but they should be mounted on the same side of the headstock. Hope this helps.

Permalink Reply by Bill on November 5, 2019 at 3:11am

thanx that does help, i put my tuners in and now i need to put some small guide screws above the nut because one string is up against the peg of a different string, hope this makes sense. lol

Permalink Reply by James Pobog on November 5, 2019 at 3:09am

Don't  assume that  I  know what  I'm  talking about,  but a couple weeks  ago I  took  my 2 string  fretless bass to a local  shop (Guitar Doctor)  who told me I  was way too high. He said about 1/16th or a little  less.

Can't  help you with the  tuners.

Permalink Reply by Bill on November 5, 2019 at 3:17am

thanx, i used a 1/2 bolt for the bridge and nut and i'm definitely way to high. action is high enough to drive under, lol  "way to high" - don't know if I've used those word together before. lol  thanx bill

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on November 5, 2019 at 5:16am

If you are only playing slide it really doesn't matter.

Permalink Reply by Mark Bliss on November 5, 2019 at 11:37am

Most people would find 1/16" far too low for slide. Maybe a good starting point for a fretted set-up.

Permalink Reply by Gus K on November 6, 2019 at 1:21pm

Well that is a bit different as I'm assuming you are using your fingers. Many fretless players just use a slide so there is no reason to be concerned about height.

Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on November 5, 2019 at 5:42am

Two rights & one left is an ideal layout for right handers, if you were a lefty it’d be two lefts & a right? Or maybe that’s just the way Shane wanted to do it? Three in-line as mentioned above is also another norm of tuner arrangement? Shane’s fretless standard uses a 5/16” rod for the nut/bridge with a 1/3 of it laying in the notch on the neck? Changing the rod to a smaller size is an easy fix. But, you could salvage what you have if you recess the nut deeper into the notch & file the bridge bottom down to match the height of the nut? Hope this helps, your not that far off? :)

Permalink Reply by Bill on November 5, 2019 at 5:58am

Thanx I appreciate your help.

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on November 5, 2019 at 11:12am

Hi Bill, there's two or maybe three ways that I look at fitting tuners, on a 3 stringer anyway.

With a six string set of tuners, as Brian Q explains, [1] I put two on top of the peghead and one on the lower edge. With remaining three on the next build I do it in reverse, [2] one on top and two on the lower edge.

If doing three in line you could do the same as above [3] three on top edge and three on the bottom next build.

It is best to keep the cog on the end of the post on the lower side of the worm drive so that the string pulls the cog into the worm drive and limits any sloppy meshing. This cam be acheived by looking at the following photos....I hope....................

Cheers Taff

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on November 5, 2019 at 12:00pm

Hi I meant also comment on the nut question.

My advise is determin what string height is best for you at the first fret area and the nut will be at a height to maintain that. Your 1/2" at bridge sounds ok but it depends on how the neck is set in the body as to what the string action will be.

Taff

Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on November 5, 2019 at 12:16pm

Sounds, like you’re building the standard fretless slider, right? Here’s the info on the whole shebang including the bridge/nut set up, just keep scrolling? https://www.cigarboxguitar.com/knowledge-base/how-to-make-a-simple-... Hope it helps :)