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Comment by Mark K on January 14, 2017 at 6:02am

Hi all:  I am new to the Nation and posted this over in 3-string before realizing this might be a better place to post:

Just joined a couple of weeks back and wanted to share my first and only build:  a 3 string hubcap primitive....

As my first build ever, and considering I only have a drill, some files and a cutoff wheel it turned out pretty good.  Tuned GDG, it sounds not bad acoustically (quiet though) and you can see I have an outline for a cutout for a magnetic pickup.  I tried a surface mount piezo and it worked fine so not sure I will cut the hubcap any further.....

So things I learned:  using flat wood might have been a better idea - the neck (through neck) is from my grandfather's pick-axe, and it was too thick at the head end so needed to be cut down and shaped.  Dang hickory is HARD!  And I wanted to leave the rounded neck front and back, so drilling the tuning pegs holes was an, um, adventure.  I bought the pegs and bridge from cbgitty, the string retainer is a hinge from the local hardware store, and the nut is a piece of the pick handle that I had removed from the end.

Clearly action is really really high - but I wanted a slide only for the fun of it.  The hubcap is from a 62 Studebaker and I have the original logo from the car to mount on the neck.

Only two problems so far:  its hard to get it in tune, and it doesn't stay in tune long;  and I get a buzz from the low G string that I can't figure out.  One I get the slide on the string it disappears, but open G buzzes (and has a really long sustain).  Suggestions would be more than welcome!

Anyway, now I need to learn how to play it.  The logo has to go one and I will put some fret markers on the neck (but really one is supposed to get there by feel right?)  I've been horsing around with Spoonful and it sounds neat!

Anyway, thanks for reading....

Mark

Comment by Andy Busch on January 9, 2017 at 4:25am

My first CBG attempt.  Body:  Christmas cookie tin.  Plan:  Uncle Crow, with a couple of modifications. 

1.)  I took out the 6-inch block of the 1x2 from the inside, because it dampened the sound a LOT. 

2.)  Even after that, it's not very loud, and doesn't have much sustain when I use my slide, especially at the "12th fret".  It's louder when I strum it open, and I HAVE to use a pic (I usually play bare-fingered).

3.)  Would it be a little louder if I slid the neck a little further up, so there would be less wood and more metal on the top?

4.)  I might have to play it only amplified.  What should I use?  I have an old piezo I could glue on the inside, near the bridge.  Other ideas? 

Comment by bruce d frost on December 30, 2016 at 5:41am

Richard & Paul, thank you for your responses.  I use a .009 gauge the length is 25 1/2 inches and it breaks when I am playing at the tuner.  Thanks

Comment by David Clewell on December 28, 2016 at 11:34am

I agree with Ben, Try using an 8 or 8 1/2 or go up to a 22B and tune to a mid G. Or... It could be the tuner or the nut. Make sure the string is not being pinched by the nut and that the slope toward the tuner is rounded.
Good luck and keep learning...

Comment by Oscar Myer on December 28, 2016 at 10:36am

The thinnest I use is a 10 for my high G

Comment by Paul Craig on December 28, 2016 at 10:02am

If tuning down to G makes the high E string too floppy, use a B string tuned down to G.

Comment by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker on December 28, 2016 at 9:52am

Other things to look for: tuner burr as mentioned by Paul below... also if you are using any sort of string retainers/screws, make sure that they are not creating too severe of an angle for the string. 

Comment by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker on December 28, 2016 at 9:48am

I reckon he's tuning it UP to high G. It is tricky to get a string to high G on a scale that long. They do make .008 gauge strings but man they are small. You might consider going with a lower G stringing/tuning instead.

Comment by Paul Craig on December 28, 2016 at 9:32am

.009 is a high E tuned down to G on a 25.5" scale shouldn't be a problem with being too tight unless you tuned up to G.

I would be looking for a sharp edge or burr on the tuner eyelet where the string inserts the tuner.

Comment by Paul Craig on December 27, 2016 at 11:21pm

And where does the string break? That will help point you in the right direction.

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