Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Nigel Richards aka Rev. Larry on March 19, 2010 at 2:44am

I use whatever I can find - and up to now have used an old piece of wood that was lying in the garden, a leftover piece of stair handrail and a cheap piece of 4x1 timber from the local hardware store. I know nothing about carpentry or wood work but find it easier that I thought it would be (and I don't really have any tools to speak of) - even if the results are rough. But I like them rough. You can see results on my page here at cigarboxnation. For the last one I made (my third) I even thought it was time to try putting in frets - that will be a nightmare I thought - but no, easier than I thought and there are loads of helpful guides here on the nation site.

If I can help please ask - I'm only a beginner myself but I can share what I've found out with you.

Cheers, Nigel (Nigel Richards aka Rev. Larry)

Permalink Reply by Rex on March 19, 2010 at 3:25am

Thanks! Rev Larry.
I have put myself on a personal deadline. On May 1st I have a benefit show for welcoming home our Veterans. I am hoping I can have a decent CBG done for the show. GULP! I don't want to rush things, but I would love to be able to give the crowd a tune or two on a Cigar Git fiddle I slapped together. I put a call out on a great local forum asking for broken guitars and such. Hoping to acquire some pieces I can use.
This last weekend, I went to my local flea markets and found three excellent old, wooden cigar boxes! The while I was at my local Family farm supply store I found some great items that just stuck out to me. I found some tension pins and a clevis pin (for the bridge construction) that I am going to use for the strings. I have a pretty good idea what I want to do with it.
Here is the kicker I found so far... Where to find the wood for my neck, I plan on carving it myself. So I definitely do not want to spend the 100's of dollars I have seen in my luthier mags. I don't mind making mistakes but I would like to keep the price of those mistakes down somewhat, with the economy the way it is these days you know... LOL

Any advice will be accepted without prejudice or pride... PEace!

Nigel Richards aka Rev. Larry said:

I use whatever I can find - and up to now have used an old piece of wood that was lying in the garden, a leftover piece of stair handrail and a cheap piece of 4x1 timber from the local hardware store. I know nothing about carpentry or wood work but find it easier that I thought it would be (and I don't really have any tools to speak of) - even if the results are rough. But I like them rough. You can see results on my page here at cigarboxnation. For the last one I made (my third) I even thought it was time to try putting in frets - that will be a nightmare I thought - but no, easier than I thought and there are loads of helpful guides here on the nation site.

If I can help please ask - I'm only a beginner myself but I can share what I've found out with you.

Cheers, Nigel (Nigel Richards aka Rev. Larry)

Permalink Reply by Nigel Richards aka Rev. Larry on March 19, 2010 at 3:42am

A CBG neck should take at most 4 to 5 hours to make - I do mine over a period of days whenever I find time - 30 mins here and 30 mins there - but I've just made a rough calculation and it takes about 4 to 5 hours overall. I reckon a simple neck should do it. Decide on the number of strings (I like 3 myself tuned to open C). Once that is decided then you can work out the width of the neck. Now then, I tend to work backwards and I'm not a woodworker so please don't hold me responsible (you luthiers out there!) if what I do sounds weird or amateur. It works for me. There are several things that make your CBG look good and several things that make then sound good. To look good is up to you - sink drainers are great for resonator type sound holes. I use a bolt as a bridge and a gate hinge as a tailpiece. Anyway to sound sound good you need to work out your scale (the distance from the bridge to the nut) go for established scales such as Fender of Gibson length (I'll send you the details if you want them) - then include the length of the body, and the extra piece for the tail where the strings will fit (if you are doing it that way) and then add on 10 Cms or so for the headstock. Then get a piece of wood that is wide enough for the headstock, long enough and deep enough for the neck - last one I got was a 2m length of 4 x 1 inch and this was enough for two necks. It cost the equivalent of about 4 US dollars. So, 2 dollars per neck. Then I drew out the shape and sawed it and sanded it to fit. Is that enough to encourage you to get started?
Cheers,
Nigel

Rex said:

Thanks! Rev Larry.
I have put myself on a personal deadline. On May 1st I have a benefit show for welcoming home our Veterans. I am hoping I can have a decent CBG done for the show. GULP! I don't want to rush things, but I would love to be able to give the crowd a tune or two on a Cigar Git fiddle I slapped together. I put a call out on a great local forum asking for broken guitars and such. Hoping to acquire some pieces I can use.
This last weekend, I went to my local flea markets and found three excellent old, wooden cigar boxes! The while I was at my local Family farm supply store I found some great items that just stuck out to me. I found some tension pins and a clevis pin (for the bridge construction) that I am going to use for the strings. I have a pretty good idea what I want to do with it.
Here is the kicker I found so far... Where to find the wood for my neck, I plan on carving it myself. So I definitely do not want to spend the 100's of dollars I have seen in my luthier mags. I don't mind making mistakes but I would like to keep the price of those mistakes down somewhat, with the economy the way it is these days you know... LOL

Any advice will be accepted without prejudice or pride... PEace!

Nigel Richards aka Rev. Larry said:

I use whatever I can find - and up to now have used an old piece of wood that was lying in the garden, a leftover piece of stair handrail and a cheap piece of 4x1 timber from the local hardware store. I know nothing about carpentry or wood work but find it easier that I thought it would be (and I don't really have any tools to speak of) - even if the results are rough. But I like them rough. You can see results on my page here at cigarboxnation. For the last one I made (my third) I even thought it was time to try putting in frets - that will be a nightmare I thought - but no, easier than I thought and there are loads of helpful guides here on the nation site.

If I can help please ask - I'm only a beginner myself but I can share what I've found out with you.

Cheers, Nigel (Nigel Richards aka Rev. Larry)

Permalink Reply by Richard D. DeRoin on March 24, 2010 at 2:39am

Hey Rex, I am new here to. Live up in Joe town. Check out " bonehead " or "uncle crow" pictures here at the nation that seems to be the simplest design to me. That is depending on how much work you want to put into the head and neck. With all the good people here you won't be short on help if you need it. Your local lumber yard will have dimentional hardwood to choose from. I am not using construction grade lumber. Get the good stuff. A 1" X 2" X 4' piece of maple cost me 3 bucks and change at Lowes. It is actually smaller than 1 X 2 but that must be the new math.:) Good luck with your preject.

Permalink Reply by Rex on March 24, 2010 at 3:13am

Yeah... welcome to the complicated wold of the 21st century where 5/8ths x 1and3/4ths equals 1x2. You know it's new and improved. LOL

Richard D. DeRoin said:

Hey Rex, I am new here to. Live up in Joe town. Check out " bonehead " or "uncle crow" pictures here at the nation that seems to be the simplest design to me. That is depending on how much work you want to put into the head and neck. With all the good people here you won't be short on help if you need it. Your local lumber yard will have dimentional hardwood to choose from. I am not using construction grade lumber. Get the good stuff. A 1" X 2" X 4' piece of maple cost me 3 bucks and change at Lowes. It is actually smaller than 1 X 2 but that must be the new math.:) Good luck with your preject.

Permalink Reply by Robert Hynden on April 21, 2010 at 10:08am

Rex,
Most people use Oak or Maple for the necks on their guitars. If you have a used furnature store in your area, you might be able to pick up an old beat up table made of either wood. You can then take it apart and saw out some boards for the necks . Many people start out with board an inch and a half wide and 3/4 to one inch thick. Sand them smooth and glue a couple of them together and Waalaa! You have just made a neck blank. Good luck with your build. There is lots of info on this site so if you get stumped, just ask. Bob H.