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Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates's Blog (19)

Yet Another Fret Calc (Spreadsheet) - SAE and Metric

Fret Calculator with compensation - SAE and Metric

Here is a simple spreadsheet I made. Again, there are MANY online and this is but one more. I did include a 1/32" nut-to-first compensation as many of us use this trick. Keeps the 1-3 frets from being sharp. Also lower the strings at the nut so the notes don't go sharp.

-WY

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on December 30, 2012 at 4:00am — 3 Comments

Festival CBG stand plans

Ya'll

I had a great idea to make a stand for CBGs when you take to festivals. These fold flat, and tho only hold 3 CBGs, are very effective and will be quite handy. I will post a picture of the plans and the Google SketchUp (you can download the viewer or the app -- its free).

Full on shot

Back Side…

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Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on August 2, 2011 at 7:30am — 5 Comments

New Ink

Gots some new ink this weekend.

No matter what happens to it, I'll always have it with me.

-WY

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on July 3, 2011 at 2:00pm — 5 Comments

String Spacing Calculator

Recently I came across this article online where this guy uses a caliper and calculations to measure the optimum, equidistant string spacing using the neck/nut width, the string gauges and number of strings, the 'margin' on either side of the first and last string and then does a specific calculation to arrive at the spacing.

Its not complicated but I made a spreadsheet and have an example of what to do and how to use:…

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Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on March 31, 2011 at 7:28am — No Comments

CBG Kit templates

Below are all the templates I have created for the Cigar Box Guitar kit: Download all of them. There is also a Quick Start guide if you want to make a simple CBG from the kit.

Main Kit Instructions - KitInstructions.pdf

Quick Start - How To Build A Cigar Box…

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Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on March 21, 2011 at 1:30am — 3 Comments

Quick lesson on determining the scarf cut placement on scarfed necks.

So what I want to do here is to explain how I determine where to cut when I make a scarf neck. It was hard for me to calculate just where to cut the neck stock so that i had enough to make the headstock (pegboard if you want) but not too much. I tried math. I tried templates. I tried Zen. Then the answer was simple! You will see below.

First off, I make my scarfed necks where the scarf (headstock) is over the neck and both the neck and head are under the fretboard/fingerboard.… Continue

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on October 18, 2010 at 9:14am — 9 Comments

Rouding out necks with a spokeshave.

So making nicely shaped necks isn't very hard. At least it isn't rocket science. First off, you have to want to shape your CBG neck in a nice rounded fashion BUT that is not a rule at all. No one says you have to round off any neck you make. If you want to then here is a very quick and easy way to make VERY nicely rounded necks that rival CNC machines or routers.…

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Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on October 4, 2010 at 2:00pm — 10 Comments

My Arturo Fuente 6 string wiring diagram

I wanted to make something really special when I built my 6 string out of the Arturo Fuente King Bee box and overall I think I did. Below is a quick diagram of how I wired it up. Note that the humbuckers need to have the ability to be split. I show 4 wires but actuall there are 5. One is a shielding ground. The wires you need to be concerned with are North Start, North Finish, South Start, South Finish. The switches need to be single pole double throw on-off-on. Some are NOT on-off-on. Be aware… Continue

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on September 13, 2010 at 6:30am — 1 Comment

String Space Guide

Hey all, here is a handy guide to use to determine the spacing of the strings at the nut and the saddle/bridge. The width should be 1.5" for a 4 and 3 string CBG. Use the center and the two outside lines for a 3 string. The horizontal lines mean nothing except to provide a perpendicular guide to the strings. They are NOT fret marks.

Enjoy.

-WY

Bitmap file:…

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Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on July 28, 2010 at 12:30pm — No Comments

Open letter to that Nation

DISCLAIMER: NONE of the comments below reflect those of Cigar Box Nation site or as a whole nor any of its members nor Shane Speal himself or anyone associated with him. These are my thoughts and opinions solely. I don't own the site nor am I admin of any kind. Please pardon the length whatever it becomes. Stop if you had enough. I warn you, its a manifesto. In fact, this might get me kicked off (I hope not tho). Rebut if you will. Its a free country. - WY

Wes,

the Nation… Continue

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on March 4, 2010 at 8:30am — 4 Comments

2 degree neck angle

Here is a quick google sketchup of a 2 degree neck angle.

-WY

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on March 1, 2010 at 3:18am — 10 Comments

Harbor Freight Japanese Flush Cut Saw as a fret saw (plus jig)

Guys, I have seen so many folks use God knows what to cut fret slots. Hacksaw blades, coping saw blades, knives. Well, if you want to cut them right, you have to use a decent saw. First, let me say that if you use Stewart MacDonald fretwire (or any fretwire that is .024"tang), the BEST tool is their fretsaw. Make no mistake, that is the tool to use. BUT if you are not inclined to buy a $30 saw, try this saw: …

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Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on January 31, 2010 at 4:41am — 12 Comments

Lamintated Neck - Simple

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on December 11, 2009 at 4:25pm — 11 Comments

By and By I'm Goin' to See the King

Open G tuning on 3 string - (D)GBd

By and By I'm Goin' to See the King
Traditional based on Jean Rene Reming version
Open G 3 or 4 string (D)GBd

This is repeated throughout the song:
d-----3-----3-2-0---0---||
B-------(0)-------0----*||
G---0------------------*||
(D)---------------------||

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on November 22, 2009 at 5:00pm — No Comments

Canjo Plans

All, Here is the plans for the Canjo based on Herschel Brown, et al. They are freely available and the intent is for us CBGers to make them for schools, hospitals, as a Boy/Girl Scout project, Church project, or any other act of community good will.

You must download the free Google SketchUp to open and work with this file (.skb).

Use them for fun. Use them in peace ;-) …

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Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on November 15, 2009 at 4:30pm — 12 Comments

CBG Plans

All, this is a simple Google SketchUp plan for a CBG. Nothing too fancy but you can download it and then download the free Google SketchUp and take a look.
CBGPlans-1.3.skb If you change it, post the changes and note the changes made. -Wes

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on November 1, 2009 at 1:30pm — 1 Comment

Bron Yr Aur Stomp

Open F
CFAC

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on September 15, 2009 at 2:06pm — No Comments

Its alive. Its ALIVE!!!

HAH. Electronics does NOT get the best of me -- even when I do STOOPID things.

I attempted to build the Ruby preamp from runoffgroove and heh, ground the volume pot and the #3 leg of the LM386 and you have SOUND dumba55...

Anyhow. WOW does it work.

BUT... you better be prepared to solder well....

-Wes

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on June 2, 2009 at 9:30am — No Comments

Getting close...

So this weekend, I'll have my tuners and will _finally_ finish my first CBG. I have strung it up, but with eyebolts and it cannot hold a tune. So I've bought some tuners and we'll see.

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on May 12, 2009 at 3:43am — No Comments