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New to building and playing

Hi all,

I'm a first timer from the UK and I would love to share my first project with you and ask some advice.

I'm building a fretless three string guitar from bits of hardwood from old furniture for the neck and ply and pine for the resonator. I chose to build the box from scratch as I was having difficulty finding a decent cigar box.

As you will see from the photos I have shaped the neck, yardstick and heal from one piece of white oak to which I have laminated a mahogany fret board.

This leads me onto my first question: my board is currently 8mm, is this to thick? Should it be more like 6mm?

Second question: what is the optimal action for slide? And optimal distance from string to soundboard?

Third and final for now: My machine head shafts are a little short, should I countersink into the back of my headstock, or reshape the top of the yardstick to make it narrower.

Please have a look at the pictures I've posted and feel free to comment / offer advice.

Thanks in advance

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on March 20, 2014 at 3:20am

Neck looks beautifully carved, but a tad thick. So, I'd mill the fretboard down another 2 mm to 6. Beautiful construction. Shave your headstock so it's no more than 1.8 cm (3/4") thick; you can do this from the top, to increase your string break angle from the nut to the machine heads, or from the backside of the headstock if you're happy with the top.

String height above the fretboard for a fretless can literally be any thing you want, if you are playing lap style, but if holding it like a standard git, then use your own hands with a slide on the third or pinky finger for a quick eyeball estimate. This will primarily depend on your nut, and bridge / saddle, height above the fretboard.

Looks like its gonna be a beauty.

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Permalink Reply by sasquatch on March 20, 2014 at 3:38am

Thanks Ron for your very kind comments and thanks for the advice. I.'ve made the neck thick to compensate for my long fingers. I may take your advice and shave the yardstick from the top. How important is the string break angle? I.m happy with yardstick back, please see new pic.

Matt

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2014-03-19 06.21.06.jpg, 2.9 MB

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Permalink Reply by sasquatch on March 20, 2014 at 4:30am

I meant headstock not yardstick!?!?

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Permalink Reply by jabes on March 20, 2014 at 3:28am

looks like Ron covered that,might want to check for your bridge height with a straightedge and give yourself a bit it of "neck angle " when you plane down the fretboard if need be...

looking good...welcome

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Permalink Reply by sasquatch on March 20, 2014 at 4:29am

Thanks Jabes

Very welcome advice

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Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on March 21, 2014 at 12:27am

The thickness of your headstock will depend on the type of tuners you are going to use,Using enclosed single tuners I aim for 9/16".Use traditional,three mounted on a plate style,and the thickness has to be about 3/4".This one uses a combination of the two so the headstock is recessed to accommodate the single enclosed tuner.As Oily says remove material from the front face of the headstock.

Yours looks as though it's going to be a really nice build.

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Permalink Reply by sasquatch on March 21, 2014 at 6:05am

Thanks Michael

I've removed some material from the headstock and the enclosed tuners I have fit great. I'm toying with idea of removing a tiny bit more material and laminating a veneer I've made to the front to hide the fact I've laminated two pieces of timber together for the neck.

Love the look of the guitar in the pic YOUR lamination is super clean.

I feel this may be the first of many.

Thanks for your advice

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Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on March 22, 2014 at 2:48am

Take an extra slice off and add some contrasting veneers to give an interesting face to the headstock

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Permalink Reply by sasquatch on March 22, 2014 at 3:55am

Wow! That looks great. Safely I lack the tools and know how to make anything that pretty!

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Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on March 22, 2014 at 4:53am

Can all be done using hand tools and what I've seen of your build so far you don't lack the skills

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Permalink Reply by sasquatch on March 22, 2014 at 7:03am

That's really nice to hear coming from a builder as gifted as yourself, maybe I'll do some research and try it on the next project. I'll post some more pics when there is a bit more progress.

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Permalink Reply by sasquatch on March 25, 2014 at 11:14pm

Ok, so I took on board all the greatly appreciated advice and did some work on this, my first cbg build.

As per Ron "Oily" Sprague I've trimmed the fretboard down to 6mm, which I'm hoping will make the neck easier to handle. Also on Ron's advice I shaved the front of the headstock, I took this opportunity to laminate a piece of timber the same stock as the neck to the front of the headstock to give it a cleaner look.

The neck is now glued into the box and I've "dry fit" the tuners and sink drainer sound hole covers.

Please have a look at the pics and let me know what you think.

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