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Permalink Reply by Daniel Hoenisch on September 15, 2014 at 2:09am

Having only built one and only having played a CBG for a few days, take what I say with a grain of salt.  

I find the 1.5" fine for the 3-stringer I built. However, I finger pick a lot, even on the CBG, so I find the spacing fine.  I am also learning slide, and using the slide on single strings seems pretty easy to accomplish with that wide string spacing.  I guess it's all in what you are trying to accomplish.

Also, with 6-string guitars, I finger pick more with a Harmony guitar than, say, my Martin as the Harmony has wider spacing between the strings as well.  Same exact comparison in the ukulele world for me.

Dan

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on September 15, 2014 at 2:37am

Yep, always. I think big square necks are ugly. And my right hand wants different spacing than my left does. I'd taper even a one string neck personally, but I've got a big disc sander and a long ruler, so it's not any kinda chore for me

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Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on September 15, 2014 at 3:04am

I didn't taper the first coupla necks I did, but with a sander and a long metal ruler, per The Kid, it should be fairly easy to achieve. I tapered the last one I did that way. Kinda depends on how stubby your fingers are, or how long. I actively have searched out relatively narrow necks on my 6-stringers for years, but don't seem to find the "standard" 1.5 inch width at the nut on CBGs unplayable. They just feel a little different. I find them easier to play than banjo necks, for example.

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Permalink Reply by Diglydog on September 15, 2014 at 7:03am

Yes, I just figure out the string spacing that I want (say 10-12mm) and then add 5mm on either side of the strings and cut the neck to suit.

As for neck taper, it depends on the look of the CBG I'm building.  If it's a traditional stick-in-a-box, with the headstock the same width as the neck, I leave the neck square.  If I'm using a wider headstock, similar to a commercial guitar, I'll taper the neck.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Cuell on September 15, 2014 at 12:27pm

Yes, Diglydog - that's what I'm talking about. My regular six is 42mm at the nut. If I measure out for four strings, and go with 4mm overhang, I get to 32mm which is conveniently 1.25 inches. I think that 3 strings could go with a more narrow neck, something approaching an inch.

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Permalink Reply by Diglydog on September 17, 2014 at 12:04am

Yes, it's all a balance.  It depends on what string spacing you want and how you want the neck to feel.  It you cut the neck too narrow, it may not handle as you want it to.  As with most things CBG, it's often a case of learning from previous builds and making something that you like.

ETA: I do use wider string spacing on a 3-stringer to keep the neck at a width that I like.

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