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Falling off the wagon, 4 stringer binge

Hello I"m Bama Hound and I'm a CBGaholic. I feel a binge coming on and need any guidance so as to wake up only slightly bruised and no hangover.

I have 3 license plates and want to make 3, 4 stringers. I have made 6 3 stringers prior to this and listening to You Tube tutorials can play a few riffs and the Star Spangled Banner so far. It sounds best when I turn the You Tube up real loud and I pick softly. Now to the nitty gritty. I am going to use walnut and red oak for neck, walnut for headstock.

Question 1: I made necks 1 1/2" for the 3 stringers, should i increase the neck with to 2" for the 4 stringers, thus helping to compensate for my lack of ability, by keeping the "feel" close to the same? Going to use Stratocaster shape for headstock

Question 2: I have used the pre-amp Model EQ-7545R with the rod from C. B. Gitty and it sounds good. I want to use a dual piezo set-up on the. My game plan is to use 2 each 27mm piezos wired in series and potted in a piece of PVC hot glued to bottom side of license plate at about the 24th fret. (use 24 5/8 bought fretboard as template) I have tried to attach photos but my computer skills may be lacking.

If I use the Prewired Pickup Selector with tone, Volume and 3-way switch. Do I cut the input wire to the preamp and wire to the 3 way switch, so as to get either input from rod or input from disc or input from both.

It works in my mind but does it work in the real world. Any and all feedback on this as well as alternate vision will be welcome.

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Permalink Reply by Scott aka Farmer Ted on January 23, 2015 at 9:51am

#1 is all up to you and what you feel comfortable with. #2...yes, that is correct wiring. Rod piezo to one tab on switch, disk piezos to other tab...preamp input wire to out tab on 3 way switch. Then the pre-amp out-line that has the jack...remove jack, connect wire + to lug #3 on volume, - to ground.

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on January 25, 2015 at 4:05am

Good wishes, Hound. The standard inch and a half wide necks are fine for fours. I often like to cut them thinner than that for a 3.

I really like the license plate builds and my fave player right now is a 1930 Iowa plate - a four stringer, long scale, fretless and tuned GDGB. For the most part, I play the 4 like I would a 3 but get a little richer sound and sometimes utilize the trebles.

I suggest you search out Maddog's photos. He has done a lot with license plate guitars. Good stuff.

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Permalink Reply by David McQueen on January 25, 2015 at 6:53am

Yup. 1 1/2" is fine. I put 3/8" between strings. That leaves 3/16" border on each side of the neck. My favourite strings are D'Addario electric light. They give a nice sound, also work with mag pups and do not have as much load on the neck as acoustic strings.

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on January 25, 2015 at 7:14am

A pencil type compass is a good way to get the strings evenly spaced.

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Permalink Reply by Bama Hound on January 25, 2015 at 8:46am

Since I am building 4 stringers, I was planning to use a 1/4" all thread for a truss rod. I am toying around with an idea which may be insane. I am not a real player but has anybody ever tried making a 3 string 6 string? Tuned Open G, with the stings GgDdGg (octave apart strung beside one another) or something along those lines or should I quit smoki'n that stuff? I have my parts ordered but really in the planning stages as far as some things. Thanks for the input so far.

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Permalink Reply by David McQueen on January 25, 2015 at 1:40pm

You will get a "12 string" sound, which is more bell like and less "blues nasty". You are probably better of to actually build a 12 string.

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Permalink Reply by Uncle John on January 25, 2015 at 9:32am

Most of us do not find a truss rod necessary for a 4 string. A few builders do it.

Jason Mills and others have experimented with various double strung/octave strung builds. I have too, a bit. I did not like it so much. If it really worked well, it would be commonly done. It is not commonly done. But we have the most fun building what we want to build. So if that's the case, try it.