Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Bluesdog on April 22, 2010 at 2:32am

I don't think it changes tone or playability, it's probibly a ballance issue. Most Cbg's are a bit neckheavy because the neck weigh's more than the box and with the tunners at the tail-end you should have a better ballance (i think, havn't tried it. I think it look's hideous but to each his own)

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on April 22, 2010 at 2:32am

Prolly just look. Design. Whim of fancy on the makers part. Shouldn't affect anything other than that.

-WY

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on April 22, 2010 at 4:03am

If you stuff the tuners inside the box it makes a very compact guitar, great for traveling. I don't know who but someone in here has done it this way.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Fergus Morris on April 22, 2010 at 6:22am

Well......... why not? I made a six string headless CBG just because i bought a neck with a broken headstock. It is true though that it balances very nicely.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bear on April 22, 2010 at 7:48am

Balance is indeed the reason I started making banjos that way. I had read a comment about a cookie tin banjo which was "hard to hang on to" because of the lightness of the body, that the whole banjo wanted to go along with the movement of the left hand on the neck.

Today, having made cigar box banjos both with and without headstocks, I can say that balance isn't really much of a problem when the instrument is played on the lap; the rectangular shape of a cigar box compensates for any neck-heaviness (unlike a round cookie tin), since the right arm on the instrument holds it in place. But played on a strap, balance might still be an issue.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by HENRY LOWMAN on April 22, 2010 at 7:55am

I've done this, and you're right.

MichaelS said:

If you stuff the tuners inside the box it makes a very compact guitar, great for traveling. I don't know who but someone in here has done it this way.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Alan Roberts on April 22, 2010 at 8:22am

I agree with most that it is a balance issue, but one person also said it allowed fingering at the end of the neck that wouldn't be possible if the tuners were in the way.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Ben on April 22, 2010 at 10:39am

How about both? I'm building a 5-string banjo that's got 4 tuners on the head, like normal but uses a tuner at the tail for the 5th string. It keeps the neck profile streamlined, but you still get that short drone string.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by L.J. on April 22, 2010 at 10:58am

never done it myself. I thought they were trying to build the CBG Steinberger. HAAA

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tracy Kennedy on April 22, 2010 at 1:33pm

Wow...Great idea! I bought one of those First Act electric guitars from a thrift store for $10.00 I reshaped the neck for a 5 string cookie tin bajo project, but couldnt figure out the 5th string tuner. I also butchered the head stock in the process, so now I'll revisit that project and see about putting all 5 tuners in the tin as well. 5 string headless cookie tin banjo....Your a genius

Ben said:

How about both? I'm building a 5-string banjo that's got 4 tuners on the head, like normal but uses a tuner at the tail for the 5th string. It keeps the neck profile streamlined, but you still get that short drone string.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Peter Taylor on April 22, 2010 at 3:03pm

Glad to see some good has come of my stupid questions..

Tracy Kennedy said:

Wow...Great idea! I bought one of those First Act electric guitars from a thrift store for $10.00 I reshaped the neck for a 5 string cookie tin bajo project, but couldnt figure out the 5th string tuner. I also butchered the head stock in the process, so now I'll revisit that project and see about putting all 5 tuners in the tin as well. 5 string headless cookie tin banjo....Your a genius

Ben said:

How about both? I'm building a 5-string banjo that's got 4 tuners on the head, like normal but uses a tuner at the tail for the 5th string. It keeps the neck profile streamlined, but you still get that short drone string.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mungo Park on April 22, 2010 at 4:02pm

I had read that the tuners not on the neck makes the neck resonate better. Less mass on the end of the neck.
Cheers Ron.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page