ok, I'm working on my first license plate guitar... I have 30 ish guitars built (plus 2 ukes and an oil can)  but I digress...

Most of my back angle has been shallow, or haphazard.  Time to up my game and decide on a design I can reliably produce.  (Thanks to ChickenBone John for his vid on some guy in a UK pawn shop... made me think about getting my action a bit lower.)

Anyway, I can get my action low, but setting the back angle has been hit or miss for me.  I'm about to build a jig so I can dado the angle in with some consistency.  I figure that will improve my build times and quality...    Now for those of you that make CBGs for a living:  My hat's off to you.  For me, this is a labor of love and sanity:  I love to keep my sanity, and building helps me relax.  Most of my guitars are sold to friends, given to the local BSA troop as silent auction donations, or given as gifts... (of course, some I keep for me...)

Anyway to my question as I am margarita-induced rambling...  

There will be many opinions:  BUT:  What is your preferred neck back angle?  And how much is that over the length of a 10" cigar box?  My trigonometry days are behind me, so I'd like to get to a point where I can measure the slope over 10" (the max-ish size box I use), build my jig, and start cutting necks in larger quantities...

LET THE DEBATE BEGIN!

Views: 1226

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Those are pretty necks...   a lot nicer than my 1x2 necks...  puttin' a band saw on my christmas list...

I use these in the neck pocket and cut to size.
Attachments:

Nice, Simple solution.

From what I gather, as always, there are multiple approaches.  Given that I am building 1x2 necks, it probably makes sense just to raise the neck and use a fretboard!

I think the key here is you can't have any negative angle (or much) or you'll have issues getting your action low enough...

Interesting.   I've played Wayfinder's and Maddog's and neither angle the neck.  Their gits play great. 

I do put in some neck angle, but unmeasured as to degree or angle.   I do it in a simple way and I like to think it gets the top free from most of the neck and improves acoustic tone and volume.  And then on the down side, the string pressure caves in some of my boxes.  I am TRYING to quit building, but likely will again.   And I think I will simplify things and have no angle.  

Good discussion.  

I put an angle on most times. Last few builds it has been about 1/2" in 10". I am getting an 11/16" high bridge out of it. Lots of string angle over the bridge. It also gives me some clearance for a pickup without having to dig out the neck too deep.

The way I am doing it is much like Phrygian Kid's method. I glue two cedar shakes together. Cut the width to the width of the neck and the length to the length of the box, 1 1/2" wide by about 10" long. That works to zero thickness at one end of the cedar shake assembly and about 1/2" thickness at the other. I thèn glue that assembly to my neck with spray on glue and use it as a saw guide to run the box end of the neck through the table saw and cut the back angle. As per Phrygian Kid, i take the left over wood and scarf join it to the base of the neck to thicken it back up again.

My fret board does not come over the edge of the box, so I do not need the notch that Phrygian Kid shows on his cut. Mine is just a straight cut through the saw. A little simpler.

I use 7/32" difference between the front and the back of the box.  That gives a very slight neck drop.  Maybe around 1 or 2 degrees.  My experience is that you need to add a little extra, because you lose some when you string it up.

you guys still use inch's !! I've forgotten most of it now since we went metric.

what 7/32 in mm? that to me is neither here or there in other words not worth bothering.

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

Latest Activity

Doug Thorsvik posted a video

The Weight: 3D Printed Cigar Box Guitar

Cigar Box Guitar Slingers - Spokane, 200th Zoom Mtg 04/29/24. Only 1-finger chords, free songbooks here: https://www.cbgslinger.com/download CBG Songbook.pdf...
1 hour ago
Rich posted photos
4 hours ago
Uncle John commented on Uncle John's photo
Thumbnail

Chugger Review 2nd from left

"Andries and Alan, those are rocks painted to be cactus.  They are not too prickly and they are…"
5 hours ago
Uncle John commented on Uncle John's photo
Thumbnail

Chugger Review 2nd from left

"Thanks guys.  Ha Brian.  I don't think I can play Iowa Sax and dulcimer very well at…"
5 hours ago
BrianQ. posted a discussion

You like Train songs on Handmade instruments as much as I do? Meet Eastwood station…

Train songs on Handmade instruments by Eastwood station, featuring CB Gitty’s own Ben Baker &…See More
13 hours ago
BrianQ. commented on Uncle John's photo
Thumbnail

Chugger Review 2nd from left

"I’d love to hear you play that dulcimer with some Iowa sax :D"
13 hours ago
BrianQ. commented on Bobthrubass's status
"Not sure about your device, but there’s a way you can view your saved passwords in the…"
15 hours ago
AGP # commented on Uncle John's photo
Thumbnail

Chugger Review 2nd from left

""A Fine Foursome of Instraments" I will get around to doing a Doug Style Chugger with…"
16 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Uncle John's photo
Thumbnail

Chugger Review 2nd from left

"Nice groep there UJ ! but what are these mysterioes green objects in front?"
19 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

All You Got to do is put your Mind to it ! BCB - A .D .Eker 2024

"If it was done for no reason Yes!  ofcourse !but lets hope it will not come to that Alan !…"
19 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

All You Got to do is put your Mind to it ! BCB - A .D .Eker 2024

"Only when there is a road next to it !Kale ! and maybee the size of the herd ! thanks for the kind…"
19 hours ago
AGP # liked Uncle John's photo
20 hours ago

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->