Hello all! Happy to have been accepted and can’t wait to get into the blogs and discussions! Have materials and parts for 3 CBGs and getting ready to start the 1st build. What is a good string height for fretted (10mm seems to be popular) and if I do a back angle does the lid sit directly on the neck or should I have a space there? Also using a bottle cap piezo so does that make a difference with the spacing of lid to neck? Thanks for your time!!
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Have to say I`m more old school. Apart from a steel rule which I use as a perfect straight edge to line it up I just use my eye for the string height. Ok, sometimes the strings are a little high but a file soon sorts that out ;)
I can imagine all those old boys 100+ years ago using steel rules and feeler guages and micrometers!
A box, a stick and some strings! No rules!
Oh and of course now we live in the new roaring twenties it`s ok to add electrics ;)
Taffy is quite correct though, always measure twice and probably once more just to be on the safe side.
Yep, that's what I have been using Brian Q, to set action. I use feeler gauges for measuring at the nut. I use lengths of aluminium flat bar marked with fret positions and scale lengths, and of course steel rules, foldeing carpenters rules and of course tape measures. How many? Not telling, you would fall over laughing. Oh, then there's the three vernier gauges and.......I still get it wrong if I don't measure twice. No joke.
Taff
If you don’t have one of these, then get one, well worth the 4 bucks & free shipping from MGB. Card sized, but unlike playing cards, it has a way to accurately measure & has several modes of measure: inches- 32/64ths,millimeters, centimeters,Etc. I also use it as a straight edge for leveling frets? Cheers :)
Hi Jason, lots of good info already offered on action hieght
. I was a bit confused regarding your 10mm reference, I think you were referring to the bridge height. If so, 15mm is an area I shoot for. it gives a good break angle for the string and puts the pressure "loading' down onto the top for better response.
The top needs to vibrate to create sound within the box, anything that impedes this vibration limits the volume and tone. So I keep the neck away from the top if I do a neck-through style. However, I always go for bolt-on necks as these are adjustable.
As your piezo picks up timber vibrations, experimentation with positioning gets the best response for a particular instrument. this is due to the different materials a box can be made of, size, and bridge positioning will all impact on output and tone.
Glad to hear that you have done a lot of research, it will pay off in the long run.
Oh, I don't normally ever measure with business cards, how thick are they? Just measured 50mm stack = about 92 cards. I'll stick with rulers and feeler gauges, Haha.
Cheers Taff
Want to say THANK YOU to everyone that has given me advice/tips and links to follow to help with my first build. Am planning to hit it hard tomorrow and will definitely drop pics when I finish. Such an awesome community!!!!
I wouldn`t worry too much about the string height as you can always make it high, then try it out and lower it to suit yourself. It`s easier if the nut is bone and can be filed down rather tan using a bolt but even that can be adjusted by lowering the slot where the bolt sits.
The bridge, likewise can easily be adjusted to suit yourself. The fact is you`ll be best to keep your first build as simple as possible and learn from it. Guaranteed that you will end up making more.... many more!
Probably the best tip is to fret it first then work on the nut and bridge.
Actually don’t own any other guitars. I think I remember seeing somewhere (I’ve watched SO MANY videos and read SO MANY articles) that at the 1st fret it should be like 1-2 playing card height and like 10 cards at the 12th or something like that. Can’t seem to find the info again.
Replies
Have to say I`m more old school. Apart from a steel rule which I use as a perfect straight edge to line it up I just use my eye for the string height. Ok, sometimes the strings are a little high but a file soon sorts that out ;)
I can imagine all those old boys 100+ years ago using steel rules and feeler guages and micrometers!
A box, a stick and some strings! No rules!
Oh and of course now we live in the new roaring twenties it`s ok to add electrics ;)
Taffy is quite correct though, always measure twice and probably once more just to be on the safe side.
Look forward to see the photos!
Taff
If you don’t have one of these, then get one, well worth the 4 bucks & free shipping from MGB. Card sized, but unlike playing cards, it has a way to accurately measure & has several modes of measure: inches- 32/64ths,millimeters, centimeters,Etc. I also use it as a straight edge for leveling frets? Cheers :)
I have a stack of old gift cards & hotel room key cards. They come in handy for measuring & for temporary shims. Most measure right at .030".
Hi Jason, lots of good info already offered on action hieght
. I was a bit confused regarding your 10mm reference, I think you were referring to the bridge height. If so, 15mm is an area I shoot for. it gives a good break angle for the string and puts the pressure "loading' down onto the top for better response.The top needs to vibrate to create sound within the box, anything that impedes this vibration limits the volume and tone. So I keep the neck away from the top if I do a neck-through style. However, I always go for bolt-on necks as these are adjustable.
As your piezo picks up timber vibrations, experimentation with positioning gets the best response for a particular instrument. this is due to the different materials a box can be made of, size, and bridge positioning will all impact on output and tone.
Glad to hear that you have done a lot of research, it will pay off in the long run.
Oh, I don't normally ever measure with business cards, how thick are they? Just measured 50mm stack = about 92 cards. I'll stick with rulers and feeler gauges, Haha.
Cheers Taff
Want to say THANK YOU to everyone that has given me advice/tips and links to follow to help with my first build. Am planning to hit it hard tomorrow and will definitely drop pics when I finish. Such an awesome community!!!!
Action
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SswapjAMpA4
Back angle
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kfUMnYMZ2dU&t=92s
I wouldn`t worry too much about the string height as you can always make it high, then try it out and lower it to suit yourself. It`s easier if the nut is bone and can be filed down rather tan using a bolt but even that can be adjusted by lowering the slot where the bolt sits.
The bridge, likewise can easily be adjusted to suit yourself. The fact is you`ll be best to keep your first build as simple as possible and learn from it. Guaranteed that you will end up making more.... many more!
Probably the best tip is to fret it first then work on the nut and bridge.
Actually don’t own any other guitars. I think I remember seeing somewhere (I’ve watched SO MANY videos and read SO MANY articles) that at the 1st fret it should be like 1-2 playing card height and like 10 cards at the 12th or something like that. Can’t seem to find the info again.
Measure & use the string height of your favorite electric or acoustic guitar (depending which strings you plan to use).
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