Ok, I'm doing it, foolish or not, I'm breaking the 4 string CBG barrier and trying a fiver. I've a mahogany neck, about 1/4" wider than the usual width. I'm putting on a maple fret board maybe a shade thicker than usual and I'm going to go easy on the V shape of the neck i usually like - more C'ish this time. Doing everything I can to strengthen the neck (I'll add another layer of neck 2 inches before the box and carry that through to the end of the box).
Got a soapbox single coil pickup which i like cause this not very thick (I have a fairly thin box) and I'm ready to try it. No truss rod, i just figure I'll loosen the strings after each session.
Any other advice?
Why am I doing this foolish build? Why do all the work to end up with a banana neck? Well I had a dream, the other night. Usually I dream I'm laid off work or shopping in my underwear, but this was a rare good one. I was jamming with the Stones (a younger version of them) in some guys basement. I had a guitar with the Richards 5 string open G tuning and I was actually keeping up keith. It didn't last more than one song, but it was really vivid. I took that as an omen for this build. Interesting because I've only read about the tuning, never actually did it, but there i was playing and it seemed pretty darn easy. I guess that's why they are called dreams. Anyone else dream they are jamming with professionals? (hey hey hey, i'm talking music here)
Replies
PM Eric Davenport here on CBN. He builds lovely five bangers from metal Sawzall boxes. Here's a vid of one of his being played by Frank of Frank Bang and the Secret Stash:
https://www.facebook.com/eric.davenport.779/posts/953610147994904:1
Don't worry about the neck. I built a four stringer with a maple neck about 1/4" wider than the normal 1x2 stick. Played it for about a year and decided I wanted to try a five stringer (a-la Keith Richards). I just took the five smaller string from a six string pack (medium weight), added another tuner, a new bridge and nut and I was in business. I tuned it to open G and it sounds great. I love to get the drums going on my pedal and give Honky Tonk Woman a go. There is a good YouTube video showing the basic riff using a 3 string CBG. The fiver sounds even better.
No problems with the neck and I play it daily.
Give it a go, you'll love the sound.