I would like to see plans on building necks. What type of tools,jigs etc and where they can be purchased.Maybe Stewart MacDonald? I play a Manditar and would like to attemped building a cigar box type.
Thanks,
Terry
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James, this was one of my guides :http://cigarboxguitars.com/workshops/How_To_Build_A_CBG.php Very very basic but a start. I also go the most info from the DVD I purchased from Jelly Belly Music. Now I just look at pictures on this site and when I see something I like I give it a try. Least I going to, I'm only working on my second one right now.
The DVD really took most of the mystery out of it for me. (I got it off of e-bay). Kept me from getting frustrated trying to figure thing out on my own.
Well, what kind of neck? Traditional through the box? Mounted to a heel block? Scarf joint for the headstock? Or cutting it down from a deep piece of wood (like a uke)? Or just trad CBG flat slab? Fingerboard? Fretted?
These things all require particular tools.
I mostly do neck-throughs. I cut the scarf joint free hand with a back saw. Shape the neck with a sureform, half round rasp, half round file, and sandpaper. Usually, but not always, add a fingerboard if using frets. Cut the fret slots freehand with a fret saw (a real luthier tool that is definitely worth the price). Sometimes I don't bother with the scarf joint, in which case, I make a slotted head stock to get the break angle over the nut. For the carry-through relief, I sometimes use a saw and chisel and sometimes use the sureform depending on the mood I'm in.
None of this applies to my give-away guitars which are much simpler.
Thanks for the info.I buIld Tub Basses and work Blue Grass fetivals but I think I'm becoming hooked on this Cigar box stuff.
Thanks again,
Terry
Mark Werner said:
Look around the site, you'll see many ideas. Most of our cigar-box items only have three or four strings, and don't require the neck to be really stiff. A piece of hardware store maple or oak 1X2 will be fine, even better with a 1/4" X 2" material glued on as a separate fretboard. The neck on most just goes through the box, so the box structure is not greatly stressed.
However, many guys build complex necks that are laminates and such; carved to shape much as a standard guitar neck would be. The neck on my signature-photo mandola is such; a maple/oak laminate carved to shape with headstock "ears" glued on and bolted to the body.
Well, what kind of neck? Traditional through the box? Mounted to a heel block? Scarf joint for the headstock? Or cutting it down from a deep piece of wood (like a uke)? Or just trad CBG flat slab? Fingerboard? Fretted?
These things all require particular tools.
I mostly do neck-throughs. I cut the scarf joint free hand with a back saw. Shape the neck with a sureform, half round rasp, half round file, and sandpaper. Usually, but not always, add a fingerboard if using frets. Cut the fret slots freehand with a fret saw (a real luthier tool that is definitely worth the price). Sometimes I don't bother with the scarf joint, in which case, I make a slotted head stock to get the break angle over the nut. For the carry-through relief, I sometimes use a saw and chisel and sometimes use the sureform depending on the mood I'm in.
None of this applies to my give-away guitars which are much simpler.
Look around the site, you'll see many ideas. Most of our cigar-box items only have three or four strings, and don't require the neck to be really stiff. A piece of hardware store maple or oak 1X2 will be fine, even better with a 1/4" X 2" material glued on as a separate fretboard.
The neck on most just goes through the box, so the box structure is not greatly stressed.
However, many guys build complex necks that are laminates and such; carved to shape much as a standard guitar neck would be. The neck on my signature-photo mandola is such; a maple/oak laminate carved to shape with headstock "ears" glued on and bolted to the body.
Replies
Terry
The DVD really took most of the mystery out of it for me. (I got it off of e-bay). Kept me from getting frustrated trying to figure thing out on my own.
Terry
Doc Oakroot said:
Thanks again,
Terry
Mark Werner said:
These things all require particular tools.
I mostly do neck-throughs. I cut the scarf joint free hand with a back saw. Shape the neck with a sureform, half round rasp, half round file, and sandpaper. Usually, but not always, add a fingerboard if using frets. Cut the fret slots freehand with a fret saw (a real luthier tool that is definitely worth the price). Sometimes I don't bother with the scarf joint, in which case, I make a slotted head stock to get the break angle over the nut. For the carry-through relief, I sometimes use a saw and chisel and sometimes use the sureform depending on the mood I'm in.
None of this applies to my give-away guitars which are much simpler.
The neck on most just goes through the box, so the box structure is not greatly stressed.
However, many guys build complex necks that are laminates and such; carved to shape much as a standard guitar neck would be. The neck on my signature-photo mandola is such; a maple/oak laminate carved to shape with headstock "ears" glued on and bolted to the body.