OK, so I'm finishing up my 2nd CBG and it's time to move on to a bass.
I've got a great Box and some strings (electric). I'm doing a 2 string.
But I need to figure out pickups (and tuners).
I'm looking at this:
http://www.cbgitty.com/cigar-box-guitar-parts/pre-wired-4-string-si...
Which is a '6 string modified to look like a 4'. My question there is:
Do the strings HAVE to be over the poles? I imagine the strings would be right between two poles.
------
Or could one of the two piezo setups work as good? (actually like the idea of being able to use the box as a drum for looping).
===
For tuning pegs I have a few set of strings, up to 3mm in diameter (yeah fat ol B string). I have heard about drilling out guitar pegs but I don't think I can go that thick (wanting shorter neck so I'd have to tune with thicker part of string).
Any good options for that? Bass tuners are a bit pricey unless going with the ones straight from China.
I want to do a double bass style headstock.
Tags:
Thanks Wayfinder,
I searched ohms for pickups on Google but didn't find the info. Those you linked have a 7.75 ohm and the 'guitar' ones have 4.5. I don't understand electronics, Are the soapbars 7.75 ohms because there are two of them? I'd really like a single pup. A dual rail set has 9 ohms.
Am I just needing higher ohms for the bass frequencies? Volume?
I thought about maybe making some wood pegs but not sure how to make them hold tension (saw some violin ones, seem to be tapered? I don't have much for a shop so I've gotta stay simple.
I have used the eyebolts with wingnuts for my guitars so far . They work great but I want to make at least one bass that's really 'tight' all the way around, but without being too expensive or high tech :) (main reason piezos inside the box and hidden would be great).
Wow, great info, thanks.
I saw those flatcats before, very sweet looking. Might be above the price range I'm looking at for this one. Will keep them in mind though :D
I take it you snipped the connecting wire, and used that as ground for each? And main wires for leads?
Yes, I snipped the wire. The two pickups are wired in series, but one is wound backwards to the other so that they will act as humbuckers on a bass.
So there is power into the first one and ground coming out. The snip is done there, at the ground coming out, making sure there is enough wire on both sides of the snip.
The wire on the other side of the snip becomes power going into the second pickup and the long wire coming out the other side is the ground for that pickup.
ah thanks. Yeah $5 per pup is a great price.
I snipped the wire on mine and put 1 in the neck position and 1 by the bridge and wired them to a 4-way blade switch like the ones you get for a Telecaster. Benefits are choice of 1 bridge pup, 2 bridge and neck pups in parallel, 3 neck pup and 4 bridge and neck pups in series.
These pups are nice, but a little on the weak side when separate. That is okay in some bodies and with some amps, but can be lacking in others. My box was a cheapie and the best 4-way setting is both pups in series unless I get a chance to crank the amp.
Together those pups read 8 to 8.5k ohms, so apart they will read 4 to 4.2k ohms. There are a few other websites around the net that sell hotter versions like Guitarfetish.com or look for Tonerider pickups or Artec pickups.
These pups have ceramic magnets, but there are Alinco magnet pickups available out there if you would prefer. And if you don't know what the difference is: ceramic mag pups have less mid-range/mid-range scoop.
I used those pups on my green 4 string CBG build and they work well. If you've ever seen a Fender P Bass(what these pups were designed for) the strings pass between the poles. Bass strings are so massive it doesn't really matter.
sounds like a hybrid would solve all your concerns .
you can use number .60 and.52 strings from a special set of drop d “ ghs boomers “ guitar strings . and they still fit regular guitar tuner holes . you can even use a regular pickup closer to the neck . this may not have the same freq response of a bass pup , but also alows you to use a regular amp with less concern of blowin the speaker . you can also keep it standard length .
all as i did here http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/swamp-witch-2-string-bass-guita...
and these strings http://www.ebay.com/itm/GHS-Boomers-Electric-Guitar-Strings-GBZW-10...
Cool, thanks.
I think I'll be ordering some tuners. I can wait a few weeks and I found a set of four for around $8 shipped. So I can split that between 2 2strings :D (and I've got spare strings.
I also have bass amps/di box, etc..
I saw in the bass group someone suggested a overdrive pedal with a piezo set up so I might go that route first. I have a pedal with OD so...
If it's not loud enough I can always pulle the piezo set up and use it for another CBG. The box I have now is kind of small but real cool, but since it'll be electric not worried about size.
------
That's the best thing about CBG's. They can be pretty cheap to build so I don't mind trying different things :D
Bass strings need bass tuners. Get ones made for straight strings, since you can use straight or tapered strings in them, but not the other way around. Do not drill out a guitar tuner, that weakens the post and it could snap on you while playing, AND it will leave a sharper edge that can cut/break the stings there. also the guitar tuner post radius is much smaller, it would bend the bass strings back on itself too tightly and risk the string breaking. And the gear ratio is different on git and bass tuners due to the higher tension on the bass strings, you get more mechanical leverage with bass tuners.
Pegs are a little bit tricksies to do on a git, you need a peg hole ream and matched peg shaver to get the tapers correct so that they grip and not slip. they work well on low tension small diameter such as nylon ukulele or violin/viola strings, thicker strings with more tension make them fussy. (that's why upright/double/orchestral basses have had mechanical tuners for over 250 years).
Pegs don't turn smoothly like a git tuner, they 'creak/jump' a few degrees at once. with thin strings under light tension you can use pegs with a small shaft and a 5-deg turn only pulls the string a fraction of a millimeter, with thick strings under higher tension you have to use bigger pegs with bigger shafts and a 5-deg turn of the peg pulls the string more than a millimeter and you overshoot your attempt to get it in tune ( its flat - creak - its sharp - creak - its flat - creak - its sharp - creak - its flat, dang it I can't get it right on ) . that's why violins, violas, and especially cellos have pegs in the headstock for gross tuning and fine tuners (screw-lever) in the tailpiece and upright basses gave up and went to machine heads.
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Southern Ray 5 hours ago. 6 Replies 1 Like
Started by Rich Butters in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by BrianQ. 16 hours ago. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Nomad Jack in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by J. D. Woods on Wednesday. 7 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Moritz Voegeli in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray on Monday. 6 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Tom T in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 9. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 4. 7 Replies 1 Like
Started by Timothy Hunter in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 27. 1 Reply 2 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 10. 1 Reply 3 Likes
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by BrianQ. Mar 9. 4 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies 1 Like
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Ken I in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Brian partington Mar 8. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 6. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 5. 4 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Carl Floyd Mar 1. 15 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Joe in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Carl Floyd Feb 29. 13 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Chance in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 22. 12 Replies 1 Like
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies 4 Likes
Started by Brad in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 19. 6 Replies 3 Likes
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!