Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by wormil on August 13, 2012 at 6:06pm

The simplest and most cost effective would be a piezo and mono jack, both can be purchased from Radio Shack for a few dollars. From there you can use single coil or humbucker guitar pickups, volume controls, tone controls, preamps; however complicated or simple you want to make it.

Here is a page I refer to with wiring diagrams.

http://totalrojoguitars.blogspot.com/2012/01/wiring-how-to-for-ciga...

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Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf on August 14, 2012 at 5:27am

Gauge of strings is entirely predicated on what kind of tone you want and how many strings your instrument has. If it has 3 strings, you can get Open G with: .44w .34w .26w tuned GDG, and .26w .17p .13p tuned Gbd.

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on August 14, 2012 at 12:31pm

Easiest and best may be an oxymoron .    easiest   would be a  piezo  and a   jack  .  mount the pieZo   close to  the bridge  and    stick it on with   hot glue   then  cover the back with hot glue too  .  you shoud  test  a spot for sound  first  . .

 

best  in my  opinion   would be a mag  pickup  ..  . and may involve  more cutting   etc  ..

remenber     mag  pickups need  electric strings   . 

 

a piezo  will  work  with all types  of strings  .. 

 

best guage  ?  .  knida  your choice  ..  mediums  seem   popular  with piezos  ..  light  or extra light  seems popular with electric  .

 

the  strings  you  use are up  to  you  ,  i like to  use  # 3, 4 , 5  

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Permalink Reply by wormil on August 14, 2012 at 3:27pm

One other thing about strings, the length of the scale (distance between nut and bridge (or apron) will determine what tunings you can use. In other words for a particular scale, say 25", there is a range of notes you can hit with a particular gauge string. Otherwise you can end up with strings that are too loose or too tight for a particular key. I learned this through trial and error on my first build before understanding the how and why. Here is a helpful tool:

http://www.strothers.com/string_choice.htm

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Permalink Reply by Hobo 63 on August 14, 2012 at 6:53pm

I use these.Good sound and cheap price.If order from Suntekstore use Fedex shipping.Cost few dollars but comes fast.

http://www.suntekstore.com/goods-15005228-guitar_magnetic_acoustic_...

http://www.suntekstore.com/goods-15008289-circuit_wiring_harness_w_...

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on August 15, 2012 at 6:16am

Piezo and a jack. I'm sure the stumac saw is nice, but for 10. bucks I don't think you can beat the the Japanese pull saw from Harbor Freight, if you have those in your area.

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Permalink Reply by wormil on August 15, 2012 at 2:44pm

I picked up one of those Harbor Freight pull saws and it sure has been handy. Only paid $7.20 with a 20% off coupon.

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/saws/japanese-flush-cut-saw...

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Permalink Reply by Nobby 1974 on August 15, 2012 at 9:50am

wormil makes a good point about the scale - I'd hoped to be able to tune the 25.5 inch scale four string I made like a tenor guitar, but you can't get to pitch with anything but specialist strings I don't think and I don't want to fold it in half trying! 23" scale for a tenor, 25+ probably just open tunings close to the natural string pitch.

If you've got an old pickup laying around, maybe just use that? I've mostly let the parts I have guide what I build.

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Permalink Reply by Chris on August 15, 2012 at 2:59pm

Out of curiosity, when you say you couldn't get tenor tuning with normal strings, do you mean just the intervals, or specifically CGDA?  Because there shouldn't be any reason not to just tune it in fifths but lower

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Permalink Reply by Old Man Vinegar on August 15, 2012 at 3:20pm

Thanks for thehelp guy's :-)

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Permalink Reply by Nobby 1974 on August 19, 2012 at 2:03am

Specifically CGDA Chris. Dumb move on my part, but it makes a sweet open G (GDGB) so I'm not too upset. This building stuff is a fun learning experience for me, so will try a shorter scale next time

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Permalink Reply by Darren Wolbold on August 17, 2012 at 12:43am

If you go for the piezo path I would consider two in parallel

I have also coverd it in my blog too

http://darrenscigarboxguitars.blogspot.co.uk/

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