Hello I"m Bama Hound and I'm a CBGaholic. I feel a binge coming on and need any guidance so as to wake up only slightly bruised and no hangover.
I have 3 license plates and want to make 3, 4 stringers. I have made 6 3 stringers prior to this and listening to You Tube tutorials can play a few riffs and the Star Spangled Banner so far. It sounds best when I turn the You Tube up real loud and I pick softly. Now to the nitty gritty. I am going to use walnut and red oak for neck, walnut for headstock.
Question 1: I made necks 1 1/2" for the 3 stringers, should i increase the neck with to 2" for the 4 stringers, thus helping to compensate for my lack of ability, by keeping the "feel" close to the same? Going to use Stratocaster shape for headstock
Question 2: I have used the pre-amp Model EQ-7545R with the rod from C. B. Gitty and it sounds good. I want to use a dual piezo set-up on the. My game plan is to use 2 each 27mm piezos wired in series and potted in a piece of PVC hot glued to bottom side of license plate at about the 24th fret. (use 24 5/8 bought fretboard as template) I have tried to attach photos but my computer skills may be lacking.
If I use the Prewired Pickup Selector with tone, Volume and 3-way switch. Do I cut the input wire to the preamp and wire to the 3 way switch, so as to get either input from rod or input from disc or input from both.
It works in my mind but does it work in the real world. Any and all feedback on this as well as alternate vision will be welcome.
Replies
Most of us do not find a truss rod necessary for a 4 string. A few builders do it.
Jason Mills and others have experimented with various double strung/octave strung builds. I have too, a bit. I did not like it so much. If it really worked well, it would be commonly done. It is not commonly done. But we have the most fun building what we want to build. So if that's the case, try it.
Since I am building 4 stringers, I was planning to use a 1/4" all thread for a truss rod. I am toying around with an idea which may be insane. I am not a real player but has anybody ever tried making a 3 string 6 string? Tuned Open G, with the stings GgDdGg (octave apart strung beside one another) or something along those lines or should I quit smoki'n that stuff? I have my parts ordered but really in the planning stages as far as some things. Thanks for the input so far.
A pencil type compass is a good way to get the strings evenly spaced.
Good wishes, Hound. The standard inch and a half wide necks are fine for fours. I often like to cut them thinner than that for a 3.
I really like the license plate builds and my fave player right now is a 1930 Iowa plate - a four stringer, long scale, fretless and tuned GDGB. For the most part, I play the 4 like I would a 3 but get a little richer sound and sometimes utilize the trebles.
I suggest you search out Maddog's photos. He has done a lot with license plate guitars. Good stuff.
#1 is all up to you and what you feel comfortable with. #2...yes, that is correct wiring. Rod piezo to one tab on switch, disk piezos to other tab...preamp input wire to out tab on 3 way switch. Then the pre-amp out-line that has the jack...remove jack, connect wire + to lug #3 on volume, - to ground.