I am going to built my first CBG. A frettless 3 string.
My Box has 30x20cm (about 11,8x7,8 inch)
1.I want many playable frets. Is 19 to much? That would mean joining point (neck/box) would be 21?
What would be a common amount of playable frets
2. I did read many different advices where to podition the bridge. 1/3 or 1/4 of the Box, just an inch,.... what would be a common bridge position?
3. I know both would have an impact on my scale length and if i, for example, plan 21 fret as "joining point" and 1/4 of the box size as joining point i would get a real long scale length of approx 26,3 inch? And that wouldnt be a "regular" but long scale length
so my questions are
- how many frets
- where to position the bridge
- what scale length
also i am thinking about, whats a common, regular box size, because i am not using cigar boxes
Replies
Hi Andreas, here is a photo of two of my budget CBGs, both have all frets clear of the body on a 25" scale. However it put the bridge in a less desirable place.
Cheers Taff
Thanks i see i am not the only one who likes many frets ;-)
The fret questions were a bit confusing, but I thought maybe he wanted to know due to placing fret markers or just the info for another upcoming build so I obliged.
If all your doing is rhythm playing or following "cowboy chords", then you'll never go higher than the 12 fret. But if you ever want to do more than that then the other frets are needed. The longer you play a git, the more your fingers will wander over the line. ;)
Yes, its my poor english. Maybe it wanst clear what i ask ;-)
Anyway, i just got my first CBG a few days ago and its a frettlesss 3 string. All i play untill now is some improvising with the slide .... but id love to learn more.
Playing Rhythm with it...great Idea. I need to find out how ...just one finger chords right? And what are cowboy chords, where can i learn that? A link will be much apreciated.
About those fretts behind the 12th, see i oplan for the future ;-)
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And about all; as i said above already:
All answeres and reading a lot here at cigarboxnation, did help to get sure about what i want for my first built. I will go with 648mm same as my Fender Strat. And i will set the Bridge at a 3rd of the Box, and i will have at least 19 playable "fretts" (notes/tones).
For the second built i still can change the plan ;-)
I've tried several times in the last two days to respond to this post but I just can't wrap my head around the question.
If you are building fretless then why not just put the bridge where you want it, make the neck as long as you want it and the scale length is what it is. Then use a tuner to figure out where to put your scale markers.
Without a whole lot of practice and a really good setup you are going to probably have trouble with accurately fingering much past the octave anyway. And if you are playing slide you can reach over the body and play all the way up to the bridge if you really want to showboat. : )
Thanks for your reply Korrigan . Maybe its my poor english why i couldnt make clear what i mean.
I was just thinking taht i want a long scale length and did worry that its mabe a bad idea ;-)
But as i said above already:
All answeres and reading a lot here at cigarboxnation, did help to get sure about what i want for my first built. I will go with 648mm same as my Fender Strat. And i will set the Bridge at a 3rd of the Box, and i will have at least 19 playable "fretts" (notes/tones).
For the second built i still can change the plan ;-)
Yep Korrigan, that is why my reply may have seemed smart arsed, i looked after it was up and cringed a bit, even now I can see it was worded badly, my intent was if you don't want actual frets, why does the count matter? Even now i feel the same, but realise Andreas was looking at it differently, I apologise if i offended
No Problem Darryl , i am not offended. I apreciate every help i cant get ;-)
It's always a good thing to think it all out and research other builds before you start.
I try to put the bridge just a little past the middle of the box, which usually has a couple frets on top of the box, but still able to fret without cutting into the box. This allows space for pickups or sound holes.
I usually get a tape measure or yardstick and put the 25" mark on the top were I want my bridge to see if I have enough space for the end of the fretboard, pickups and sound holes if planned. The fret calculator gives you a measurement for the last fret to show where the end of the fretboard will be. Take all that into mind when planning and don't forget about space for the headstock.
Then work out the height of the bridge as compared the height of the fretboard. String break angle over the nut and bridge has to be worked out and if the neck has to be angled for the correct string height all the way down the fretboard.
All this is usually why people give up building one or just make fretless slide guitars. ;)
Thank you Paul
Yes i did think it a lot about it. But now i know what i want.
And even if frettless i want playable high notes ;-)
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As i said above already:
All answeres and reading a lot here at cigarboxnation, did help to get sure about what i want for my first built. I will go with 648mm same as my Fender Strat. And i will set the Bridge at a 3rd of the Box, and i will have at least 19 playable "fretts" (notes/tones).
For the second built i still can change the plan ;-)
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