Howdy Ya'll...
I thought to make a 4 string, fretted CBG for my first build. I thought if I could build this one then any 3 string I did subsequently would be a cinch. Well, I think I bit off more than I could chew.
The build turned out pretty good for a first time ever making anything like this, but the frets are off, sort of. The harmonics are dead on... beautiful, but using a fancy vibration tuner, and a stompbox as well, when fretted the strings don't ring true. The notes fretted are wrong and it is hard to tune by ear. Don't get me wrong, it actually sounds close and plays okay when chording and strumming. But the intonation is wrecked.
The top string is currently tuned to "A". So open I get an "A". Fretting the first fret I get an "A" at +150. 2nd fret plays "B" at -150. 3rd fret is "B" at +150, etc... etc... HELP!
I am using a 5/8" bolt for the nut and bridge (only the bridge has a thin piece of wood below it). I swapped out for a smaller nut bolt (the next size down) and took out the piece of wood under my bridge. I even swapped out my tail piece for one with 4 holes. I also added string trees/keepers to the headstock. These all helped the sound of the thing, reducing some slight fret and string buzz, but that's about it.
Thoughts? Advise?
Tags:
or of course
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/profiles/blogs/measuring-frets-the-ea...
just check your printout with a ruler ,if 0-12 is correct you're in business
wfret is rubbish
here :)
It's not 100% finished (still need something for strap posts and a latch to keep the box shut, and I need to angle my bridge a bit to help the none wound string on the bottom), but for the most part she's not bad at all.
I haven't done extensive testing, but harmonics are spot on and the frets appear to be extremely close as well. I will have to play around a bit to determine how bad and where, but it would seem measuring from the middle of the nut (bolt) did the trick.
I guess it really is often the little things that make the difference that all the research in the world doesn't tell you. Thanks for all your help.
Hey Phrygian, I glanced around, but didn't see any. Do you have any vids on how that scale sounds. That length shorter than either of the two I tried. The first one was close to a Gibson's scale length of 24.75", and this last one was a 25" scale (similar to a Paul Reed Smith). Yours appears to be 23.6". I know it's a stick in a box (as I have been told at least twice by ChickenBone John), but how much does the scale length affect the sound on these things?
Maybe this should be put into a different discussion. Bottom line, I appreciate everyone's advice, encouragement, and direction. :-)
Nice printout , but how you get them ? , I've put the app on my Iphone but how do you turn a pic on the Iphone into that printout you've posted ?
Ok so how can you say Wfret is useless and yours is the D's B's if us mere mortals can't make use of it ? :(
No template ???
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