I'm starting my 2nd build - Trying to dial it up a notch from my 1st piezo pickup build. I found a great looking box but it's only 1-1/2" thick:
1. Is a box that thin going to be problem. I'd like to mount the Electric Delta pickup off of the Gitty site in it.
2. The first build I made my own neck (on the 4th try), put a fretboard on it, cut the fret slots and fretted it - Came out decent. Trying to simplify by buying a pre-slotted neck / fretboard. Is there an advantage to buying A neck or fretboard - When would you use one over the other?
Thanks for any input
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Shane had a video about taking extra bits of 1x2 and gluing them to the sides of the neck inside the box to add strength where you make the cutout in the neck for the mag pickup.
On your first question, I agree with Grandpa. Your box will be fine as an electric.
On your second question.....It depends.
Most of us are builders and players, but most of also lean heavily one way or the other.
If you are only interested in getting it built so you can play, then a pre-built neck or neck/fret board is the quickest and easiest way to go.
On the other hand, if you really enjoy and get satisfaction from the process of designing and building your own parts, the I would, by all means, learn to build necks and frets boards. Your skill set will grow very quickly and you will have complete control of the design (head stock, scale, etc.). With that degree of freedom, you can come up with unique designs that really says "I built this"
So, in the end, buying a neck or building are both fine. It''s just a matter of what you enjoy doing.
Hi Gary. There is a lot folks could say to answer your questions, so here's a few of my thoughts. One, your box in fine for an electric git. Deeper boxes are getting hard for me to find...a lot of cigar vendors are keeping their boxes, and refilling them with "vacuum-packed" replenishments, ergo, less boxes. Build with what you can find, or afford, or build your own boxes. I build my own License Plate Git boxes, and so could you. I have used two Electric Delta p/u's in two slim boxes, works fine. Necks-build or buy? I have purchased a few from Gitty, they were fine, saved a lot of time, didn't cost a fortune. BUT!..when you build your own, it's truly yours, warts and all. Costs less, takes a lot more time, fretting has a real learning curve, but at the end, it's your work. I've purchased two "Tele-China" necks, fretted, shaped, has a truss rod, has holes drilled for tuners, pretty much ready to go, for @$30-$35. They aren't bad. I couldn't make those necks, probably at all, certainly not for that price. I was making 6 string cbg's, so that worked. I probably won't get another, because I like turning 1 X 3 sticks into necks myself, sawing, routing, sanding, cussin', measuring for tuner position, drillin' the holes. I like making 3 and 4 string gits more than traditional styles. I like making bone nuts and zero fret gits, depending on the build. I like cutting and installing frets (though it's my least favorite part of any build), which becomes easier and more accurate with experience. You can add your own headstock wings, so no two need be the same. Some folks make a dozen (or more) necks at a time, some (like me), make 'em one, maybe two at a time. Either way is fine. Again, it's your work. So much more can be said, and I'm sure you'll get some more more encouragement from this forum. I have received much encouragement, and lots of building tips and pitfalls to avoid from two sources- experience, and this forum. Hope this will be some small assistance to you.
Replies
Shane had a video about taking extra bits of 1x2 and gluing them to the sides of the neck inside the box to add strength where you make the cutout in the neck for the mag pickup.
On your first question, I agree with Grandpa. Your box will be fine as an electric.
On your second question.....It depends.
Most of us are builders and players, but most of also lean heavily one way or the other.
If you are only interested in getting it built so you can play, then a pre-built neck or neck/fret board is the quickest and easiest way to go.
On the other hand, if you really enjoy and get satisfaction from the process of designing and building your own parts, the I would, by all means, learn to build necks and frets boards. Your skill set will grow very quickly and you will have complete control of the design (head stock, scale, etc.). With that degree of freedom, you can come up with unique designs that really says "I built this"
So, in the end, buying a neck or building are both fine. It''s just a matter of what you enjoy doing.
Hi Gary. There is a lot folks could say to answer your questions, so here's a few of my thoughts. One, your box in fine for an electric git. Deeper boxes are getting hard for me to find...a lot of cigar vendors are keeping their boxes, and refilling them with "vacuum-packed" replenishments, ergo, less boxes. Build with what you can find, or afford, or build your own boxes. I build my own License Plate Git boxes, and so could you. I have used two Electric Delta p/u's in two slim boxes, works fine. Necks-build or buy? I have purchased a few from Gitty, they were fine, saved a lot of time, didn't cost a fortune. BUT!..when you build your own, it's truly yours, warts and all. Costs less, takes a lot more time, fretting has a real learning curve, but at the end, it's your work. I've purchased two "Tele-China" necks, fretted, shaped, has a truss rod, has holes drilled for tuners, pretty much ready to go, for @$30-$35. They aren't bad. I couldn't make those necks, probably at all, certainly not for that price. I was making 6 string cbg's, so that worked. I probably won't get another, because I like turning 1 X 3 sticks into necks myself, sawing, routing, sanding, cussin', measuring for tuner position, drillin' the holes. I like making 3 and 4 string gits more than traditional styles. I like making bone nuts and zero fret gits, depending on the build. I like cutting and installing frets (though it's my least favorite part of any build), which becomes easier and more accurate with experience. You can add your own headstock wings, so no two need be the same. Some folks make a dozen (or more) necks at a time, some (like me), make 'em one, maybe two at a time. Either way is fine. Again, it's your work. So much more can be said, and I'm sure you'll get some more more encouragement from this forum. I have received much encouragement, and lots of building tips and pitfalls to avoid from two sources- experience, and this forum. Hope this will be some small assistance to you.
Happy buildin".