hi guys can anyone tell me what length neck i would need to make for a cigar box with 3 strings the cigar box is 9" long 7" wide and 1 1/4" deep and how many frets would i need thanks . jeff
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I usually make all necks the same length, 85cm. : scale length 25.5 inches (Strat scale) , headstock 13cm, tail 5cm, you can use any sized box with this formula, it only affects the length of the fretboard - a shorter box will allow more frets and a longer box will allow less frets, usually between 16-21, as long as they go to 12 !! (-:
also doesn't matter if it's a two, three or four string i keep everything the same.
ok that sounds more like it so i guess for a first timer kiss LOL!!!!
Jeff,
I usually look at the range of how many frets I want past the box and the length of the "scale on the box" and work from there.
I seem to like the bridge at 25% to 33% from the back. This leaves me with 6.75" and 6" of the box with the scale on it respectively given your 9" box example.
Frets past the box for me ranges from 19 to 24. We know these represent 33% and 25% remaining scale respectively. A quick estimate for me is to look at a scale that is 3x or 4x the "scale on the box" measurement
So at the 25% bridge location, for the 19 and 24 fret necks I need 3 x 6.75" = 20.25" or 4 x 6.75" = 27" scales
And at the 33% bridge location, for the 19 and 24 fret necks I need 3 x 6" = 18" or 4 x 6" = 24" scales.
The 18" scale would make a tenor ( tuned to open C) The 24" scale works very well for GDG tuning (very common)
You will add 4 - 5" for the headstock and another 5 to 7" to make the "thru neck" tail - usually starting with a 36" stick for a 24 - 25.5" scale.
ok thats clear as mud i need to see diagrams then i can see what ya talking about. it takes a long time for the brain to kick in as i am so far south in fact the last bit of dirt before the south pole LOL!!!!
thank you i see now its my Brain aint working takes a long time to kick in it has to travel all that way up to the usa LOL!!!!
This may also help a bit too:
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/basic-neck-layout
i did not think they came any bigger. as that is the size i got from the shop and i did not see any bigger ones oh well never mind.i am making the neck out of rimu a native timber real nice colour and grain how long does the neck need to be say if i made it 24" to the front of the box then added a few more inches to go to the end on the inside of the box would that be right? i still need to know how many frets i would need to put on it. thanks
this diagram may help --
it's best to figure out where you want your bridge first ..
obviously if you move the bridge back , the scale would move with it and you could use a shorter neck . 30 inches would be ok for you over all . you can always trim the headstock.
22 frets is the norm .
you may also want to factior in if you want your fretboard extending ontop of the box or starting on the end of the box . this will determine your length needed too.
thats a pretty short box .. so i would go with a shorter scale ( measurement from the mid nut to mid bridge )
i like 24 inch scale myself .
figure out where you want the bridge on your box and measure out 24 inches from there .
allow and add the space to the end of the box if you are doing a neck through or to the end inside . and allow a few more inches for the headstock .
if you are asking just for overall length to buy .. anything around 30 inches would be fine for that scale .