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Interview with Bob Wurster of Berkeley Strings Cigar Box Guitars

Bob Wurster of Berkeley Springs, WV is more than just your average guitar builder.  His instruments, built under the name Berkeley Strings feature ergonomic necks and top notch fretting.  Some of his instruments even have amplifiers build in to the

VIDEO: The Making of a Hofner Beatle Violin Bass

In an industry dominated by computer-programmed robotics and hidden factories in China, it's refreshing to watch this short video of the Hofner factory making Beatle basses.  Note the lack of CNC machines.  Also check out the guy cutting fret slots

Fretting about Frets, are they square?

I see most of the CBGs have straight necks, so squaring up the frets shouldnt be a big deal. What about if you are making more of a Uke-type neck where one end is wider than the other? How do you get those squared up? Do you mark the frets before cut

Things that work as fret saws and some that don't

Every now and then people get to complaining about things not being quite right and never again will they use anything but the right tool for the job 

Here then is a list of things which work as fret saws and some that don't and the width of the kerf

Fret Spacing Woes

I am marking out frets for the first time.  It's a short-scale diddley bow, turned out to be a 18 7/8" scale. I am using Stewart MacDonald's scale calculator.  The scale looks right, and the other frets are turning out okay, but the first fret is a f

order of assembly

I'm still too new and excited in this endeavor, so I haven't been able to solidify a "procedure" and standard for myself.  This has probably been covered in depth before and if so, please point me in the right direction.  I keep getting stuck on what

Fretting about my frets: Spiraling wire around neck?

My first build is a banjo ukulele based on a rectangular cookie tin. I want to fret it, because I want to use this instrument to learn to play the uke.

I originally planned to do zip tie frets, but my test runs reveal that they are wide, don't lie fl

noob question - Guitars, Strumsticks, & Frets

Hello all in the CBNation!

Okay, admittedly I am a noob, with all that the term entails. I tried to learn guitar as a kid and never got much beyond remembering how to do a G chord or picking a song or two by ear. This past year I stumbled upon the

Using photoshop to make accurate fret guides

I just put this little tutorial together.. its about using photoshop to make fret marking print outs so you can get the fret slots just right

Not sure how many other people do it but it sure saves some time

You can check it out here sterainstrument

Pre-Fretted Fingerboard?

Hay I am planing on building the neck my self but I don't wana fret the fingerboard myself. I found this one pre-fretted fingerboard
http://www.allparts.com/Rosewood-Fretboard-p/lt-1075-0r0.htm
but I didn't find many because i am guessing the wood will

Question about this miter box/saw combo on Habor Freight...

I'm looking into buying this miter box and saw for fretting purposes:

http://www.harborfreight.com/hand-tools/saws/miter-box-set-37022.html

They don't have the kerf of the saw listed in the specs tab, but it looks pretty similar to a lot of hobby

Fretting Question

Hey all,

fret board

Is there any reason why you couldn't fret the fretboard before glueing it to the neck. I was thinking that if I did it this way and I happened to botch up the fret job I wouldn't be ruining the whole build. I'd just be ruining the fret board. Any tho