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measuring the neck

Posted by tal bluver on October 23, 2010 at 3:00pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

Hello everybody!

 

my name is Tal.

I want to build my first 3 string CBG

I'v been searching the web for an answer for days.

 

I got my hands on 2 boxes:

CADAMONTES- 24.5X14.5X4.5 cm.

CUPIDO- 23X17X4.5 cm

 

also I bought a maple wood for a neck- 6X3X114.5 cm

wich is pritty good shape.

 

the Qs:

1- What is the distance between the strings?

2- Are my boxes big enough? 

3- Can anyone give me a fret pattern from knot to bridge for 3 string CBG?

Im confused by all the conculators I'v seen on the web.

or at least tell me what Variables to enter to the equation?

 

thxs,

Tal.

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Replies

  • Mark Bliss October 26, 2010 at 7:27am
    I said tone where I meant pitch.
    And I guess I should have included the statement (opinion) that those who seek guitar pitches, growling Texas blues, swamp-stomp etc sounds are usually going to come from guitar-like scale lengths. 25.5" is common as it is used on the Fender Stratocaster etc.
    Those who seek a more folksy/country/mountain "twangy" pitch are usually going to find it in a little shorter scale length. although this isnt always the case due to string guages and other factors. I have a lap dulcimer at 28", Banjo at 26" Uke at 17" and Mandolins at 14" or so.
    Please keep us posted on your progress and feel free to ask any further questions.
    And have fun!
    Mark
  • Mark Bliss October 26, 2010 at 2:21am
    To be clear, Bluesheart's simple method is a great way to learn, but you must use the same scale length (nut to bridge) as the guitar for this to work.
    Re-reading the original post, I fear some of the responses may have further confused Tal.
    Going back to the basics, although scale, tuning, string guage, layout are all inter-related, first thing you must do is choose a scale length. This decision is influenced in part by the desired tone or sound, practical size and how it will fit the chosen body/box. Best to go with the familiar for the first attempts so study what others have done and follow along. Once this decision has been made, then you can layout the fret or marker positions accordingly based on any of the above methods, as the positions are critically linked to the scale length.
    Hope that helps a little.
    A link to Crows video series on building a basic CBG in an hour may help, not exactly how I would do it but you cant get much more simple than that! Perhaps it will clarify things some for first timers. Theres also a great deal of information at various other places here, including this: http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/scalelengthsetc?xg_source=activity






    Bluesheart said:
    An alternative that works well for me: If you have access to a "real" guitar, you can use a long strip of paper and make a rubbing of the fret, nut and bridge positions. You can then transfer these positions to your CBG. If you do this carefully, it will result in a very playable instrument without the need for complicated measuring and eliminate the potential printing errors mentioned here.



    Don Thompson said:
    http://www.cigarboxnation.com/profiles/blogs/measuring-frets-the-ea...

    link to wfret. I caution people to also check wfret with other fret calculators as in some instances wfret is NOT accurate as has been reported on other forums. My old computer and printer was way off using it. Also do NOT use paper glue to glue the template down, the paper will stretch and there goes any accuracy.
    Don




    Tom Caneschi aka TC said:
    Tal, You can find it on Doug Thorsvik's Page ... tc
  • Bluesheart October 25, 2010 at 11:16pm
    An alternative that works well for me: If you have access to a "real" guitar, you can use a long strip of paper and make a rubbing of the fret, nut and bridge positions. You can then transfer these positions to your CBG. If you do this carefully, it will result in a very playable instrument without the need for complicated measuring and eliminate the potential printing errors mentioned here.



    Don Thompson said:
    http://www.cigarboxnation.com/profiles/blogs/measuring-frets-the-ea...

    link to wfret. I caution people to also check wfret with other fret calculators as in some instances wfret is NOT accurate as has been reported on other forums. My old computer and printer was way off using it. Also do NOT use paper glue to glue the template down, the paper will stretch and there goes any accuracy.
    Don




    Tom Caneschi aka TC said:
    Tal, You can find it on Doug Thorsvik's Page ... tc
  • Don Thompson October 25, 2010 at 6:06pm
    http://www.cigarboxnation.com/profiles/blogs/measuring-frets-the-ea...

    link to wfret. I caution people to also check wfret with other fret calculators as in some instances wfret is NOT accurate as has been reported on other forums. My old computer and printer was way off using it. Also do NOT use paper glue to glue the template down, the paper will stretch and there goes any accuracy.
    Don




    Tom Caneschi aka TC said:
    Tal, You can find it on Doug Thorsvik's Page ... tc
  • Tom Caneschi aka cbg tom October 23, 2010 at 9:02pm
    Tal, You can find it on Doug Thorsvik's Page ... tc
  • Tom Caneschi aka cbg tom October 23, 2010 at 8:54pm
    Tal, try this program I found it very helpful. tc
    wfret.zip
  • Don Thompson October 23, 2010 at 7:51pm
    I concur, I've been using Stew Mac's calculator for years, so Tal buy a metric measuring stick and use a pointed scribe for marking the fret position, buy a square and scribe the mark across the fingerboard, the scribe line will help guide your fret saw when it comes time to cut your slits for frets. 635mm is between a Fender scale and a GIbson. BenBob's scale length is a fine one to use and he gave you all the measurements you need.

    Don



    BenBob said:
    Hi Tal, welcome. Where are you from?

    1. I've been happy with about 15mm between strings. The common lumber used for 3-string necks in the USA is 38mm wide, so that leaves a few mm on each side of the outer strings.
    2. Those boxes will work.
    3. I like the stewmac calculator: http://www.stewmac.com/FretCalculator


    622 mm fret scale
    fret             from nut                  fret to fret 1               34.910 mm               34.910 mm  (nut-1)
     2               67.861 mm               32.951 mm  (1-2) 
     3               98.962 mm               31.101 mm  (2-3) 
    
 4               128.318 mm              29.356 mm  (3-4) 
    
 5               156.026 mm              27.708 mm  (4-5) 
    
 6               182.180 mm              26.154 mm  (5-6)
    
 7               206.865 mm              24.685 mm  (6-7) 
    
 8               230.165 mm              23.300 mm  (7-8) 
    
 9               252.157 mm              21.992 mm  (8-9) 
    
 10              272.914 mm              20.757 mm  (9-10) 
    
 11              292.507 mm              19.593 mm  (10-11)
    
 12              311.000 mm              18.493 mm  (11-12) 
    
 13              328.455 mm              17.455 mm  (12-13) 
    
 14              344.930 mm              16.475 mm  (13-14)
    
 15              360.481 mm              15.551 mm  (14-15)
    
 16              375.159 mm              14.678 mm  (15-16)
    
 17              389.013 mm              13.854 mm  (16-17)
    
 18              402.090 mm              13.077 mm  (17-18)
    
 19              414.432 mm              12.342 mm  (18-19)
    
 20              426.082 mm              11.650 mm  (19-20)
    
 21              437.078 mm              10.996 mm  (20-21)
    
 22              447.457 mm              10.379 mm  (21-22)
    
 23              457.253 mm              9.796 mm  (22-23)
    
 24              466.500 mm              9.247 mm  (23-24)
  • Don Thompson October 23, 2010 at 7:43pm
    Just looked at this scale maker, ugh, Stew Mac's fret placement calculator is so much easier for a beginner to understand, and for one who English is not their first language this calculator is quite simply not user friendly. Each their own I guess............JMO
    Don




    Diane in Chicago said:
    This site will print you a PDF pattern. You don't need to download it, it works over the web. You can fool with the measurements for string width and spacing if you like, or just use it for fret spacing and ignore the rest.

    http://cigarboxguitars.com/fretfind/standard.php



    tal bluver said:
    Hi thnx man!
    Im from Israel.

    do you have a CBG print pattern? so I can just put on the neck.
    And, what kind of scale length do you recommend? gibson..?
    again I dont know what Variables to enter to the equation -scale length, electric/acoustic.

    thnx.
    Tal
  • Diane in Chicago October 23, 2010 at 6:32pm
    This site will print you a PDF pattern. You don't need to download it, it works over the web. You can fool with the measurements for string width and spacing if you like, or just use it for fret spacing and ignore the rest.

    http://cigarboxguitars.com/fretfind/standard.php



    tal bluver said:
    Hi thnx man!
    Im from Israel.

    do you have a CBG print pattern? so I can just put on the neck.
    And, what kind of scale length do you recommend? gibson..?
    again I dont know what Variables to enter to the equation -scale length, electric/acoustic.

    thnx.
    Tal
  • tal bluver October 23, 2010 at 4:06pm
    Hi thnx man!
    Im from Israel.

    do you have a CBG print pattern? so I can just put on the neck.
    And, what kind of scale length do you recommend? gibson..?
    again I dont know what Variables to enter to the equation -scale length, electric/acoustic.

    thnx.
    Tal
This reply was deleted.