Hey Everyone,
I am about to build my first CBG and very excited.... I have collected all the parts and have some great bits to make a complex first build (I am a boat builder so should be alright).
I have a wicked glass topped Cohiba box, which I am cutting all the holes in and have a floating bridge.
My problem is the neck, I have a lovely piece of black walnut which I would like to use. I would like a four string CBG and I dont want to put a fretboard on it, just put the frets directly into the neck. My aim is to bolt on the neck too....
So I am not sure on:
scale length - 25.5?? THat was my thought
Taper the neck? DO I do this?
Radius the fretboard?
What dimensions do I cut my neck too?
I am sure I have missed out loads of questions but would really appreciate some help :)
Thanks very much!!
Replies
So where can I get a printout of the fretboard to cut? I have found one site, but I need to fill in some details myself which I am not confident about...
I use FretFind2d (Google will get you there). I save the results as a pdf file, print it out, then stick it on the fretboard (with spray adhesive) and cut through the template. Then just peel the paper off.
use a fret calculator and measure/cut the fret slots yourself.
do not do a fret-to-fret measurement, the error in each adds up and your last few frets will be off by a 1/4 in.
http://handmademusicclubhouse.com/forum/topics/measure-fret-spacing...
If you are having trouble getting the programs to run look part way down for the post by Randy Webb - he has made a zip file of scale lengths 11" to 25.5". Once you print out the file you need to check your printer hasn't reformatted the size and screwed up the measurements. (Nut to 12th fret should be half the scale length. Or to be more thorough compare with StewMac's chart for the same scale length https://www.stewmac.com/FretCalculator.html).
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/basic-neck-layout
Thankyou!!!