I'm still in the aquiring parts and watching videos and planning stage. At this point I only play the radio but hoping that changes.
Wondering why I don't see people doing anything to protect the paper graphics on their boxes.
Gitty's phone dosen't seem to accept calls from Canada so could someone reccomend a set of 3 strings for a frettless 25 inch scale and would this change if the guitar had fretts?
I plan to just use a simple piezo under th bridge with a volume control.
Thanks in advance Frank
Replies
Hi Frank, I feel some confusion may stem from the terminology used to describe issues and guitar parts. I think the area you are concerned with is the peg head, that part north of the nut.
The only issue I can see here is that the fact the strings are touching the pegboard surface may affect smooth tuning, due to the some drag. When you have the tuners in the angle the string follows to the tuner post may lift it off that surface.
In case you are unaware I should mention that the scale length is the free-vibrating length of the string. So in the case of using a bolt, from the middle of the bolt. If using a square-faced nut or saddle it is measured from the front face of the nut and point where the string leaves the bridge saddle. A round nut will require some repositioning.
Hey Frank, once I only played the radio - 72 years ago. Hahaha.
Cheers Taff
Bob I don't really understand what the string touching between the nut and the tuner does when I see people running them under screws, through screw eyes , and under rods to position or create down angle. I'm certainly not disputing what you say remember I only play the radio.
Iwasn't necessarly going to use that bridge it was given to me by a guy in town I was talking to about getting a used amp.
Hi Frank,
As Taffy replied after your alarming concern that came about after my reply to you about strings touching the front end of the fretboard, I must say, yes, terminology is paramount in importance and is sometimes difficult to ascertain by new builders, and is frequently screwed up by all of us builders at times.
I looked over your question about strings touching the fretboard very carefully before responding as I did.
I could have asked you for clarification, but I felt that your meaning was clear.
I apologize for misinterpreting the concerns of a beginning builder.
I remember the angst that I experienced as a beginner about my own potential problems.
Taffy and I don't always agree in all things, but in this case, Taffy's realizing and bringing to your attention that the misinterpretation in terminology is a bugaboo of having to type out our thoughts can, does, and did lead to alarm on your part was a good catch on his part.
I'd have replied accordingly if I'd seen your concerns before Taffy responded as he did
The only concerns that I can see in what I now understand your situation to be is that if the strings from the nut to the tuners have any significant interference, the result will usually be that tuning may be difficult, with the strings "catching" where they contact points that "grab" the string.
Problems of that sort are not the end of the world.
As far as what I mentioned about the bridge height, just disregard that statement for now.
I mentioned it in concern over what I originally thought that your situation was leading up to.
Hang in there, sir.
I am truly excited for you.
Bob
P.S. - As a side note, having absolutely nothing to do with CBGs, but to illustrate the goodness present in our fellow humans, I visited a neighborhood welding shop today with a problem I'm having in restoring my dad's childhood bicycle tire pump from the 1920s.
I've approached this gentleman several times before with various problems over the years, sometimes availing myself of his welding services when needed, and sometimes not, as conditions have dictated, and boy, is he good at his craft, but as he did today, whether his welding services are needed by me or not, he'll take the time to evaluate a situation and give his best opinion, at no charge.
He did so again today, humbly giving his best advice to me on how he believed that I should proceed in my repair efforts.
He's the best in what I would hope for in a fellow human being.
I shook his hand, thanked him for his assistance, and wished him a good new year.
His smile in appreciation of his goodwill being acknowledged by me was priceless.
I just thought I'd share that story of his human kindness.
He deserves to be recognized for his humble, helpful demeanor.
It's a joy to me to attempt to assist you, even though the typed word may sometimes fall short of its intended meaning.
Again, the best to you,
Bob
Does it matter if the strings touch the front end of the frett board ahead of the nut. I took some measurements from the video in this thread but because I added a frettless fretboard to the stick to bring things up 3/16 above the lid. this will steepen the angle of the strings to the tuners. I'm using a 1/4 20 brass bolt as a nut ( which i imagine will stick up 1/8 inch when mounted . can move the nut ahead a tad but not very much . It would be easier to visualize if my tuners strings and other toys would arrive.
Yes, the strings will absolutely deaden if they're hitting the fretboard.
It sounds to me as is a 5/16" bolt would work better as a nut.
Maybe even a 3/8" bolt as a nut, since you'll be playing strictly with a slide anyway.
I noticed that you have a store-bought bridge, also.
Depending on the string action further down the neck once you raise the nut, you may also need to make yourself a taller bridge or add a popsicle stick or something else of appropriate thickness under your existing bridge to get adequate string height above the fretboard.
Those are the same sort of situations that I dealt with on my first build, so welcome to the club.
Regarding your mention to Taffy about the flow of the thread here, it seems a bit odd to me, too.
It's been a while since I've been on CBN until just recently coming back and I started communicating with you.
I don't recall it being this disorganized in the past.
Quote from Taffy Evans Jan 14 25
"Hi, frank. wow, it took a while to find your last post. I thought it would be at the top of the pile."+
I find this board kinda confusing as things don't flow in line from start to finish and if you reply to something someone said it goes off on a tangent.
The only other form I have ever been on is a Muskie Fishing form for about 20 years. There the 2nd post follows the first post on a topic and if you want to reply to a coment you hit a quote button and the posters comment will appear in brackets within yours even if it was 6 pages back. The thread always has the latest comment at the bottom of the last page and thats where the thread opens or you can set it to open at unread posts.
My confusion may either come from advanced age or my mother being an Evans
Hi, frank. wow, it took a while to find your last post. I thought it would be at the top of the pile.
Regarding the finishes mentioned. Linseed oil I find does not dry very quick and although it soaks into the wood for protection it does seem to collect dirt and look grubby after a while.
I find Shellac best for my guitars as a sealer over bare wood and as a finish top coat, it can even be applied over other coatings. A quick four coats that dry before you get to the end of applying it, sand back with 0000 steel wool, and then apply whatever finish you prefer. I always use Danish wax; it gives a soft, smooth gloss.
You can buy it in flakes and mix your own, or in pre-mixed bottles. A little goes a long way. It's what is used in French Polishing, so if you have time on your hands...
Taff
I just about 10 minutes ago measured the 3 string diameters on my feet less Blues Box Guitar. They measured at .036, .028, and .020. I lowered the strings a bit on that super basic cbg, so that I can finger the notes and use a slide. these strings measure a bit smaller than my two fretted 3 stringers. Those are .040, .32, .22, and .40, .32, .20.
One thing you might look into to save a few $$ is buying sets of mandolin strings of the appropriate sizes. You get 2 sets of 3 strings for your 3 string cbg with 2 left unused. If you play a 4 string cbg, you'd get 2 sets and use every string.
Fret markers.
I use Sharpie all the time. I've even found gold and silver Sharpies in some shops! I've tried to save pennies and get cheaper non-Sharpies and regretted it when it comes to sealing everything.Too many times. Sharpie is permanent and tends to stay in place when adding your finish/wood sealer. I personally love beeswax, but linseed oil et al are very popular too. My advice would be to add Sharpie fret markers to some scrap wood. Wait a day for the Sharpie to set (they do like an hour at least, but I have quite a lot of patience with building (a.k.a. I'm a procrastinator 😆) then add your finish of choice to see how it goes.
When doing most things first time (markers, glues, finishes etc) it's always best to use scrap wood than risk your build.
Enjoy! 🙃
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 5 Next