Okay, I played guitar (simple chords) 35 years ago then nothing for 30 years. I manged to learn a few very basic blues chord progressions a few years ago from a book and CD on a 6 string. I am completely captivated by the raw blues sound of the CBG. I saw a few videos on Youtube of guys playing 2 string CBGs and wanted to try that as a first CBG. So......what type of fretting should I try at first...dulcimer, or a regular guitar setup? I was going to go fretless for the first build but wanted to at least mark the board. I wish to do slide mainly.
The woodworking is not a problem.....learning to play is ! I did build a rather fancy dulcimer from scratch when I was in high school in the 1970s.
Where would you start for a simple, easy to play design? This will be strickly for solo, self enjoyment.
Thanks,
Tony
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I go with Sam on this one. You can't go wrong with a fretless 3-string-er for a first build. That's still my favorite configuration. The instrument I play the most is build #4: a 3 string fretless built around a Punch box with a slotted headstock (it was my first of those). It's simple, clean, and still makes me smile 9 builds later....
Welcome to your significant other's worst nightmare....
I made a two string CBG, fretless, that I imagine would be relatively easy to "learn" how to play... assuming you have a decent ear for music! The strings are both tuned to F, one an octave higher. In that regard, it's sorta like a diddley bow, but a real "fat" sound comes out of it.
My original plan was to give it to a friend who has no musical background... but the more I play it, the more I wanna hold on to it! Ah well... can always make another!
Any Tiny, that is one sweet machine you got there! I'm gonna have to try my hand at that diatonically fretted stuff soon.
Thanks guys. I pretty much understand how to build one and have most of my supplies but deciding what to build is the problem. I am guessing a fretless slide will give me the most bluesy sounding guitar if marked with a standard scale.
I imagine the dulcimer tuned "strum box" would be closer to a folk/bluegrass instrument.
Best recommendation, if you want to play slide is a basic fretless 3 stringer. If you want frets, built a "strum box" (dulcimer fret pattened neck on a CB).... plenty of help all over, just look....
thats all a matter of personal preference anthony ; if u have guitar experience then u will be comforatable with standard fretting ; dullci fretting is diatnic so it is easier to "make sound pretty" with out much effort or u could just go frettless grab a slide and go to town . Most folks go frettless for ther first build to work out the kinks and its alot of fun to play slide on a 2 string . Like i said its ur build its ur choice and i gurantee it will not be ur last
Welcome to our addiction
Ok, so to your question(s). At the top of the page is a section called PLANS and there you will find all you need. You are in good company, so read the plans. There are two -- the first is the basic plans for a CBG and Brian's version (last one) is the most detailed. Everything you need short of the strings, tuners and cigar box can be gotten from Lowes/Home Depot/RadioShack (You have questions, we have blank stares).
Feel free to ask any questions here. There are no stupid questions other than the ones not asked. There is only one rule -- there are no rules (Confusing yes. Practical, naturally.) :-) So build away. Also look over some of the 10,400+ pics we have here and that will give some great inspiration. A lot of the folks here do make some awesome builds (tinyguitars for instance) but you don't have to be that fancy at first. Some of the best builds are the simple three string acoustics that might have cost $20.
Oh and some play solo. Some play with a group. Depends on you.
Replies
Welcome to your significant other's worst nightmare....
You'll *really* like it here.
My original plan was to give it to a friend who has no musical background... but the more I play it, the more I wanna hold on to it! Ah well... can always make another!
Any Tiny, that is one sweet machine you got there! I'm gonna have to try my hand at that diatonically fretted stuff soon.
Wow! Very versatile......all the way from Blues machine, to Mountian/Folk Dulcimer. Is this a D-A-D tuned CBG?
Tony
Welcome to the madhouse! :o)
I imagine the dulcimer tuned "strum box" would be closer to a folk/bluegrass instrument.
I suppose I'll probably "need" one of each !
Tony
good luck and show off even your first build....
the best,
Sam
Welcome to our addiction
http://cgi.ebay.com/How-to-Make-Your-Own-Cigar-Box-Guitar-Region-Fr...
Made it all pretty simple for me.
Oh, Sorry. You said Newish, not Jewish. Right.
Ok, so to your question(s). At the top of the page is a section called PLANS and there you will find all you need. You are in good company, so read the plans. There are two -- the first is the basic plans for a CBG and Brian's version (last one) is the most detailed. Everything you need short of the strings, tuners and cigar box can be gotten from Lowes/Home Depot/RadioShack (You have questions, we have blank stares).
Feel free to ask any questions here. There are no stupid questions other than the ones not asked. There is only one rule -- there are no rules (Confusing yes. Practical, naturally.) :-) So build away. Also look over some of the 10,400+ pics we have here and that will give some great inspiration. A lot of the folks here do make some awesome builds (tinyguitars for instance) but you don't have to be that fancy at first. Some of the best builds are the simple three string acoustics that might have cost $20.
Oh and some play solo. Some play with a group. Depends on you.
Good luck!
-Wes