What is the purpose of not having the nut at 90 degree angle to the strings?

Views: 279

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Are you looking at a particular guitar?

You might want the bass strings to have a longer scale length than the treble strings - helps with intonation... at some cost to playability.

But it might just be a visual artistic choice.
Since I can't play yet the question is only academic. My second CBG goes to my friend who gave me the boxes. Kind of what it to sound better than project 1. Was wondering if mattered.... don't want to go down the road I did with my first CBG, nut to bridge length 29" and frets calculated and marked accordingly but can't get the thing in tune. Probably attributed to light acoustic guitar strings verses what should be bass guitar strings... I don't know. Either way the next box will have a 25.5" nut to bridge length.
You should probably stick with the nut at 90 deg until you get some experience. But you will need to adjust the bridge for intonation and it will probably not be at exactly 90 deg when you're done. It depends on string material, thichness, and flexibility. If you use similar strings (strings from the same string set), you can usually set the intonation at the top string and then the bottom string, and it will be OK for all strings.

Big Steve said:
Since I can't play yet the question is only academic. My second CBG goes to my friend who gave me the boxes. Kind of what it to sound better than project 1. Was wondering if mattered.... don't want to go down the road I did with my first CBG, nut to bridge length 29" and frets calculated and marked accordingly but can't get the thing in tune. Probably attributed to light acoustic guitar strings verses what should be bass guitar strings... I don't know. Either way the next box will have a 25.5" nut to bridge length.
I'm not sure what is meant by "intonation"? Is intonation something in addition to tuning? What am I listening for and how do I achieve it?
Sorry for the newbie type question.
Tuning is getting the open strings in tune - which every player has to do each time he plays.

Intonation is getting the notes on the frets in tune - which is done by the builder. If it needs fixing, most players (of regular guitars) take it to a guitar repair shop to get it done.

Basically, to do it you need to get the 12th fret in tune. If your fret spacing is right, the others will be in tune as soon as the 12th is.

Procedure:

1. Tune the string to the desired pitch.
2. Play the 12th fret harmonic (get a guitar playing friend to show you how). This is always exactly an octave above the string.
3. Fret at the 12th fret and play the note. The target is to get this exactly an octave above the open string.
4. Compare the two pitches.
5. If the fretted note is higher, move the bridge (in very small increments) away from the nut.
6. if the fretted note is lower, move the bridge closer to the nut.
7. Repeat until the pitches match (don't skip step one each time).

Do this for the first string. Then do it again for the last string - moving only that end of the bridge. And you'll have the intonation as right as it can be for those strings and frets.

If you didn't do this for your first build, that may be why you couldn't get it in tune.
Doc Oakroot said:
Tuning is getting the open strings in tune - which every player has to do each time he plays.

Intonation is getting the notes on the frets in tune - which is done by the builder. If it needs fixing, most players (of regular guitars) take it to a guitar repair shop to get it done.

Basically, to do it you need to get the 12th fret in tune. If your fret spacing is right, the others will be in tune as soon as the 12th is.

Procedure:

1. Tune the string to the desired pitch.
2. Play the 12th fret harmonic (get a guitar playing friend to show you how). This is always exactly an octave above the string.
3. Fret at the 12th fret and play the note. The target is to get this exactly an octave above the open string.
4. Compare the two pitches.
5. If the fretted note is higher, move the bridge (in very small increments) away from the nut.
6. if the fretted note is lower, move the bridge closer to the nut.
7. Repeat until the pitches match (don't skip step one each time).

Do this for the first string. Then do it again for the last string - moving only that end of the bridge. And you'll have the intonation as right as it can be for those strings and frets.

If you didn't do this for your first build, that may be why you couldn't get it in tune.



Ah, Thanks so much for the info. Based upon your simple to understand steps I'll have a go at it.

Big Steve
Normally it's the saddle (the other end) that's "compensated" to account for the intonation problems caused by the different-diameter strings. The easiest way to compensate is the slight angling you often see; a more advanced method (often seen on electrics) is the individually-adjusted saddles.
You also complex "relief" cuts in saddles for the same purpose.

Note that on typical CBGs with their rather short scales, three or four strings that are close in diameter to each other...It's not very critical.

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
Thumbnail

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

"i See Your ready to Blow away the GRAND STADIUM ! tree strings more of DAR DELIGHT !! Shine Girl !…"
1 hour ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you for the kind comments Doug! Glad you liked the Picture !"
1 hour ago
BrianQ. commented on Dar Stellabotta's video
6 hours ago
BrianQ. liked Dar Stellabotta's video
6 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Project Punch!

" Thank ya again Keith!"
8 hours ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Punch Project!

" Thank Ya Keith!"
8 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on AGP #'s photo
Thumbnail

AGP #527 - ''Led-Zep 2''

"This build really strung you along Alan! Reminded me of all my fishing line experiments; a lot of…"
10 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Diggin’ the slow blues. I like that last pic Andries! Look at all those cool guitars. Yeah!!!"
10 hours ago
Dar Stellabotta posted a video

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

This video is the unboxing and the demonstration of a beautiful, six stringer built by Louie Lamanna. Join Louie and I June 15 at the second annual Pittsburg...
11 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter to you too Andries! The passion is definitely in full swing. Turns out I’m…"
12 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter Doug ! the Passion is in full swing !"
12 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Ricky D's photo
12 hours ago

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->