What say you, fellow builders, about pre-made necks? A pre-made neck saved my latest build, but I ordinarily wouldn't rely on them because it feels less creative to not carve my own necks. Anyone else got an opinion?
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Replies
Leroy,
How big a box do you need to get the bridge onto the box surface? If you're need a longer box, let me know, might have something I could send you....
Congrats on the upcoming celebration.
the best,
WS
WS,
I temporarily forgot about the rake handle, 2 string I made. Not sure how I forgot about that. The one on the right is the one that I built from the old neck. I had to add an extension to the box so I could add the bridge. The neck that I have for my next build would be very similar. I'd need a box about 13" long. I've yet to find anything that long from any place I've been getting boxes from. I could actually build one. That would lack the character of an actual CB. If you have one, that would be great. Find out how much it would cost to ship it to North Dakota and I'll let you know. I'll keep looking for options around here.
Thanks
LG
drew estates undercrown gordito boxes are 13" long
13 X 6 3/4 X 2 3/4 "
I get 'em on ebay
Thanks. I'll look into that as an option.
I recycled an old beat up 12 string neck for a nephew who has wide fingers so wanted a wider than normal 6 string neck.
It was interesting to do but a bit time consuming using a photo slide box (12" long to fit the scale) and wood to metal dowels (screw it into the wood then use a nut on the other end) so I could bolt it on (in the end I also glued it as a belt and braces measure).
Wooden dowels and glue would have been quicker - but others had commented on the wood to metal dowels so I wanted to give them a go.
Hey! Thanks for the Pictures. The one that I did was similar. Only I had a bolt going in from the outside to a nut that was attached to the inside. I think I may try your way.
Hey Josh, I totally agree. You have to screw it up a few times for before you become good and skilled at what you do. I think it was Emerson that said..."I never encountered failure, just minor setbacks"
Yeah we have all been there! I guess its what makes building a guitar soooooo addictive......Dave
Lero6y,
Since you "still have a lot to learn" after two builds, my question is what's the rush? Why not drop back and build a 3 stringer properly (lots of free instructions available) and learn the basics that goes into a stringed instrument. Then, step up to learning how to fret on a 3 or 4 stringer. May take several builds but the CBGs will be yours.
If you eager to have a 6 stringer that is yours (well only partically, since you didn't build the neck), I would suggest you scavenge an electric, try to do a bolt on attachment (much easier to get right) and voila.... there it is....
or, if you are eager to have a 6 stringer CBG acoustic that is really playable (and playability is more important than you having built it), then buy one. The learning curve is steep and you're likely to go through enough $$$ trying to get it right that you could just buy one.
If you decide to build, it's easier to learn in smaller steps and more gratifying... of course ask for help along the way....
the best,
Wichita Sam
Thanks for your reply. The reason that I'm leaning toward the premade neck is because I would like to make this as a gift for my niece. She's graduating in spring and I'd like to make something that is definitely playable. I do have full intention of building my own neck and I do realize that I won't get it right the first time. Fret-less would be the easiest but I want to try my hand at fretting it. I just don't think that I can build enough to get good enough so that she will like it enough. But that is my plan. And I have been accumulating boxes for a while. I wish that they were bigger boxes but that's the way it goes. I can't stretch them. The way the neck is set up, the bridge has to be off the neck. (25 1/2" scale.) It's not ideal but I'm not sure what else I can do.
I'm in the very new-to-this camp. And also very late to this discussion. I've built 2 CBGs so far. The first was a slapped together piece of garbage. :) Not much effort. Not much positive result. The neck was a hunk of lumber. And the box was a a bit of scrap wood with a pizza box for the back. Looked like garbage, and played the same.
The second build had a neck from an old Kent guitar. It looked nice but I still had lots to learn. It's an acoustic that plays more like an electric.
I have recently acquired another acoustic guitar that I want to use. I'd like to build the neck myself but want to build this as a gift and I think that I'd be better off using the harvested neck. I wasn't thrilled with how I attached the neck on my second build and I was wondering if anyone had pictures of how they attached an acoustic neck to a box. There are probably many different ways. I just like to know what others have done and what worked for them.
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