My CBG is still in its infancy stages and I've cut my neck down so it fits flush with the edge of the top of the cigar box. My perceived dilemma is my strings will set too low and hit my deltabucker pickups. I still have to set in all the above items(strings, pickups) to include an adjustable metal bridge and I don't know if it will give me some room for error. Also I still have to finish setting the final height on my bone nut to boot so with all those "variables" still in play I don't want to get to the final assembly stage only to tear it down and rout the neck down some more to negate any string and pickup interference . Am I over thinking this or what?
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Like Webster, I go for about a 1/4" above the box and rake the neck a little also, it all helps with intonation, playability and break angle over the bridge, one of the simplest ways to lay it out is to place something on the box , roughly the same height and position you want your bridge set to, then set up a nut the required distance away and run a straight edge between the 2, it will show the string line and from there you can work out box clearance etc by raising or lowering your nut and /or bridge to suit, then at final setting up you just need to lower them a little for better intonation if you set them a touch high in your mock up.
Solid Webster
Larry,
I highly suggest doing exactly that. I now build all of mine with the fretboard 1/4" above the top of the box AND with a neck tilt (1/8 - 1/4" higher at the bridge end of the box). This gives your picking hand a lot of room btw the strings and the top of the box.
My 1st build where the fretboard was flush with the box:
A latter build with it 1/4" above the box and with neck angle (look at all the space btw the strings and box top):
I now build all my necks with 2 pieces. It's simply easier to build as notching hardwood isn't exactly easy and you only have to cut one small notch at the body/neck junction for the lid.
Love those photos Webster. That is how I am trying to get mine rebuilt. I am eager to see how it turns out. Thanks for posting.
I watched a video from Chicken Bone John and he suggests setting the fret board at approximately 1/8 to a 1/4 above the edge of the cigar box so the action isn't to high. Looks like I'm going to have to take some more wood off to bring the fret board up a little higher to set the correct intonation.
Nope. Your experiencing 'beginner pains'. There a lot like growing pains. Only with beginner pains you get to decide what the final product looks like. : )
I watched a video from Chicken Bone John and he suggests setting the fret board at approximately 1/8 to a 1/4 above the edge of the cigar box so the action isn't to high. Looks like I'm going to have to take some more wood off to bring the fret board up a little higher to set the correct intonation. Does this sound about right to you?