How to mount a 6 string acoustic neck to a cigar box

Posted by Mike Huber on September 21, 2014 at 8:14pm

Hi all. I have a 6 string acoustic guitar carcass in my parts collection. I was wondering how difficult it would be to use the neck off of it on a CBG project? I've searched on the site here and while i did find photos of acoustic guitar necked CBG's i couldn't find any build photos. Any help would be much appreciated..   Mike

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Replies

  • Dan Vines February 4, 2015 at 12:10am

    I braced my 6 string with X brace. I wanted to retain as much acoustic sound as I could. It did well.306407902?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

  • David L. September 26, 2014 at 5:15pm

    Hi Mike,

    I brace the back of the lid

    306354493?profile=original

    Also I used some oak (from an old chair) at both ends

    306355840?profile=original

    306357022?profile=original

    This guitar had 3 large holes in the side for onboard miniamp speaker, preamp and a passive control for the piezo

    306358126?profile=original

    I was concerned that this would weaken it and after a trial with extra light strings found it was starting to give

    306359066?profile=original

    So I added aluminium L strips to the edges

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    Then covered this with strips of oak (L profile)

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    I finally added snake hinges top and bottom to help secure the box lid screwing through into the thick oak added to the inside

    306360512?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

    This has 10 gauge strings on and hasn't showed any signs of weakening in the 3 years since it was made.

    I don't normally cut so many holes in one side so usually for a strat type bolt on neck use this type of bracing

    306361612?profile=original

    306361683?profile=original

    and then screw the lid tight using hinges - the smaller guitar has 12s on it (smaller scale) and the bigger one has 10s on it and was the first I made back in 2009.

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    I hope this helps.

    Regards,

    David 

  • David L. September 22, 2014 at 6:38am

    Hi Mike,

    I did a acoustic neck conversion using wood to metal screws

    http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/6stringcigarboxguitars/forum/to...

    Regards,

    David

    • Monterey > David L. February 3, 2015 at 9:52am
      Would a 6 string acoustic neck be strong enough for 6 steel strings if joined this way? I am building a 6 string LPG using a factory acoustic neck

      IMG_00001034.jpg

    • Dan Vines > Monterey February 4, 2015 at 12:33am

      Monteray, I think it would be strong enough if you build a good structure for the neck to attach to inside the box. I know this is not your set up, but it might give you an idea. This is how I connected an acoustic style neck I made to fit on a box. The back shows where the real strength is for the neck. The neck wants to pul the box up at the bridge, so this piece allows the box itself to help resist that pull.

      The lower inside shot shows the support for the end of the box where the neck connects. There are two heavy screws behind that brace going into the neck. The top two shots are the finished guitar.306409253?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024306410051?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024306410978?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

      306411835?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

    • Mike Huber > David L. September 25, 2014 at 6:08pm

      Thanks for the help David L.. :-) If i could pick your brain further how exactly did you brace the cigar box body to handle the stress from 6 strings? I tried i wine box banjo last year and the thing nearly caved in on itself due to string tension..I ended up with an unplayable instrument with 1 inch or higher action!

  • Mike Huber September 21, 2014 at 8:14pm

    I should add that this is a standard design set neck acoustic 6 string guitar.

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