Some advice before building up my first CBG

Hi,

I'm planning on building my first CBG and I'd like to have some advice:

I have a strat neck I got from electric guitar and of course I'd like to use it on my CBG but I have seen on this website, that the neck has to go through the whole body, but how do you make the neck goes through? do you have the glue it to another piece of wood to get it to the bottom of the box ?

I also have a telecaster bridge pick up, and I'd like to know if it's usable as a neck pick up ?

The box I found isn't very good looking ... it has this 'Smoking kills' sticker on it, so I'd like to know what kind of paint I should use to, well, paint it without deadening the sound.

Ok and a last one for the road, I don't have heavy tools but I'd like to make sound holes in my box, like F-holes or something like this, can I do it with hand tools ?

Thank you for help :) And Stay Tuned

PS: Sorry if my English isn't perfect and has an annoying accent (I'm French :) )

Replies

David L. July 9, 2011 at 6:19pm

Hi Adrien,

For the CBGs I have made I use a box 12 inches long so I can sit the neck pocket in the box and still be able to mount the bridge on the box.

I only have hand tools, a dremel and electric drill - I make the neck socket by cutting a slot in one piece and overlapping another to make the base like this.

I always screw hinges to the top and bottom to add extra strength as otherwise the box lid starts to bow under the string tension.

Last year I made an 8 string and added as much bracing as I could. I tend to stick to electric 8s for strings to keep the tension low. The only time I skimped on bracing was on a resonator with 11 gauge strings the neck joint started to lift under the tension.

For my latest build I braced it inside and added some aluminium L strips to the sides and covered it with oak L strips so higher gauge strings can be used (I used a damaged 12 string neck cut down for 6 strings).

I cut the f holes by using a template from this discussion http://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/sound-holes-2

by marking the f holes then drilling small holes, and removing the rest with some small needle files.

Good luck with the guitar,

David
legnahkra December 7, 2010 at 12:48am

you can do exactly as he did, but with a plank from beneath the neck (where the neck plate goes) down to the bridge... without the two large planks on the sides. but, include those inside blocks... that will leave space for you to place the pickup wherever you want it (bridge or neck position)... just like he did. move the inside block from the center a little to the bridge if you wish to put the pickup in the neck position. 1" x 2" is the perfect size for that job...
Adrien Gilles December 6, 2010 at 4:03pm

Thank you you helped me a lot :)
I saw Hermit Garage's photo, can't I do something more simple ? Do I have to strengthen the box that much ? Or a piece of wood or two will be enough ?

If I have to strengthen it with a piece of wood how can I put the pickup ? Do I have to make a hole in that piece of wood ?
legnahkra December 5, 2010 at 1:15pm

hello adrien, garage hermit just posted a picture of a peefect way to attach the neck to the box... very clean. it will help a lot if you could use the bolts and neck plate from the strat you got the neck from. I wouldn't recommend using glue, just in case you might need to take the neck off... bolts would be enough. you could use pickups wherever you need, just remember, a neck pickup has less gain and usually more bass like tone than a bridge pickup. what box are you going to use..? if it is a paper covered you should leave the sticker on to avoid damage. if it is an all bare wood box, take it off carefully and sand it... then finish it with a good wood stain. hope this helps you...

6 string CBG's

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