Canjo tuning

Posted by declan foley on November 22, 2020 at 4:58pm

Hi all, 

Have a stupid question on canjo tuning.

I've built a couple with a .013 steel string and tuned to C

Does that mean that fret 1 should show D on the tuner ? then E etc ?

I've followed the scale length and fret spacing in millimetres  from the cbgitty canjo guide. 

It sounds ok when I play it but not getting a D at fret 1 etc ..

Any pointers for me  ?

Thanks a mill

canjo.jpg

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Replies

  • Taffy Evans November 23, 2020 at 5:40pm

    Hi Brian, thanks mate, I get a warning from my net provider  on my PC and iPad that the site where the photo is, is unsafe. But I can see photos posted direct to this forum.

    OK ,I see it all ....said the blind man.....just store what I said away for another time.

    I would have thought that even if the string is too high you would still get a D note, at least a D plus however many cents, or D sharp - ish.

    Hight over the first fret try 15 thousandths and at the twelfth fret 2mm. That's acoustic guitar setting, ball park for fingering not slide..  

    Taff

  • Taffy Evans November 23, 2020 at 5:40pm

  • BrianQ. November 23, 2020 at 5:19pm

    Taff, I’m able to click on the links using an iPhone & iPad, not sure what you’re using? However, here’s that pic, which is not a bolt, but looks a high for a canjo? I build my Canjo’s with a flat screw for a nut like gitty does, which poses this same problem of being sharp if it is adjusted too high off the neck? 
    8208762472?profile=RESIZE_710x

  • Taffy Evans November 23, 2020 at 4:57pm

    Hi, Sorry declan, i thought it hard to understand.

    Let me try this. At the start of the fingerboard [peghead] the nut would sit flush to that end of the board [the start of the scale length]. Call this the leaving point for the string from the nut].

    Now if you place a round bolt in that same position as a square faced nut, the string contact {the leaving point of the string] is in the middle of the bolt , which would be back from the start of the fingerboard.

    Taff

  • declan foley November 23, 2020 at 11:24am

    Thanks All,

    I'll have a look again tonight.
    Based on your input I guess the string is too high ..
    is there a recommended height over the frets ? 3 mm ?

    I will have o punch a new hole in the can too as the 'bridge' position is definitely too high

    I'm still not 100% clear on the advice Taff :
    "if you did use a round bolt and you did not shorten the distance from the first fret to the end of the fingerboard, the scale length would be wrong. The distance from the end of the fingerboard to the centre of the bolt [string contact point] could be the difference causing the problem."

    thanks

  • Taffy Evans November 23, 2020 at 1:05am

    Hi, as I mentioned I cant see the photo, but, if you did use a round bolt and you did not shorten the distance from the first fret to the end of the fingerboard, the scale length would be wrong. The distance from the end of the fingerboard to the centre of the bolt [string contact point] could be the difference causing the problem.

    But I'm fishing in the dark here as I have no photo, just a row of numbers.

    Taff

  • BrianQ. November 22, 2020 at 9:23pm

    so, the screw eye is the nut? Then, yes, if your 1st note is sharp, then the string is sitting too high at the nut? About level frets, if you don’t want buzzing & sharp notes, then you’ll want to level them?

  • MadGomer November 22, 2020 at 8:19pm
    Start by confirming that your scale length is correct for the fret spacing you used. Measure from the point of contact between the string and "nut" and the point of contact with the bridge. If that's what you intended, then start checking your fret dimensions. If all of that is correct, and your string is truly at C when open, you're probably looking at too high of an action and pulling the pitch sharp as you push it down on the first fret.
  • declan foley November 22, 2020 at 7:25pm

    Thank's Taff, Brian ..

    You mean the nut is physically too high off the neck ?

    thanks for your help , photo of nut and first fret attached

    20201123_002107.jpg

  • Taffy Evans November 22, 2020 at 6:26pm

    Hi I cant bring up the photo, is your nut in the correct position? Does the string leave the nut from the correct position? Are the notes true at the twelfth fret? 

    Taff.

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