first kit?

Posted by jeff heister on March 17, 2012 at 3:32pm

got my first CBG two weeks ago

ready to build one now thinking I should start with a kit the first time just to make sure of

whats what and then go from there?

 

I've got plenty of wood working experience and guitar knowledge, but brand new to this world.

Any suggestions on a kit?

Thanks,

Jeff in LA

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Replies

  • jeff heister March 26, 2012 at 6:08pm

    ok. have most all the part assembled.

    any tips on where to place the pick up underneath? have read too place it close to the bridge.

    obviously with a neck running bow to stern it cannot be directly under the bridge. So, close?

    Also, with a neck running all the way through, how do you place in a traditional , 'crocker type' of pu?

    Notch the neck and place it in?

    Thanks for the advice all.

    Jeff H.

    • wormil > jeff heister May 30, 2012 at 12:14pm

      You'll want to relieve the neck under the lid (a really wide dado) to allow the top to vibrate, should also give you room for a pickup. 

  • jeff heister March 20, 2012 at 12:32am

    Well, have box, got pick up  and jack from Windy City, got oak neck from Danddukes77 on Ebay, very nice.

    Have tuners from another project. Need fret wire and a the few misc. parts for nut, bridge ect. and I think I'm down to the planning a building stage. Guess the fun starts now.

    Thanks for the help guys!

    Jeff H.

    • James Bush > jeff heister March 20, 2012 at 1:13am

      I would of given you some frets, nut and bridge made out of althread with the dvd's I sent you today. I am thinking of adding finished fret boards on my site that people can glue to thier necks for around $25.00, do you think that would be helpful for new builders? 

    • jeff heister > James Bush March 22, 2012 at 4:59pm

      Hey, got the DVD;s today. Some great playing on there. If you'd like some very well intending suggestions about them let me know and I'll share. If not, no worries at all, I'll keep it to myself.

      Thanks for the info.

      Jeff H.

    • jeff heister > James Bush March 20, 2012 at 1:59am

      I do. The CBG I bought is off by about a full note at the 12th fret. That reaffirmed my thinking that I wasnt' going to try and master cutting finger boards right away. Fret placement is to important to get wrong the first time out. I bought a nice neck, it came with pre cut board. No worries. Adding the fret wire is pretty simple, vs. having to cut the slots.

      Also, if you can make them already why not offer them for sale? A wise man once told me "never make it hard for people to spend money". Give them more options.

      Thanks,

      Jeff H.

    • James Bush > jeff heister March 20, 2012 at 2:17am

      If you do start building a lot, I would get a scale from www.stewmac.com .  If you use a slide you dont need have frets just lines or marks of where the fret would be. 3, 5, 7, 10,12, 15 for blues scale 

    • jeff heister > James Bush March 22, 2012 at 5:00pm

      1

    • Randy S. Bretz > James Bush March 20, 2012 at 3:36am

      If your going to build alot and use either the same scale length or even different scale lengths. Do yourself a big favor and get this fretting chart. http://www.harpkit.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=.... Well worth the money. I`ve turned alot of builders on to this chart though the years. Sure beats the hell out of computer programs !!! I`ve been building homemade stringed instruments going on 35 years now and let me say you don`t need a kit or pre-made parts to build a good sounding instrument. Best to learn hand` s on, with all the support help that your friends here on the nation are willing to help you with. All you need to do is ask, and remember measure twice-cut once...lol. Good Luck

    • James Bush > James Bush March 20, 2012 at 2:21am

      I like 25" scale, and I see alot of 25.5" scales out there. I built one but didn't like it. but just me..

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