Nut and bridge height

Posted by Holly Hodson on October 25, 2017 at 1:19am

I did try searching for the answer to this hut could not find it, so sorry if this has been asked before!

I'm hoping to make my first CBG soon and I'm trying to keep it pretty simple, going more or less by Crow's 1hr CBG instructions.

However, I've been told that the 1/4" bolt used would be much too high for my theoretical playing style, which will likely be a mix of fingering and slide. So I need a smaller bolt or something, I just don't know how small - i don't want to wind up with it being so low i can't use it! I'm happy to out a bit of a groove in there if it helps.

Any thoughts?

And while I'm at it, if i use a bolt for a bridge, does it need to be the same size or a bit bigger?

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Replies

  • Rose Ericson October 25, 2017 at 11:09am
    Hey Holly,
    I am by no means an expert. My first build was just ok. I learned a TON from it and still have it. One thing I learned was that a zero fret was a super easy way to get you string height correct. If you can get some jumbo frets use this as the bridge. About 1/16 of an inch behind it place your bolt. It needs to be lower than the zero fret. It will hold your strings in the right place. Your string height will be right at the nut. Now you need the string height to be around 2 mm or 3 mm at the 12th fret. Chickenbone John has a super video about string height. Search YouTube for Chickenbone John then click on his name and look for that video. I learned a lot from him on my number 3.
    • Holly Hodson > Rose Ericson October 25, 2017 at 11:58am

      I think i found the vid you suggested, it was very helpful. But in it he plays with his fingers on a fretless and plays right on the fret line - is that normal? Are the markers for fretless different to fretted?

    • Rose Ericson > Holly Hodson October 25, 2017 at 1:12pm
      When you have a fretted guitar your finger presses behind the fret. when you play a fretless guitar or use a slide your finger becomes the fret and it has to be on the line to make the correct note ( not sharp or flat). Madgomer has given you some sound advice. Believe me on your first one you will make some mistakes. I am the research queen and I made a ton of mistakes on my first one. But what I learned from making those mistakes was invaluable. My advise to you is make one. It takes 2 or 3 sometimes 4 before you get it perfect.. It's a journey, take that first step.....build one. If it plays even poorly you are successful. You got this and you are surrounded by people cheering you on. Go for it.
    • Holly Hodson > Rose Ericson October 25, 2017 at 1:30pm

      Good to know, thank you :)

      Fortunately I'm well prepared for mistakes - the last thing I built (I was maybe, 15) was so bad no matter what I do it will ever be as shoddy!

    • Rose Ericson > Holly Hodson October 25, 2017 at 2:38pm
      I bet it wasn't that bad LOL You sound like you could kick butt in the shop. I am looking forward to seeing it!
    • Holly Hodson > Rose Ericson October 25, 2017 at 3:44pm

      Well I passed my gcse with it, but i assure you it was bad...nails sticking out all over, weird fur matted with black paint xD

      That said I was making that up as i went along and i have instructions for this so i'm a bit more confident...

  • MadGomer October 25, 2017 at 9:54am
    Bolt size isn't as critical by itself as is controlling the action height you're after. Depending on how your nut and bridge are mounted, you can play around with cutting grooves or filing down the hardware to lower the action rather than switching to a smaller bolt, or perhaps both. Don't be afraid to experiment a bit, that's where the best learning happens. Good luck, post a picture as you get into it!
    • Holly Hodson > MadGomer October 25, 2017 at 10:03am

      Cool, thanks!

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