Short scale CBG

Posted by Coppa Penny on March 8, 2013 at 3:01pm

Has anyone built or played a CBG with a very short scale, say 17-18 inches. If so are they difficult to play. What is the shortest scale that anyone has played? I am trying to build a playable CBG for back pack travel. How wide are the necks? I intend to use Uke. Tuners and somehow hinge the neck.

Thanks

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Replies

  • Michael Recchione March 18, 2013 at 12:30pm

    Very interesting.  So, all you have to do to collapse the guitar is to loosen the strings and unlatch the bolt... pretty cool.

    • Coppa Penny > Michael Recchione March 18, 2013 at 2:59pm

      Prototype No. 2 will have 2 hinges so it will be much shorter in the collapsed state. Prototype 3 will be completely demountable with either a mortise or screw in neck.

  • Coppa Penny March 18, 2013 at 12:17am

    Prototype No. 1 is finished. I decided to hinge the neck (Australian hardwood) 355mm long, 37 x 17 mm cross section. The box was very thin softwood ply (unknown origin) bought unpainted from eBay. Dimensions were 210 x 200 x 45 mm. It was decided to use the bottom of the box for the sound board for ease of construction. The hinge was brass 35 mm long. The barrel bolt was brass and made from 2 sets, the long bolt from one and the short body from another, the bolt goes thru the reinforcing into the box proper. All screws were brass. Both nut and bridge are brass bolts and the tail piece is triple picture hanger. The tuners were Uke variety. Box was painted with shellac and a cigar box label was stuck on to the base. The sound holes are 40mm diameter. The fret lines were burnt in using a heated wire coat hanger and the fret marker were placed using a heated nail. The electrics are a 40 mm piezo with a long reach socket (to go thru the extra reinforcing in the box). There is no volume or tone control. I have purchased a small headphone amp with volume, tone, clean, overdrive and distorted sound. I am just learning to play and the acoustic volume exceeds that of my other CBG’s (using a decibel meter) The tone to my untrained ear seems very acceptable. Scale length is 425 mm (17 “), overall length was 560 mm (22”) travelling length 355mm (14”).

    • Coppa Penny > Coppa Penny March 18, 2013 at 12:25am

      Pictures of Travelling Guitar

    • Coppa Penny > Coppa Penny March 18, 2013 at 12:38am

      Pictures of Travelling Guitar305997344?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

    • Coppa Penny > Coppa Penny March 18, 2013 at 2:59am

      Pictures of Travelling Guitar305997987?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

    • Coppa Penny > Coppa Penny March 18, 2013 at 3:02am

      Pictures of Travelling Guitar305995580?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

    • Thomas "Duck" Petry > Coppa Penny March 18, 2013 at 12:46am

      Cool!

  • Jim burt March 11, 2013 at 9:19am

    I use 1 piezo....No volumer or tone control....the box was large....I not sure what size....My neck have a small arc....This help in keeping tensing on the strings......I useing reg tuneing keys.....I would go to a guitar shop ...Look at their backpack and uka guitar........Most important rule....on making cigar box guitar....There Are No Rule....

  • Jim burt March 11, 2013 at 12:15am

    The scale is 13 1/2'' from nut to bridge...

This reply was deleted.