Greetings from England! I live just outside Derby UK (pronounced Darby over here). Took up guitar four years ago at 50. Love most genres of music but have a soft spot for roots blues. I knew nothing of cbgs until I saw Seasick Steve on TV and thought that's for me. That was quite a while ago. Whilst helping my sister move I noticed she was throwing out a couple of 35mm photographic slide boxes and that was it, the build began. With a scratch built neck hewn from a lump of National Grid electric pylon mahogany ply (it's like a yard of steel) with car wiper blade stainless frets it's finally finishedish. It plays but needs a little fettling. I've nearly had an eye out breaking strings on a couple of occasions during experimentation and I think there's still room for improvement, but essentially this is it. Build No1. Right now I'm now in a state because I lent my amp to a friend so I've yet to hear it powered up.
I've really enjoyed the whole process and can understand why it is so addictive. At first I raised an eyebrow at many of you guys that have a whole collection of impressive instruments. But I get it now.
More power to y'all. Mick
Replies
Hey Mick! Nice first build!
I think "finishedish" is often about as good as it gets! Keep playing, keep building!
I tried the w/blade stainless alternative frets once. Trust me, fret wire is a far easier project.
Yup, I also use all I can find on the internet or I try to pick a simple tune I know from the old days and try to play it note by note just by guessing. When I have that I try to do it by slide or a combination.
Very often I just sit a play random notes with slide and fingers and by that slowly learning bending, hammer on and pull off and figuring out what sounds cool in my ears and what's not.
Thanks for the comment on my page b.t.w. I will try to put some more on. I big challenge for me is getting over the "I'm holding back" point and let go of my image of good and bad. It's just different taste and it's all good, but getting a good comment makes one try again and have more fun playing. That's what it's all about :-)
/Ole
Nice guitar. Looks great :-)
I can only say the same. I found him a couple of years ago on youtube and I was like "holy crap" :-)
So I got my first guitar, thinking : I he can play those crappy guitars and get so cool sound out of it, I might have a chance too.
Started with a couple of normal guitars to see if I could learn to play just a bit. This summer (2 months ago) I finally got a 3 string CBG and I'm having a lot of fun with it.
I also started around 50 years old, so maybe it's a kind of mid-life crisis, but I haven't bought leather pants and a Harley yet :-)
/Ole
Hi Ole,
Haha. Yeah, the leather pants may just be a step too far...maybe next year.
It's true though, I put off learning an instrument all my life because it looked so complex when you watch the accomplished musician. It's probably my only regret in life. Finally my lovely wife bought me guitar lessons with the coolest most patient young guy who taught kids at the school she works at. He changed my life. Sadly after a couple of years he was suddenly taken from us by an undetected brain tumour. I couldn't bring myself to find another tutor so I've twanged my way to this point alone. God bless t'internet.
Just need to learn how to beat this thing into submission now. How hard can it be? After all, it has half the strings. (^^,)