I ordered a CBG from Ebay and is JUNK. It looked great from the pics but when it arrived by UPS, I unpacked it, looked it over and put it back in the box. It "flat frets" above the 7th fret and is usless to me. I'm going to leave some unfavorable feedback on Ebay.
The seller told me how "sweet it played"... Yea.. RIGHT. Does anyone know of a CBG maker who makes a GOOD guitar? I may be able to raise the bridge on it and make it at least playable.....
Anyway... I have been playing open chords for a lot of years and own a few Gibson Hound dog Dobro's. Both, square neck and round neck. I also have a metal body Republic Tri cone.. (Made in Texas) and a few other cheaper Dobro's. I have been in love with Delta blues since the 1960's. A few days ago, I removed 3 strings from a flat top guiar and tuned it in open G chord. It sounds as good as any CBG I've heard on youtube. I will post a vid later today.
Also, I will post a vid of a guitar I bought from Ebay for ONE DOLLAR... Yes.. ONE DOLLAR. After I won the bid I realized the shipping was $25. It was a scam but it turned out ok for me. I made a 3 stringer out of it also and it sounds great.
There are a few good online tuners if you need one. This one shows how to tune in open chords.
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UPDATE...UPDATE. I reworked the junk guitar from Ebay and am now pleased with it. I raised the bridge and took care of the flat fretting, tightened the tuning keys and changed the sound hole cover to resolve the "rattling". It had a peizo pickup which actually worked like a microphone. It picked up my voice and sounded really scratchy if I touched the box.
I called Dan Sleep at HUMIDOR Guitars and he shipped me one of his hand made pick ups. I couldn't get the pick up to work so I called Dan again and he told me how to wire it. He also said if it didn't work, he would ship me another one to replace it. I wired the pickup like Dan told me and I was amazed at the sound that came out of the junk guitar.
I liked the sound it so much I didn't even try to reset the intonation, (yet) I just played it... LOL THANKS AGAIN DAN. I'll be posting a video of it this morning. See ya'll at the Hiway 61 Roadhouse this Sat. Here's the link: http://www.hwy61roadhouse.com/
Steve, i was referring to 1 inch by 2 inch lumber used as neck stock. Often oak or Maple. Many builders use this to make a quick and easy neck. The CBG i was talking about is a 4 string fretted for finger picking. This lumber is good for small necks like my "Chugger" by Speal. It's just a 2 string diddley bow and the neck has stayed strait. The 4 string has a long neck and more string tension. It bowed badly. I'm sure there are lots of fellows with strait necks using 1x2s but i don't trust it now that i've had a problem. I've been using 2x2s or bigger and carving the profile to look more like a regular guitar neck and so far no problems if i get some clear (no knots) material to start with and grain right for a neck. I add a hardwood fretboard to that for added strength.
Jumping in here. There are 1x2 and then there are 1x2's. Yes, even good hardwood can bow over time, but...hard maplecor oak 1x2 necks WITH an additional 1/4 inch fretboard should be good for a long time. I have CBG that are pushing 7 years old build that way with not a hint of bowing.
One trick is to look at the wood your using for obvious defects including open grain. Also which way is it bowing now? All wood will want to move one way or the other. Build so the string pull is in the opposite direction. Sadly, some players try for too high a tuning instead of replacing with right sized strings. Over tensioning can ruin any neck.
Cheap Cbgs are eiher novice builds or mass produced. Except for a couple builders, including Shane's of which I have a couple, I'd save my coin or build my own.
Its just a learning lesson Sam. All is not lost. I bought a great 4 string from Humidor CBG and liked it so well I ordered a 3 string.
Good for you. Now to the woodshed!!
Hey Sam.. Im 68 yrs old and I HAVE been to the woodshed. In fact I'm so old, It was still legal to take my kids to the woodshed back then..... DONT try it now..lol
I was sure you knew about the woodshed. Can't accomplish much without putting in the time. Grew up in Mid-Missouri in the '50s...just go to old ideas.
the best, Wichita Sam
AH yes. Mid- Missouri in the 50's. Such a peaceful, booming, prosperous era. You know. "A chicken in every pot. A car in every garage" Man.. what I'd give to go back to those days.
Steve's got some good ideas. I've not been as lucky with Weekly House. I have one that bowed badly after about a year. It has a 1x2 neck. Nicely fretted and played great at first. I heard the guitar played on a u tube vid and he can really play. That impressed me. Of course you may not play as well as the fellow in the video and so the guitar might not sound as good as your heard. Anyhow, beware the 1x2 neck made of scrap wood. I like Music Go Round for being able to know my salesmen, hear and play the guitar and dicker. I like ebay for the national selection of guitars. It's vast. Like going to a flea market across the country. But you can't pick it up and play it. It may be damaged in the mail. It may be a dud. But i've got hundred plus instruments and only a handful of disappointments. Mostly because i didn't see something or the seller didn't have a clue about guitars. I didn't pay a lot for my Weekly House CBG 4 string and enjoyed it for a year. Not too bad, and i might add another stick of wood under the 1x2 to beef it up to strait. Worth trying.
OK, guys, y'all got "1X2 neck" over the place, I don't what that means & not ashamed to ask ...so ....what is..?.
If you've into neck quality check out "Angry Wolf" CBGs - they pick out their own lumber at the source (impressive),& were fair to me as well- refunded me full pop plus shipping before I headed to USPO.
Here we are taking about returns - makes you wonder.. but really,it's not a big of hassle than you think.
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