Posted by jeff Holloway on February 20, 2011 at 1:50pm
Hello all Jeff from Montana here, I'm building my first CBG which will be a three string fretless model. My question is what height should I set the nut and brige at? I imagine for a fretless CBG the height isn't that critical but for a freted instrument I assume there is some rule of thumb that works. Any suggestions for a newbe?
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I have a new CB gitty guitar..strings are extra light and high off the neck. Playing individual notes are muted. I'm told I should lower string height at nut and bridge. How do you do that?
Dan Sleep > Emmy DePoloSeptember 21, 2012 at 9:32pm
I made a beginners video that is posted on my page. It may help answer some of your questions.
Thanks guys for the input. So since first posting this question I've decided to go ahead and make this first CBG a fretted model. I like the idea of using a trial nut and bridge and then adjusting it as necessary. I'm finishing up the fretboard today so I'll see how it goes.
Les Paul started with a 4 by 4, I think our cigar box's may be a step better. lol
Der Groovemeister said:
I don't know about paper... Doesn't it muffle the tone a little bit? In the cigar boxes i got from cigar shops there are sometimes very thin sheets of wood. I use that for when i cut something too low. But then again... it's a Cigar box guitar, not a Les Paul! ;-)
I thought it might, but it seems not to, or at least not to a noticeable extent. I use wood glue to stick it on, so perhaps once that is absorbed it sort of becomes a different substance. As this is only for determining the height of the final bridge it probably isn't that important. Having said that, even the bridge that had several layers of card still sounded much the same as the one that replaced it.
Der Groovemeister said:
I don't know about paper... Doesn't it muffle the tone a little bit? In the cigar boxes i got from cigar shops there are sometimes very thin sheets of wood. I use that for when i cut something too low. But then again... it's a Cigar box guitar, not a Les Paul! ;-)
I don't know about paper... Doesn't it muffle the tone a little bit? In the cigar boxes i got from cigar shops there are sometimes very thin sheets of wood. I use that for when i cut something too low. But then again... it's a Cigar box guitar, not a Les Paul! ;-)
Hi. On all that I have done so far (grand total or three), I have started with a temporary bridge and nut. Too high, sand/file some off. Too low, add paper. My latest one had so much cardboard glued under the wood that it was looking a bit "Tower of Pisa" like. Play for a while and once you have no inclination to change it make one the same height but with the look that you want. On an ebony nut, even the finished one, if it is a bit too low you can always add a little paper and black it with a felt pen. Nobody will ever know.
Replies
I have a new CB gitty guitar..strings are extra light and high off the neck. Playing individual notes are muted. I'm told I should lower string height at nut and bridge. How do you do that?
I made a beginners video that is posted on my page. It may help answer some of your questions.
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/string-action
But, essentially you need to lower the nut, or the bridge, or both.What kind of nut and bridge does this guitar have?
And, is it a fretted or fretless model?
fretted...watching your video and just realized the bridge is moveable ..thought i'd have to detach something
Der Groovemeister said:
Der Groovemeister said:
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