Posted by Mama Mojo on November 18, 2009 at 10:31am
Let's face it, the music world is dominated by men. When you start breaking down the various sub-groups and look at them individually, clearly anything to do with building instruments is predominately male. The demographic breakdown of the membership roll here at CBN tells that story quite well.... And Genres -- well we've all heard the term "Bluesmen".... (That's why I named my company "Blues Women Works.") Women work in the Blues world - they sing, they play, they build, they produce, and they inspire.
We need the ability to connect with one another here on the Nation. This group shouldn't take the place of other groups that are specific to some of the questions that we might have about building guitars or other instruments, but I think that it should serve as a place for us to connect, and to highlight the work that women on this forum do. Some of the best builds that I have seen on the Nation have been done by women. Some of the most helpful people that I've encountered here are women. So let's help each other out, offer support, and share ideas without segregating ourselves from the rest of the gang here on the Nation.
There are so many helpful fellas out there with a wealth of knowledge, and I am happy and proud to call them friends. I'll continue to connect with them in other groups and share ideas. But this group is a place that I'll value for the connections that I make with women who share a passion for building instruments.
Please feel free to add you own thoughts about why this place might be important to you!
Best regards, and thanks for joining up!
Lana
You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!
Hey Pattie, you are very welcome for the information. Happy Birthday, Pattie. I hope you are having a great day.
I started late in life learning how to play the guitar, and building CBGs. I am 59 years old. I began learning to play the guitar at the age of bout 57, and began building at 58. You are right, never too late to learn. I had always wanted to play the guitar, but I, either didn't take the time or didn't have the opportunity. I am very happy I did learn to play the guitar.
As far as playing the CBGs, I haven't learned really how, yet. I can do a slide or two, maybe a note or two, it is all fun.
So, you won't be listening to me trying to play a CBG; there are too many talented people on this site for me to try. I would embarrass myself.
Anyway, I hope you have fun playing and building. It has been a nasty day with the rain and cold, so I didn't get to work on my builds. Happy Birthday, again. Take care.
Thanks Dianne for the information, i have been reading about it a lot, maybe to much they say frets have to be exactly right on, on some pages some say you can be more relaxed about it. However i did save your instructions i wont remember it all when it gets time to do it.
For the swap it was fun to get out and wander through there but it has changed a lot, not to many of the junk isle's most have gone to little buiness'es out there, but there is another one maybe i will check that out in the next couple of weeks. They did have a lot of Bob Marley stuff out there. I was looking at some fun looking hobo, but decided i could make my own if i really needed one lol...they were kinda pricey...had a tasty lunch there, i love fair food and this is kinda like it..lol...since i did miss the fair this year, good substitute.Well i will be a newbie builder and since i am a newbie at playing the Uke too they will go hand in hand, i have no idea why i wanted to start learning musical stuff, kinda late in life to start lol..anyway i did and as they say "better late than never". I have always loved most music, but never dreamed i could learn to play any instrument....I dont play well but i have fun and thats what it's all about lol..anyway THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the information and have a great week...today is me birthday lol so i am going to be lazy and just do what i wanna do today....take care...oh btw when do we get to hear your instruments???
Pattie
Dianne Woods said:
Hey Pattie, wow---going on a swap meet---wish I was going with yall. I will try to answer your questions, but remember in building CBGs, there are no rules.
1---I bought my first CBG, then I started building. I took a scrap piece of wood and made a fret sample. I laid the strip of wood beside the fretboard on my CBG, and drew the lines across to the strip of wood. Each time, I use this sample, alot easier, and saves time measuring. The length of fretboard I use is 17". When laying out the fretboard, mark the center, draw a light line down the length of the board. On the 12th fret, mark the center of the two halves, draw a line just through that fret. This way, you will know where to place the fret markers, and they will be centered.
#2--I have never tried the bolted neck, I always build a through neck, sometimes with a tailpiece and sometimes without a tailpiece.
#3-The glue I use on wood is Elmer's carpenter wood glue. Others prefer to use other glues. To glue metal to wood, I use locktight super glue.
#4-I attach the fretboard on first before installing the fret wire. When gluing the fretboard on the neck, use an old credit card to spread the glue, let it get tacky, then stick them together using clamps, many clamps. But before that drill a tiny hole close to each end in the middle where the fret marker will be. Drill the hole through the fretboard and some of the neck. I use two rivet pins to stick in the holes to keep the fretboard and neck from slipping everywhere, so you can get the clamps on; otherwise they will slip out of place and set that way. After you have the clamps secured, all is straight, the pins can be removed, just pull them out---don't let the pins stay too long, or they will stick to the fretboard and neck.
#5--Slanted bridges makes the last string shorter which makes the sound different. I really don't know what I am talking bout, I think I read it somewhere. Somebody else may have a different comment on this.
Pattie, congrad on the bug biting you. We are glad to have new builders. You might can show us something different. Sometimes, I don't use fret wire, I have wood burned the frets and fret markers which have turned out great--less expensive. Another tip I will give you is the tuners machine heads have a certain way to be installed which I didn't know until after I installed them wrong. Always install them with the turning wheel down toward the box.
I am looking forward to seeing your first CBG. As you go along with the building--different stages, post some pics and share with us. I hope you have fun at the swap meet. I hope I have helped you out a little. There are tons of information on the CBG Nation site you might want to read, it will help you. As you go along, if you run into a problem, ask for help. I am sure others will give you some advice how they build their CBGs. There are talented people on this site who have been building for years, I have only been building a little over a year, so I am still a newbie. Good luck.
Hey Pattie, wow---going on a swap meet---wish I was going with yall. I will try to answer your questions, but remember in building CBGs, there are no rules.
1---I bought my first CBG, then I started building. I took a scrap piece of wood and made a fret sample. I laid the strip of wood beside the fretboard on my CBG, and drew the lines across to the strip of wood. Each time, I use this sample, alot easier, and saves time measuring. The length of fretboard I use is 17". When laying out the fretboard, mark the center, draw a light line down the length of the board. On the 12th fret, mark the center of the two halves, draw a line just through that fret. This way, you will know where to place the fret markers, and they will be centered.
#2--I have never tried the bolted neck, I always build a through neck, sometimes with a tailpiece and sometimes without a tailpiece.
#3-The glue I use on wood is Elmer's carpenter wood glue. Others prefer to use other glues. To glue metal to wood, I use locktight super glue.
#4-I attach the fretboard on first before installing the fret wire. When gluing the fretboard on the neck, use an old credit card to spread the glue, let it get tacky, then stick them together using clamps, many clamps. But before that drill a tiny hole close to each end in the middle where the fret marker will be. Drill the hole through the fretboard and some of the neck. I use two rivet pins to stick in the holes to keep the fretboard and neck from slipping everywhere, so you can get the clamps on; otherwise they will slip out of place and set that way. After you have the clamps secured, all is straight, the pins can be removed, just pull them out---don't let the pins stay too long, or they will stick to the fretboard and neck.
#5--Slanted bridges makes the last string shorter which makes the sound different. I really don't know what I am talking bout, I think I read it somewhere. Somebody else may have a different comment on this.
Pattie, congrad on the bug biting you. We are glad to have new builders. You might can show us something different. Sometimes, I don't use fret wire, I have wood burned the frets and fret markers which have turned out great--less expensive. Another tip I will give you is the tuners machine heads have a certain way to be installed which I didn't know until after I installed them wrong. Always install them with the turning wheel down toward the box.
I am looking forward to seeing your first CBG. As you go along with the building--different stages, post some pics and share with us. I hope you have fun at the swap meet. I hope I have helped you out a little. There are tons of information on the CBG Nation site you might want to read, it will help you. As you go along, if you run into a problem, ask for help. I am sure others will give you some advice how they build their CBGs. There are talented people on this site who have been building for years, I have only been building a little over a year, so I am still a newbie. Good luck.
Ok i am heading to a swap meat tomorrow, i am going to be on the prowl for stuff, i love to scoot down the garbage isles or what some think is garbage, now as my husband said "New Addiction". I already am thinking i am going to get some hardwood "cheap stuff for the first one". Ok now here come the questions lol.
!. When measuring where the frets go do you measure from the nut side closest to the fret board?
A. and is it more accurate to measure all the frets from the nut or from fret to fret?
2. Is a Neck through better than a bolt on?
3. What kind of glue do you prefer to use?
4. Which is best, to put the frets on the fret board then put it on the neck or put the frets in after you attach the fretboard.
5. I see some bridges slanted what does that do?
Yeah Dianne the bug hit lol...my nails are shot now ..oh well gotta do what you gotta do lol..and my husband told me i had to see a tin he saw...OMG gotta sell my sewing machine and buy a saw lol..Naaaa never happen..
I agree with you on that Zandi - lots of talent right here in this group. One person who comes to mind is SkeeSix - that woman can wire some serious pick-ups so if you have a chance to grab some of her work and integrate it into your builds, I would highly recommend it.
Also re the pain issues - it's so ironic that you mentioned CBgs as a playable instrument due to pain issues. I have that very same love of how well these instruments fit and how light they are. I love my Daddy Mojo 6-string guitar in terms of playability for exactly that reason. I have a lot of conventional guitars (I am embarrassed to say just how many I have hanging on the walls of my family room/music den). I mean high-end stuff (Gibson J-200, Martin D-16, Takamine, etc.) and my Daddy Mojo is my go-to guitar every time I want to play a six string because of how comfortable it is to play. It's technically a larger CBG than most and has a lot of resonance to it so it plays very well unplugged. I also have other 3-4 string CBGs that I also love to play, but that Daddy Mojo has my heart wrapped all around it's strings.
I also wanted to comment on my original post: I sent it to Max Shores, the producer of "Songs Inside the Box" and he told me that he searched for women to participate in the film and he approached one who didn't want to be filmed due to shyness, or something along those lines. I can totally appreciate and respect that decision. Max reiterated that he simply filmed what he saw at that given moment in the movement. I told him how much I appreciated the fim and how inspiring it is for me to watch it. For those of you who have not seen it yet, please consider watching the repeat on PBS or ordering the DVD from Bill Jehle at Jelly-Belly Music or through his ebay site the Cigar Box Guitar Emporium.
Mamma M...there is a lot of talent right here with this batch of seedlings...there seem to be a few other women in the nation who are not members of the Women's Group,too---not that they HAVE to be, either---
i think you will see the day when more and more women will be playing CBGs.
my whole interest in these was ignited when, because of extreme pain, i needed something lighter and easier to hold than a regular size guitar since music making is so soothing.
i probably would have learned to play long before i was 60 if i had found a guitar that was the right size for ME.
the New Morning began when you started this group, yes?
thank you again....zandi z.
Mama Mojo, I haven't seen the video. I think you are right; we do need to get more visible out there. Women need to make everyone aware making and playing CBGs are for women, too. I agree with you a 100%.
Mama Mojo said:
Have any of you seen "Songs Inside the Box"? by Max Shores? It's a fabulous piece of video work documenting the cbg movement and I had not seen it until I ordered a copy from Bill Jehle at Jelly Belly Music on ebay. It's quite inspiring, and give a real context for the movement, and this habit of ours. The one thing that really struck me was the complete absence of any women in the video. I don't think that it was an intentional oversight on the producer's part, but simply a representation of what was really going on in the movement at the time he filmed it. I don't think that women were performing or building as much as they are now and Max simply recorded what he saw. Afterall, this work is a documentary....
I'd really like to see a time when there is far more balance in films such as these. To make that happen, we as women need to be visible here on the nation and at festivals and other cbg or music events. And I am not just talking about being visible here in this group - while it is nice to have a place of our own to talk about the joys and challenges of this work, it is also great to get out with the rest of the gang and learn and share what we know. Many people think of this craft as being a "guy" thing when it isn't just for guys - this is stuff that is supposed to be accessible for EVERYONE!!!! Watching that video really drove that home to me BECAUSE there were no women. If we really want to show how accessible this craft is, then let's get out there and show 'em! I'll be doing my best to do that in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Hat's off to Max for doing a great documentary on CBGs and hat's off to the women who are contributing so much here on the Nation!
Have any of you seen "Songs Inside the Box"? by Max Shores? It's a fabulous piece of video work documenting the cbg movement and I had not seen it until I ordered a copy from Bill Jehle at Jelly Belly Music on ebay. It's quite inspiring, and give a real context for the movement, and this habit of ours. The one thing that really struck me was the complete absence of any women in the video. I don't think that it was an intentional oversight on the producer's part, but simply a representation of what was really going on in the movement at the time he filmed it. I don't think that women were performing or building as much as they are now and Max simply recorded what he saw. Afterall, this work is a documentary....
I'd really like to see a time when there is far more balance in films such as these. To make that happen, we as women need to be visible here on the nation and at festivals and other cbg or music events. And I am not just talking about being visible here in this group - while it is nice to have a place of our own to talk about the joys and challenges of this work, it is also great to get out with the rest of the gang and learn and share what we know. Many people think of this craft as being a "guy" thing when it isn't just for guys - this is stuff that is supposed to be accessible for EVERYONE!!!! Watching that video really drove that home to me BECAUSE there were no women. If we really want to show how accessible this craft is, then let's get out there and show 'em! I'll be doing my best to do that in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Hat's off to Max for doing a great documentary on CBGs and hat's off to the women who are contributing so much here on the Nation!
Hi Penny! thanks for joining up! We are happy to have you!
Yes, I know what you mean re the collecting and the way women and men often approach things differently....
Also, could you unsub from the "Ladies League" - that group is being taken down.... anyone else out there who is still signed up might also want to exit as well.... thanks again, Penny - great to have you here!
Penny Nelson said:
Hey Lana isnt it funny that people get threatened when your collection crosses perceived gendre boundaries. If you collected China or thimbles this would be acceptable. God if I had the funds I would collect so many CBG's some of them are just awesome creations.
People already think I'm a bit nuts having one - lol.
I think its awesome to have this space for women because we communicate differently especially when discussing practical things. I have read some of the technical discussions and whilst I can get my head around it with a bit of thought I'm sure that once I digest it I could explain it better in grrrl speak. I hope that dosnt come accross as sexist its just an acknowledgement that our brains work differently & we process info differently.
What a great dream to have women artisans out there building quality intruments that anyone would be proud to own.
I'm looking forward to the journey.
Pan
Hey Lana isnt it funny that people get threatened when your collection crosses perceived gendre boundaries.
If you collected China or thimbles this would be acceptable.
God if I had the funds I would collect so many CBG's some of them are just awesome creations.
People already think I'm a bit nuts having one - lol.
I think its awesome to have this space for women because we communicate differently especially when discussing practical things. I have read some of the technical discussions and whilst I can get my head around it with a bit of thought I'm sure that once I digest it I could explain it better in grrrl speak. I hope that dosnt come accross as sexist its just an acknowledgement that our brains work differently & we process info differently.
What a great dream to have women artisans out there building quality intruments that anyone would be proud to own.
I'm looking forward to the journey.
Pan
Replies
Hey Pattie, you are very welcome for the information. Happy Birthday, Pattie. I hope you are having a great day.
I started late in life learning how to play the guitar, and building CBGs. I am 59 years old. I began learning to play the guitar at the age of bout 57, and began building at 58. You are right, never too late to learn. I had always wanted to play the guitar, but I, either didn't take the time or didn't have the opportunity. I am very happy I did learn to play the guitar.
As far as playing the CBGs, I haven't learned really how, yet. I can do a slide or two, maybe a note or two, it is all fun.
So, you won't be listening to me trying to play a CBG; there are too many talented people on this site for me to try. I would embarrass myself.
Anyway, I hope you have fun playing and building. It has been a nasty day with the rain and cold, so I didn't get to work on my builds. Happy Birthday, again. Take care.
Thanks Dianne for the information, i have been reading about it a lot, maybe to much they say frets have to be exactly right on, on some pages some say you can be more relaxed about it. However i did save your instructions i wont remember it all when it gets time to do it.
For the swap it was fun to get out and wander through there but it has changed a lot, not to many of the junk isle's most have gone to little buiness'es out there, but there is another one maybe i will check that out in the next couple of weeks. They did have a lot of Bob Marley stuff out there. I was looking at some fun looking hobo, but decided i could make my own if i really needed one lol...they were kinda pricey...had a tasty lunch there, i love fair food and this is kinda like it..lol...since i did miss the fair this year, good substitute.Well i will be a newbie builder and since i am a newbie at playing the Uke too they will go hand in hand, i have no idea why i wanted to start learning musical stuff, kinda late in life to start lol..anyway i did and as they say "better late than never". I have always loved most music, but never dreamed i could learn to play any instrument....I dont play well but i have fun and thats what it's all about lol..anyway THANK YOU VERY MUCH for the information and have a great week...today is me birthday lol so i am going to be lazy and just do what i wanna do today....take care...oh btw when do we get to hear your instruments???
Pattie
Dianne Woods said:
Hey Pattie, wow---going on a swap meet---wish I was going with yall. I will try to answer your questions, but remember in building CBGs, there are no rules.
1---I bought my first CBG, then I started building. I took a scrap piece of wood and made a fret sample. I laid the strip of wood beside the fretboard on my CBG, and drew the lines across to the strip of wood. Each time, I use this sample, alot easier, and saves time measuring. The length of fretboard I use is 17". When laying out the fretboard, mark the center, draw a light line down the length of the board. On the 12th fret, mark the center of the two halves, draw a line just through that fret. This way, you will know where to place the fret markers, and they will be centered.
#2--I have never tried the bolted neck, I always build a through neck, sometimes with a tailpiece and sometimes without a tailpiece.
#3-The glue I use on wood is Elmer's carpenter wood glue. Others prefer to use other glues. To glue metal to wood, I use locktight super glue.
#4-I attach the fretboard on first before installing the fret wire. When gluing the fretboard on the neck, use an old credit card to spread the glue, let it get tacky, then stick them together using clamps, many clamps. But before that drill a tiny hole close to each end in the middle where the fret marker will be. Drill the hole through the fretboard and some of the neck. I use two rivet pins to stick in the holes to keep the fretboard and neck from slipping everywhere, so you can get the clamps on; otherwise they will slip out of place and set that way. After you have the clamps secured, all is straight, the pins can be removed, just pull them out---don't let the pins stay too long, or they will stick to the fretboard and neck.
#5--Slanted bridges makes the last string shorter which makes the sound different. I really don't know what I am talking bout, I think I read it somewhere. Somebody else may have a different comment on this.
Pattie, congrad on the bug biting you. We are glad to have new builders. You might can show us something different. Sometimes, I don't use fret wire, I have wood burned the frets and fret markers which have turned out great--less expensive. Another tip I will give you is the tuners machine heads have a certain way to be installed which I didn't know until after I installed them wrong. Always install them with the turning wheel down toward the box.
I am looking forward to seeing your first CBG. As you go along with the building--different stages, post some pics and share with us. I hope you have fun at the swap meet. I hope I have helped you out a little. There are tons of information on the CBG Nation site you might want to read, it will help you. As you go along, if you run into a problem, ask for help. I am sure others will give you some advice how they build their CBGs. There are talented people on this site who have been building for years, I have only been building a little over a year, so I am still a newbie. Good luck.
Ok i am heading to a swap meat tomorrow, i am going to be on the prowl for stuff, i love to scoot down the garbage isles or what some think is garbage, now as my husband said "New Addiction". I already am thinking i am going to get some hardwood "cheap stuff for the first one". Ok now here come the questions lol.
!. When measuring where the frets go do you measure from the nut side closest to the fret board?
A. and is it more accurate to measure all the frets from the nut or from fret to fret?
2. Is a Neck through better than a bolt on?
3. What kind of glue do you prefer to use?
4. Which is best, to put the frets on the fret board then put it on the neck or put the frets in after you attach the fretboard.
5. I see some bridges slanted what does that do?
Yeah Dianne the bug hit lol...my nails are shot now ..oh well gotta do what you gotta do lol..and my husband told me i had to see a tin he saw...OMG gotta sell my sewing machine and buy a saw lol..Naaaa never happen..
Happy New Year everyone!!!
Also re the pain issues - it's so ironic that you mentioned CBgs as a playable instrument due to pain issues. I have that very same love of how well these instruments fit and how light they are. I love my Daddy Mojo 6-string guitar in terms of playability for exactly that reason. I have a lot of conventional guitars (I am embarrassed to say just how many I have hanging on the walls of my family room/music den). I mean high-end stuff (Gibson J-200, Martin D-16, Takamine, etc.) and my Daddy Mojo is my go-to guitar every time I want to play a six string because of how comfortable it is to play. It's technically a larger CBG than most and has a lot of resonance to it so it plays very well unplugged. I also have other 3-4 string CBGs that I also love to play, but that Daddy Mojo has my heart wrapped all around it's strings.
I also wanted to comment on my original post: I sent it to Max Shores, the producer of "Songs Inside the Box" and he told me that he searched for women to participate in the film and he approached one who didn't want to be filmed due to shyness, or something along those lines. I can totally appreciate and respect that decision. Max reiterated that he simply filmed what he saw at that given moment in the movement. I told him how much I appreciated the fim and how inspiring it is for me to watch it. For those of you who have not seen it yet, please consider watching the repeat on PBS or ordering the DVD from Bill Jehle at Jelly-Belly Music or through his ebay site the Cigar Box Guitar Emporium.
Thanks so much,
Lana
i think you will see the day when more and more women will be playing CBGs.
my whole interest in these was ignited when, because of extreme pain, i needed something lighter and easier to hold than a regular size guitar since music making is so soothing.
i probably would have learned to play long before i was 60 if i had found a guitar that was the right size for ME.
the New Morning began when you started this group, yes?
thank you again....zandi z.
Mama Mojo said:
I'd really like to see a time when there is far more balance in films such as these. To make that happen, we as women need to be visible here on the nation and at festivals and other cbg or music events. And I am not just talking about being visible here in this group - while it is nice to have a place of our own to talk about the joys and challenges of this work, it is also great to get out with the rest of the gang and learn and share what we know. Many people think of this craft as being a "guy" thing when it isn't just for guys - this is stuff that is supposed to be accessible for EVERYONE!!!! Watching that video really drove that home to me BECAUSE there were no women. If we really want to show how accessible this craft is, then let's get out there and show 'em! I'll be doing my best to do that in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Hat's off to Max for doing a great documentary on CBGs and hat's off to the women who are contributing so much here on the Nation!
Yes, I know what you mean re the collecting and the way women and men often approach things differently....
Also, could you unsub from the "Ladies League" - that group is being taken down.... anyone else out there who is still signed up might also want to exit as well.... thanks again, Penny - great to have you here!
Penny Nelson said:
If you collected China or thimbles this would be acceptable.
God if I had the funds I would collect so many CBG's some of them are just awesome creations.
People already think I'm a bit nuts having one - lol.
I think its awesome to have this space for women because we communicate differently especially when discussing practical things. I have read some of the technical discussions and whilst I can get my head around it with a bit of thought I'm sure that once I digest it I could explain it better in grrrl speak. I hope that dosnt come accross as sexist its just an acknowledgement that our brains work differently & we process info differently.
What a great dream to have women artisans out there building quality intruments that anyone would be proud to own.
I'm looking forward to the journey.
Pan
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