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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.
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, 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.
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