I broke the blade off a shovel recently and was going to toss the whole thing out, but I realized that the handle is actually a pretty nice piece of wood and would make an interesting CBG neck.
This is more of a woodworking question, but: If I wanted
Read more…I've fallen down a bit of a rabbit hole!
I've been thinking of ways to get a powered fret-slot cutting system going, both for speed and consistency of depth. I'm not quite ready to invest in the StewMac table saw blade, especially since I'd prefer to
Read more…I've got some lovely wood I'm using for some CBG necks and I'm looking at what to use as a finish. I've been using Tung oil on my past builds and have really liked the deep, hard finish it creates - but DANG it takes a long time to dry and with multi
Read more…I've been thinking about doing a double-course canjo; any suggestions on what strings I should use? Most obvious would be a regular guitar's low- and high-E, but I'm wondering if the can will hold up to those. Anyone done this before, have any advice
Read more…I'm assembling parts for my next build; I'm trying a number of things I haven't done before - a little worried I'm piling too many new things in fact - but I'm going to give it a shot.
- Using a hardtail bridge - never used one before. Got a pretty o
Read more…I picked up a band saw a while ago - an entry-level SKIL 3386-01. I read good reviews but I've had almost no luck with this thing - I can't get a clean or straight cut to save my life. I've watched all the videos, read all the articles about setting
Read more…I've only done a couple of shaped headstocks, specifically with additional "wings" to allow a wider shape than just the width of the neck.
I'm wrestling with the right order to shape the headstock and drill the holes for the tuners; ideally, I'd like
Read more…I've been using a triangle file to create slots in my nuts for my strings, but I'd like to be able to do proper nut slots at some point.
However, I'm not quite ready to drop ~$100 for a set of StewMac nut slot files.
I've seen some cheapo "nut files"
Read more…As part of this ongoing problematic build, I've attached my headstock to the neck via a scarf joint, with the headstock face creating part of the flat surface of the neck where the fretboard will be attached.
However, in the course of trying to flatt
Read more…I'm working on the headstock for my latest build; I want to do three-in-line on the tuners, with each peg lined up so the string comes off the peg and across the nut and down the neck in a straight line.
I've determined the angle at which they need t
Has anyone ever heard of or seen a CBG or similar 3-string guitar set up with paired strings, like a 12-string regular guitar? Seems like that could be pretty fun...
Read more…I've been going through my stash of cigar boxes, trying to decide what my next build is going to be.
I've got a couple of boxes that are quite thin - clearly meant for just one layer of cigars.
Are these worth using for CBGs? It seems like there may
Read more…I have a couple of Lost City cigar boxes - they're really lovely, but looking at the inside it seems as though there's a false bottom or something - the bottom of the box is definitely thick, but seems hollow.
I'm considering just drilling or cutting
Read more…I'm looking to use some screened/mesh grommets for sound hole covers, but it seems the usual grommet-setting process would not work or be appropriate for this kind of usage.
I used a grommet for a sound hole on one previous build and used superglue a
Read more…Does anyone have good experiences working with a spokeshave to carve necks? I picked one up but I apparently just don't know how to use it right - it bounces and stutters, gets jammed full of shavings, and just generally doesn't get the job done the
Read more…Howdy all, recently completed (-ish) my fourth build; it's a neck-through with a piezo-rod pickup right under the bridge. First time I've tried a finish - used Tung oil, and it came out really pretty, with a lovely feel to the neck!
I haven't done a
Read more…I've been without my workshop for almost a year now and am finally close to having it back! I promised my brother-in-law a CBG for his birthday last summer and am getting ready to start on it.
I've got my box picked out and I picked up a neck and fr
Read more…I built a second CBG, finished Monday night - I can't every do anything simply so I went with a knockoff of a pic I saw on this site recently.
It actually worked out really well! I didn't cut a sound hole but the resonance is so good I'm considering
Read more…Posted this on my blog but here goes again...
Just finished first build; sadly, kinda disappointing results.
During the build I wobbled between "just make the dang thing" and "this is going to be the most beautifulest ever!". So instead of just going
Read more…I picked up two boxes for my first couple of attempts at CBG's; finished the first and I'm getting ready to start the second.
The box I got is nice and long, but it's a bit shallow - only 2" deep. I feel like it'll be an interesting build but I'm won
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