Photo showing the fingerboard and neck of my latest CBG. Neck is poplar, fingerboard is red oak. I mark the fret positions on the side to make them more visible when playing. Brass tacks to mark the harmonic positions. I turned the box over on this one - the thinner bottom of the box is the 'top' of the CBG for a better sound. I held the lid of the box shut with screws so I can get inside easily to tinker with the electronics.
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Most of my CBGs don't have heels. In this case, though, the design seemed to require it. most of my instruments (the last 5) have used the hinged 'lid' of the cigar box as the 'top' or soundboard of the instrument. For this one, I turned the box over and used the, thinner, bottom as the soundboard. The neck is three pieces: one 1X2 that extends from the bottom of the box through a hole in the other end. It extends about two inches outside and forms the heel (then I just trimmed the end with a coping saw to give it a nice profile). The second piece is the neck itself (also 1x2). It's glued and screwed to the top of the heel extension. It rises about 1/8 inch above the soundboard. The fingerboard is glued to the neck. It is a 1/2X2 piece of oak that extends about two inches over the soundboard. The height of the neck means that it doesn't touch the soundboard or affect it's vibration.
If I had pictures during the build this would be easier to explain (or drawings for that matter). I hope this helps you.
Pardon my ignorance but how did you make the neck heel? I'm new to carpentry and instrument building. Is it the heel necessary for 3 string slide guitar?
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Hi, Carlos,
Most of my CBGs don't have heels. In this case, though, the design seemed to require it. most of my instruments (the last 5) have used the hinged 'lid' of the cigar box as the 'top' or soundboard of the instrument. For this one, I turned the box over and used the, thinner, bottom as the soundboard. The neck is three pieces: one 1X2 that extends from the bottom of the box through a hole in the other end. It extends about two inches outside and forms the heel (then I just trimmed the end with a coping saw to give it a nice profile). The second piece is the neck itself (also 1x2). It's glued and screwed to the top of the heel extension. It rises about 1/8 inch above the soundboard. The fingerboard is glued to the neck. It is a 1/2X2 piece of oak that extends about two inches over the soundboard. The height of the neck means that it doesn't touch the soundboard or affect it's vibration.
If I had pictures during the build this would be easier to explain (or drawings for that matter). I hope this helps you.