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Dan Sleep's Blog – April 2009 Archive (5)

The "Chameleon" guitar

So the more I looked at the area where the strings would touch the top of the box, the more I didn't like it. So, I decided to add a fingerboard and see what happened. I found some 1/4 inch red oak and poplar at the Home Depot that were perfect for the job. The 1/4 inch was just enough to raise the fingerboard high enough to make it more playable and resolve the problem with the strings touching the box.

I used the poplar, thinking that it would give the overall look some contrast. I… Continue

Added by Dan Sleep on April 24, 2009 at 1:57am — No Comments

99% Done

Well, I finished up the first prototype CBG. I still need to put a permanent bridge and nut on it, but I have a friend coming over who plays guitar to check it out and make suggestions as needed. Once we get the action figured out, I will replace the bridge and nut with permanent ones and glue them down.

I did notice that if I play a note much farther than about halfway up the neck, the strings will hit the edge of the cigar box lid. I moved the bridge around a bit to eliminate some… Continue

Added by Dan Sleep on April 22, 2009 at 10:35am — No Comments

Finding my mistakes

As I started dry assembling my CBG, I found some of my mistakes. I mis-measured the length of the neck that needs to fit inside the box, so my holes and rivets for the strings were now in the wrong place. It would have worked, but I didn't like the way it looked. I re-measured (thanks Bob Vila, measure twice, cut once) and re-drilled the holes. This actually worked out OK because when I drilled the first set of holes, I hand drilled them since I don't have a drill press. (got to get one soon)… Continue

Added by Dan Sleep on April 22, 2009 at 6:04am — No Comments

More stuff

I paid a visit to Ace Hardware for some supplies. I found that I could use some pop rivets (Part # 2014041, 1/8") and knock the pins out of them. If I take 2 of the remaining sleeves, I can put them into the string holes on the bottom of the neck, one from the top, and one from the bottom. They are just long enough to meet in the middle of the 1x2 neck piece. I can feed the string up from the bottom and the sleeves will protect the wood from the strings while being played.

The… Continue

Added by Dan Sleep on April 21, 2009 at 7:00am — No Comments

Getting started

A friend of mine posted a link to a video of Shane Speal playing some blues on one of his CBGs, and I loved that original bluesy sound! Since they seemed relatively easy to make, I thought I would give it a go.

I used to work at a cigar bar, so I know some of the folks there. I stopped in there Sunday morning after they opened and picked up some nice all wood boxes to start with.

I went to Home Depot and got a 9 foot length of red oak for the neck/s. It will be a really… Continue

Added by Dan Sleep on April 20, 2009 at 9:50am — No Comments

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Has anyone tried this? Thoughts?

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just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 27. 1 Reply 2 Likes

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Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by BrianQ. Mar 9. 4 Replies 3 Likes

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Camera suggestions?

Started by Southern Ray in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 6. 5 Replies 0 Likes

CBG site issues, continued.

Started by Taffy Evans in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 5. 4 Replies 2 Likes

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Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Carl Floyd Mar 1. 15 Replies 0 Likes

Guitar for the grandson

Started by Joe in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Carl Floyd Feb 29. 13 Replies 0 Likes

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I'll be fashionable this summer =)

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