Comment

Comment by Dail Echevarria on September 27, 2010 at 3:26pm

Thanks Keni Lee. That was really helpful. I was so confused I really did not want a real long neck or extremely short as I've seen on you tube. BTW I like all the videos you post on you tube. In fact thanks to you I have already tuned my travel guitar to 'Spanish' and I'm practicing "Baby please don't go from your video. Thanks!

Comment by Keni Lee Burgess on September 23, 2010 at 11:00pm

Welcome to the Nation. Using a standard guitar scale length (about 24") and standard strings, you can tune in the same ranges as a standard guitar. This may come in handy if you want to play your instrument with other guitarists. Regardless, it does not matter due to the relative nature of music. If you tune using the 1 and 5 tones from the major scale (151) this chart will help you find the key that will give you the correct string tension if you build the scale longer or shorter.
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/13-keys?context=user
This video may help also:
http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/a-cigar-box-guitar-builders
Enjoy your build, Keni Lee

Comment by YeahDoIt on September 21, 2010 at 11:40am

Knotlenny tried the cable tie frets: http://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/cable-tie-frets?commentI...

Comment by YeahDoIt on September 21, 2010 at 11:36am

Since it's your first CBG you might build close to the guitar string bridge to nut distance, about 25 inches. The length is likely a compromise of sound, string tension, string diameter ( thicker strings are "boomier" ) and playability. I don't have any frets on my CBG, I play with slide. I'm wondering if I can use plastic cable ties for frets, put them on and off, move them around as I need them. Someone likely already tried that. I wonder how well it works.

Comment by Dail Echevarria on September 21, 2010 at 12:43am

Thanks ChickenboneJohn. I"ll heed your advice.

Comment by ChickenboneJohn on September 20, 2010 at 12:59am

A lot of people make the scale to suit whatever timber they have to hand...it's really no big deal what you choose. Regular Fender and Gibson scales work fine, but also shorter and longer scales have their own appeal. I often do down t 22 1/2 inches

Minimum number of frets ...none! Max...as many as you can physical fit on the fretboard! Seriously, you can build it fretless, or just put in as many frets as suits YOU...I sometimes either put frets up to where the neck meets the box and put a "frailing scoop" in the end of then 'board, or put in 24 if there's room.