Hello Nation-ites
Tonight while searching around I discovered the Diddley Bow. Awesome! Gotta make one now. I'm in the middle of a 3-string CBG build waiting on hardware (estimated arrival Thursday) but why wait. I need some info though. Looks like a CBDB is about the same construction as a CBG just with a narrower neck and one string. Am I right? Main questions:
1) What kind of neck Length and Width are we looking at?
2) Will the standard piezo pick-up suffice for the CBDB?
3) What size guitar string is ideal and what is the ideal tuning for that string?
4) Any secrets on getting the best sound out of these things (box size, pick-up placement)
5) Are there any fret markings or anything or is this a good solid fretless project?
I've got a couple of buddies who say they can't play anything. Maybe I'll build them both one. I figure anybody body can learn to play a one stringed instrument (well, I guess almost anyone).
Thanks for the help!
JD
Tags:
Well JD, this ones about as wide open "no rules" as it gets.
Study the pics and you will find d-bows in various sizes and materials, the variety boggles the mind.
Some use piezos, a piezo in an Altoid can seems popular. Others use mag pups of every type, style and fit them in many unusual ways.
Every string known to man seems to have been used. Coat hangar to weed whacker string. Try just using what you have around. Tuning? Tighten the string until it sounds good, or feels right. Unless you are trying to accompany another instrument its irrellevent.
Best sound? well thats in the ear of the beholder. Soft acoustic twang, or raucous screaming distorted loud, up to you. Box, no box, 2X4, metal pipe, be creative and show us what ya got!
Fretless, no marks, just a string stretched between two points. Most of the time. Or you can build it more as a one string lap steel with a marked "finger board" if that pleases you. I kind of like the single string out in space banged on with a stick while attacking it with a beer bottle for a slide style thing myself, but thats just me. Or not.
Yeah, anyone can play one. Just try to play like some of the guys you hear. Go ahead. Sounds easy. Looks easy. Can be quickly humbling I can tell you. First you have to have an ear for tone, because thats what you really rely on, Ear and feel.
Build one! Or three! Attack it! Shred it!
And have fun! (And share!)
Lap style DB.
A regular cbg style DB is similar to the LP , just with a cigar box.
I prefer bass strings on a lap style, they can be tuned just about anywhere. On cbg type, low E from a regular six string set. Regular piezos work great.
BUT, a bass E string tuned low E on a lap style with a bass mag pup played thru a 100 watt bass amp is a religious experience.
AFKAM
two words. true dat.
-WY
Started by Timothy Hunter in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray yesterday. 1 Reply 2 Likes
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 10. 1 Reply 3 Likes
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by BrianQ. Mar 9. 4 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies 1 Like
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Ken I in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Brian partington Mar 8. 8 Replies 0 Likes
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
Started by Taffy Evans in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 5. 4 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Nomad Jack in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 2. 6 Replies 1 Like
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Carl Floyd Mar 1. 15 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Joe in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Carl Floyd Feb 29. 13 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Chance in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 22. 12 Replies 1 Like
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies 4 Likes
Started by Brad in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 19. 6 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Jacob Shook in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 16. 10 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 16. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Skeesix in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Skeesix Feb 6. 2 Replies 1 Like
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Steve M Jan 31. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 8, 2024 at 4:05pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!