Hello gang!

I made my first guitar, a reso, and I love it. It's got an amazing sound when open strumming, but once I put a finger on a string it sounds much more muted or dead and the sustain definitely disappears. I've never played guitar before, so I'm looking for advice about how to fix this. Specifically:

A) Are there hardware issues I can fiddle with that may be causing this? Is a higher or lower action, different nut/bridge, etc. going to change this specific issue? It sounds great (like, amazing) when open, so hardware alone being the problem seems unlikely. But maybe a higher action would make a difference and make the angle of my finger holding the string down greater, making it clearer and increasing sustain?

B) This seems more likely: I've never played guitar before (did play viola though) so is this simply a user error situation? It sounds muted whether I'm using my fingers or a slide, though certainly better with a slide. If there are beginner tips to getting a better sound with the finger down I would love to be pointed towards them.

Thanks!

Views: 223

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Some pics of your action or a video of the cbg in action would give more of an insight to your problem?

 Welcome, Christian.

The only thing I can think of that would instantly kill the note when fretting the string is putting that finger directly in the middle of the fret, making it so that the string is muted. One wants to put one's finger just above the fret, (The side of the headstock), and push the string to the wood.) If that makes any sense, good, (not sure it makes sense to me), if not, let me know and I'll try another approach. (You may already know this...)


There is a natural decrease in volume and sustain once a string is fretted. For reasons I don't understand fully, sustain and volume is effected by the open string being interrupted at a fret. Part of that is that there is less mass, (string) to vibrate. There may be someone with more understanding come along and address this more fully later.

Welcome aboard,
Ray

Oh, just one thing I forgot, higher action usually messes up intonation pulling the note sharp due to the string becoming more taut except for slide work.
Ray

Is this a fretted or un-fretted instrument?
Is it being played acoustically or amplified?
Is every string muted or just one or two?
Is the sound actually muted when you use a slide at the first fret position?

Like BrianQ said, a few photos would do much to let people try to help you solve this.

In my experience, my first build had a tall bridge and a low action nut which made a bike ramp look.  I did not know better then but the action sucked on it.  Low notes would play alright if not, discorded. But trying to play anything past the 12th fret was impossible. It will fizzle out and mute. I call that guitar "The Tragedy".  Hey, my first build.

Afterwards, I've maintained to keep the strings parallel from the fretboard. And its been ace ever since.  So my advice, is try and try again.

The "Tragedy" would be if you didn't fix it by installing an appropriate nut & bridge.  :)

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

smilingdog1 commented on 3 String Blues's video
1 hour ago
smilingdog1 liked 3 String Blues's video
1 hour ago
smilingdog1 liked Glenn Kaiser's video
1 hour ago
Doug Thorsvik posted a video

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

Cigar Box Guitar Slingers - Spokane, 195th Zoom Mtg 03/25/24. Only 1-finger chords, free songbooks here: https://www.cbgslinger.com/download CBG SOF Songbook...
2 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you Poorness ! for loving it ! appreciated!"
19 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
19 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
20 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Punch Project!

She now sports gold metal CBGitty knobs, speaker and an Artec 2.5 watt speaker. Finished this in…
20 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Project Punch!

Gonna finally get back on this long-delayed project that is more than half complete. (The matching…
20 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
22 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
23 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"I appreciate the kind words Papa D! I have always loved the look of these cigar boxes. Glad to have…"
yesterday

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->