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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Nowra, NSW, Australia
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    65
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    Default Another Cigar Box Guitar WIP

    After seeing my first CBG, I just had to give it a go myself.

    Done my basic research and made a start. It will be a 6-string, neck-thru, with DIY cigar-box. 'f' holes to let the sound out. The body will be 325mm x 215mm, neck will have 16 frets, (clear of body), and the scale is 25.34", same as a Martin.

    The neck, box body and sides will be Merbau, soundboard will be Camphor Laurel and the fingerboard is New Guinea Rosewood. I got a piece of Maple from Mapleman for the soundboard, but liked the Camphor Laurel grain pattern more, (it sort of matches the Merbau I cut for the back), so will keep the Maple for my second guitar. The neck/headstock are one piece, so no scarf joint to worry about. Instead, I've added a volute at the back near the nut for added strength. Also, I made the neck/body angle 0.7 degrees, for 3mm extra clearance for the bridge/saddle. The saddle top will be about 9mm proud of the body.

    I've incorporated an LMI 2-way truss rod into the neck and have a set of mini Grover 6-in-line machine heads and 2 x 2' Medium/Medium fretwire. The rest is yet to come.

    Merbau stock for body back & sides:
    (The back is book-matched & joined.)
    aa. Merbau Body Back & Sides Stock.jpg


    Camphor Laurel stock for soundboard:
    (Another book-match.)
    ab. Camphor Laurel Soundboard Stock.jpg

    Truss rod, machineheads and medium/medium fretwire:
    ac. Truss Rod, Fretwire & Machineheads.jpg

    Fretboard radiussed and slotted:
    (9.5" to 12" compound radius)
    af. Fret Slotting Finished.JPG


    Truss rod fitted:
    (Those relief cuts on the neck back were to allow the timber to move all that it wanted before the real shaping. It did move, bowed about 1-2mm, so it wasn't a waste of time. Had to re-flatten the top before routing the truss rod slot.)
    ah. Truss Rod Fitted 2.JPG ag. Truss Rod Fitted 1.jpg

    Neck bottom rough-shaped:
    aj. Neck Bottom Rough Shaped 1.jpg

    Headstock rough-shaped:
    al. Headstock Rough-shaped 1.JPG am. Headstock Rough-shaped 2.JPG

    Neck mockup so far:
    an. Headstock Rough-shaped Mockup.jpg


    Got a long way to go, but I'm slowly getting there.
    I'll taper the neck tomorrow, to match the fretboard.
    Any and all suggestions are welcome.
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
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    Nowra, NSW, Australia
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    Default Neck Taper Done

    I got the neck tapered today, without incident:
    (That's only a simulated nut - still have to buy a blank and shape it.)

    ao. Neck Taper Done.jpg ap. Neck Tapered Mockup.jpg

    aq. Neck Tapered Side View.jpg


    Not sure whether to fit the truss rod next and glue on the fretboard, or to shape the bottom of the neck first. Definitely will be easier to clamp the fretboard if I attach it now.
    I'll have to ponder this for a bit.....
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

  4. #3
    Join Date
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    Default Neck Shaping Done

    Finished shaping and sanding the back of the neck today. Bought some micro-mesh pads a couple of weeks ago, so gave them a test run on this. They certainly work well, and make the timber look like there's already a finish applied: -

    ar. Neck Shaped 1.JPG as. Neck Shaped 2.jpg
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
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    Nowra, NSW, Australia
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    Default Headstock Drilling

    Drilling the tuner holes.
    Crude setup, but it works. The holes need to be 10mm dia at the back, 10mm deep, then 8mm dia to the front. So far so good.: -

    at. Headstock Drilling 1.jpg au. Headstock Drilling 2.jpg
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Outer East Melbs
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    52
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    51

    Default

    Nice one. 'Buy a nut blank..' Don't you know anyone with a dog?

  7. #6
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Jef Long View Post
    Nice one. 'Buy a nut blank..' Don't you know anyone with a dog?
    G'day Jef. Got 2 dogs, both male but desexed.
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

  8. #7
    Join Date
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    Default Tuner Test Fitting

    A quick test fitting. Nice and snug, so they shouldn't want to lean. No screw pilot holes yet. That's next, but I won't actually thread the screws until the final fitup. I'm still debating whether or not to add a headstock inlay. There's not much room.: -

    av. Tuner Test Fit 1.JPG aw. Tuner Test Fit 2.JPG

    ax. Tuner Test fit 3.JPG
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

  9. #8
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    Sep 2002
    Location
    Paignton. Devon. U.K.
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    Default

    Watching this thread with interest.
    woody U.K.

    "Common looking people are the best in the world: that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them." ~ Abraham Lincoln

  10. #9
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by jow104 View Post
    Watching this thread with interest.
    Hello again John. These things are fun to build, and nowhere near as hard as I thought it'd be, so far. Only a few more days on the neck, then onto the box part.
    Hope I can remember how to play, when the time comes. Been years...
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

  11. #10
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    Sep 2002
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    Default

    .
    woody U.K.

    "Common looking people are the best in the world: that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them." ~ Abraham Lincoln

  12. #11
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    Mar 2012
    Location
    Outer East Melbs
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Hermit View Post
    G'day Jef. Got 2 dogs, both male but desexed.
    Ok we'll you know when you're mowing the lawn and you find the black nasty bones that they're finished with?

    take those to the bandsaw and sander, viola, nuts and saddles..
    the dog part is essential, they suck out all the fat and marrow

  13. #12
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    Mar 2012
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    Outer East Melbs
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    Default

    Wait til you try a cookie tin, easier to find, cheaper rattier tone... Cookie tin gitts are my favs...

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
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    Nowra, NSW, Australia
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Jef Long View Post
    Ok we'll you know when you're mowing the lawn and you find the black nasty bones that they're finished with?

    take those to the bandsaw and sander, viola, nuts and saddles..
    the dog part is essential, they suck out all the fat and marrow
    I misunderstood, thought it was a reference to the dog's nether regions. No bones about right now, I clean up often, but I'll start saving future ones. Like you, I like the idea of recycling. (When I mow, I find other things the dogs have left, if you know what I mean.)

    I've been looking at resonator guitars, and like your latest cookie tin. I think I will have to try one, maybe as my third guitar. Will build another normal? CBG first, to use up excess parts - a Hot Stuff truss rod and some nice QLD Maple for a soundboard, that I got from MapleMan. (Thanks Chris) Other misc parts too, like a Strat nut. (Too short in height for my current build.)
    I'm really enjoying making these things, and learning heaps as I go.
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

  15. #14
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    Default

    Not much progress today, been studying up and getting much needed advice, but I decided yesterday that I will add a headstock inlay. Camphor Laurel main inlay, (to match the body timber), inlaid with NGR pieces that match the fretboard. Working on it now.
    All being well, it'll look something like this when done: -
    (Also posted this pic in my inlay questions thread, but felt that it should be included here as well.)

    Inlay Mockup.JPG
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

  16. #15
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    Default Inlay made and recess cut

    It was a bit of a mission, but finally I have the inlay made and the recess cut, ready to fit later today after some sleep. (It's 2.30am.)

    i. Inlay Assembled.JPG j. Recess Ready For Inlay.JPG
    Last edited by Hermit; 3rd April 2013 at 02:29 AM. Reason: Later than I thought
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

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