The next build is “JAVA”, this box I bought in a lot of 10 Cigar Boxes on EBay. I picked this one because it is a great shape and the color. The Cigars are Nicaraguan by Drew Estate.
So, lets get to it!!
NECK
Neck started out as a 36” inch piece of Maple, finished length is 32” inches. This build will have a in box neck. I tried a new method, instead of hand sanding and rounding the length of grip and playing surface I used my table router with a ¼” inch round over bit to router out both sides of the neck.
This gives the neck a very nice look and profile it also minimizes the amount of hand sanding. I only routered 13 3/4″ inches of the neck leaving 5″ inches at the tuning peg end, and 4″ inches at the body
un-routered.
The tuning peg end has a curved end with hand sanded edges for a smooth feel. “Java” has been stained with Varathane Gloss Pecan stain and sealed with Varathane Clear Gloss Triple coat spray, for a high gloss look and very smooth feel.
FRET BOARD
Javas’ fret board is an 18 ½” inch piece of Poplar, with a rounded end at the box. The fret board on the build is fretted with Medium/Medium Nickle-Silver Fret wire,
Crown Width .084” (2.13 MM)
Crown Height .039” (0.99 MM)
Tang Depth .055” (1.40 MM)
18 pieces of fret wire was hand cut and filed to the round edges for
a smooth feel. Fret slots were hand cut using a CBGitty Fret Mitre box
and a 35-380 Dovetail Thick Kerf Razor saw with 18 TPI (Teeth Per Inch)
and a .020 (508 MM) thick blade. Saw was also purchased from CBGitty.
Once the frets were all slotted the Fret Board was finished with Min-wax Natural 209 stain and sealed with Varathane Clear Gloss Triple coat spray.
The fret board is affixed to the neck by alternating Brass and Steel Nos. 8- ¾” inch Robertson countersunk wood screws.
BODY/BOX
As stated earlier the box on this build is a rectangular Drew Estate Nicaraguan Cigar Box named “JAVA”. The box is black, gold trim and name plate on a maroon label. Four sound holes one in each corner of the box have been cut out and covered over with a Bronze colored aluminum sheet. The metal was affixed to the back side of the lid with hot glue. The lid itself has been screwed to the box with 2- ½” inch Steel Robertson screws and brass-colored grommets. On the bottom of the box there is 6 of the same screws and grommets, 4, one in each corner of the box and 2 in center affixing the neck to the box.
STRINGS/PICKUP/BRIDGE/TAILPIECE
“Java” uses a hard tail bridge which is mounted on the lid with 4
screws to hold in place. This type of bridge designed for you to
run the strings thru the back of the bridge or run the strings from
bottom of the box up thru the bridge, I went with thru the back of the bridge. These types of bridges also allow you to adjust string
intonation.
“Javas’” nut consists of 3 individual slotted metal screws,
this allows the strings to sit in the slot and held in place.
I used chrome sealed self-locking tuning pegs, which were purchased
online. The pegs have brown pearl tuning knob.
“Java” is acoustic/electric it has been amplified with a 1 -1/8th”inch
round Piezo pickup with a standard jack so it can be played on most
amplifiers.
The strings are bulk Phosphor Bronze which I purchased from CBGitty. The
strings are .026, .034 and .044, the guitar is tuned to Open G which is G
D G, these strings give a warm, mellow tone.
PARTING THOUGHTS
“Java” has been a very nice build she turned out quite nice. It has a very nice warm sound, the only issue I am having is a bit of string buzz on the top string, I think this is from the Hard Tail Bridge, I have had this happen before when using this type of Bridge. I will get it sorted and sounding as good as she should!!
If you have any comments, questions please send them along and I will
do my best to answer. Will be posting more of the CB guitars I have
built and will be doing a start to finish video in the near future.
So until then take care, stay safe.
Happy building
Butch
ARCB Guitars
arcbguitars.ca
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