Multiple Questions for any one who want to help?

[Woody]

Hello

 

I have multiple questions for the wise and smarter than me {which isn't hard} good people of Cigar box nation. Feel free to answer one or two or just ignore me like my wife tends to do. I had a couple of questions just thought I would bundle it all in one.

 

1. I bought the 5 dollar pick up from C.B. Gitty Economy Single coil. {https://www.cbgitty.com/cubecart/index.php?_a=product&product_i...} My question is that there is only one wire coming out of it. Where does this go? I have wired up a pizo before one black one red wire. Not sure what to do with one wire.

 

2. What gauge strings is the best to use for a electric cbg ?The gauge is the wire diameter usually written on the string package like a .008 or .024. Interested in what most use here.

 

3. How short does a cbg have to be to be considered a ukelele? 

 

4. How many frets do most use in their builds? I have the gauge or measurement from bridge to nut but not sure how many frets to use and this fits into my calculations.I am fretting my first instrument and I have a 24inch gauge.

 

5. Is this gauge to big /small? Keep in mind I am a fat guy with sausage fingers, wedding ring size 12.

 

I know there are exception to the rule and cbg is bout doing your own thing. I am just looking for a general consensus or opinion on these maters. Any help would be appreciated. I know this was long I just figured I would do it all at once.If you want to ask me any questions feel free to email me or ask here I will be checking the thread periodically.

 

thank you,

Big Wood

[e-mail]

 

 

 

[Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates]

2. What gauge strings is the best to use for a electric cbg ?The gauge is the wire diameter usually written on the string package like a .008 or .024. Interested in what most use here.

 

  I likes me some Ernie Ball Slinkys but YMMV. .008s are REALLY thin. I would hit .010s if I were you. Can bend notes and still have great tone.

 

3. How short does a cbg have to be to be considered a ukelele? 

 

   17" - 20" +/-. I think it mainly concerns the number of frets, but don't hold me to that.

 

4. How many frets do most use in their builds? I have the gauge or measurement from bridge to nut but not sure how many frets to use and this fits into my calculations.I am fretting my first instrument and I have a 24inch gauge.

 

   I do a lot of 24" +/- and depending on where I put the bridge, 22 to 26 frets is normal for a full scale CBG.

 

5. Is this gauge to big /small? Keep in mind I am a fat guy with sausage fingers, wedding ring size 12.

 

   Check out BB Kings big pigs. I think [read: i think] he uses 10s. Again don't hold me to that.

 

Right, there ain't no rules. Build it and see if it works. Then build another to fix what ya messed up last time. Just me opinions.

 

-WY

 

[Clock The Wolf]

Baritone ukuleles have a similiar scale length to quite a few cbgs you'll see on this site. Really, it's the use of those ukulele strings, the tuning, and style of playing, that make it a uk...

[Skeesix]

Strings - I use 10's on all my "real" guitars, so that's what I put on my CBG. When I was tuning to open G that was fine. When I dropped it to open E, then I went a little heavier to, I think, 11's. Scale length is guitar length, 25-1/2". The CBG is a three stringer, using the ADG strings from a pack of regular electric guitar strings. Mine is fretless so I'm not bending notes like on my "real" guitars, just trying to get a good balance between fretting and slide.

[Diane in Chicago]

How many frets?  As many as fit.  The only thing that matters is that they are spaced properly depending on your scale length.  If you are using a longer box, you'll have room for less on the fingerboard, a shorter box gives you room for more.