Update on my Diddley Box build - Four Months Out

I just wanted to give an update on how my build has played so far. It's different than most Tele-inspired builds in that it's got a poplar neck with a red oak fretboard and a 1/4" square steel non-adjustable truss rod. Also, it's radius is completely flat...no 12", no 10"...completely flat. Here's a pic...

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I know there's some concern about how suitable poplar is for a neck. I've used this guitar almost exclusively for the last four months for practicing, gigging and some studio work. So far there are no signs of bowing. I know there is just the same amount of string tension on this guitar as a 12" or 10" radius, but it feels to me that strings are much easier to fret. The flat fretboard plays very fast and string bending is a dream. I find that I can go easily between this guitar and any other guitar with a radiused fretboard.

The one thing that I'd do differently is to not set the neck so deep into the box. Reaching the upper frets is a little difficult. Maybe only set the neck deep enough for the first two or three frets to be in the neck pocket.

I will build myself another guitar soon and this one might just become my slide or lap steel guitar. This simple build of a neck has made a really good player!!

Tnx,

Simple is always better. I love it!

Love it. Great photos on your site.

Can you give some more detail about the box you used?

Thanks!!!

The box is a wine box top that I found at Good Will...$2 I believe. I put a center 2X4 in it to allow me someting to anchor the pups and bridge. The wings of the box are hollow. I used a childs water color set to do the burst and it's finished with Minwax brush on poly.

Love it. Great photos on your site.

Can you give some more detail about the box you used?

I love hearing well it's doing, and how well your enjoying it :smile:. Things don't have to be complicated to work well, sometimes what is old is new again :wink:, congrats! :grin:


Dave