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Resonators-- if not spun, then what ? (make-shift builds)

Drat ! I originally posted this in a group, instead of the Forum..... sorry for the double post (still learning my way around)

Hey everyone.
I'm still at the "everything is eye candy !" stage while I line up supplies and try to get a few more tools to make a build.

Meanwhile, I've been researching simple resonator constructs -- from tins to license plates.

So, my question is like my subject..... If you dont want to go the route of professional Spun Cones with manufactured tops, blah blah....

...what will work well on a strummer (Iwhether regular build or cigar box) ?

I saw a vid of a license plate, but dont know if the cigar box wood top is left on, or cut away underneath.

I saw a candy tin turned upside down without the lid and inserted in a big hole in the top, and was kept about 1/2 inch from touching the bottom....

Any thoughts what would work nice and How-To ?

I love the idea of decorative tins (I'm a small candy / super hero tin collector, especially 3d).

Any helps would be appreciated whilst I wait to get going.

and yeah, my first build will be a simple thing to get started, but I'm sure my second build will be close behind, hahaha

Kindest,
jim

ps-- I should mention, my goal is not necessarily Slide.

Im considering just a 3 sting Strummer type thing, but I like the twangy sound, but a little cleaner than slide..... make sense?

thanks

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Permalink Reply by Ben on May 12, 2011 at 8:26pm

Every stringed instrument has a "resonator." On a straight forward CBG, the box top resonates (vibrates). When you're using a metal resonating surface (spun cone, cookie tin, etc.) you want that to vibrate instead of the box top. So yes, if you have an additional piece like a license plate, get rid of the box top underneath. On my page you can see video of a cookie tin reso that has a through-neck design. The top does not contact anything else so it can vibrate freely.

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Permalink Reply by Don Goguen on May 12, 2011 at 8:33pm

I went kind of a different route.

It's basically a stick and a body.

Very good acoustic output, cheap and works for both slide and picking.

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Permalink Reply by James Boutilier on May 12, 2011 at 8:36pm

Saw this and Ben's vid... very cool guys.

Amazing this things work (grin). Guess I just gotta understand music more.

I really want something with a wood main body but metal resonating.

Dont have the method yet to cut thin wood so I can build from scratch, but a box I can replace the top on seems the best way to work it right now.

jim

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Permalink Reply by Ben on May 12, 2011 at 9:15pm

I haven't tried it but you should be able to use something along the lines of an Altoid tin (half). Figure out where the bridge will be, center the tin in that area, cut a hole in the box top slightly smaller than the tin, place the bridge on top of the tin, let the string tension hold it in place. I've also hear that the tins from cat food resonate better than your equivalent tuna can (I am reminded of this every time I feed my cat and toss the can rather loudly into the recycling bin).

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on May 12, 2011 at 9:24pm

paint can lid / coffee can lid / saucepan lid under the bridge, no need to even cut the box top...

otherwise, a steel bowl of some sort, lotta guys done dog food bowls..

cookie tins are what i'd recommend, colourful, nice, easy to find...

if u reall wanna wooden box, just put the lid of a cookie tin on top, bridge on top of that..

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Permalink Reply by Ben on May 12, 2011 at 9:29pm

So you still get a decent acoustic reso sound without having a resonating chamber?

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Permalink Reply by James Boutilier on May 12, 2011 at 9:29pm

Very cool !

I could do this in my first build after all --

Love this forum !

Thanks

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Permalink Reply by James Boutilier on May 12, 2011 at 9:38pm

Hey Ben -- that has been my main question behind what I'm asking.

I think you get more of that bodied sound if there is a chamber (such as the upside down can I was asking about), and I "think" the metal tops only give you that metally/twanging sound "ontop" of the box's sound (if that makes sense)

jim

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Permalink Reply by Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) on May 13, 2011 at 12:56am

Going ultra simple, you could could us the metal can from wet cat food. Cut the top off, clean it out, ta-da (will sound thin though). I really recommend you check out Mike Lowe's cones, though. They are very easy to install and use and get you damned close to the sound of a real resonator.

http://smokehouseguitars.com/blognewsroll/?category_name=reso_cones