The simplest little resonator instrument of all. Please add links to plans, photos of your canjos and ideas you've found that make the most of this diminutive instrument. (The image is a temporary placeholder, I'll replace it any day now!)
Location: the vegetable aisle in a grocery store near you
Members: 250
Latest Activity: Jan 31, 2023
MySpace
Tweet
Started by Diane in Chicago. Last reply by Keith Zorn Dec 27, 2022. 37 Replies 0 Likes
Post up photos of your tin-tars! These are the ones that look mostly like this:Continue
Started by Adam Jellison. Last reply by Adam Jellison Jan 8, 2020. 6 Replies 3 Likes
Maybe it is just me, but I love to sit there and pick out songs I know or songs people want to play on my Canjo. I own a couple of Canjo Song books from Gitty, and looked around online and found a…Continue
Started by Mike Whisenhunt. Last reply by Glenn Watt Nov 22, 2019. 9 Replies 0 Likes
So I've made a few of this tin can banjo things. Having a blast playing on them. I've made a couple out of empty tin "soup" cans and one out of a beer can. I cut a few other cans to prepare them to…Continue
Started by Diane in Chicago. Last reply by James Conder Nov 5, 2018. 7 Replies 1 Like
If you've used an upright can on a chordophone, here's the place to show your work.I'm looking for an olive oil can right now, one of those really pretty ones from Eastern Europe.Continue
Comment
Glenn, I think you're onto something. Sounds a little (If I'm understanding it right) like an early On-String Willie diddley bow arrangement.... I've never understood the concept completely. Seems like the can becomes a resonator for the neck/brige and not the string.... Anyway, good to hear from you.
For all my CN friends... A guaranteed way to have a "Happy Thanksgiving" is to get busy giving thanks.... Blessings, Sam
Probably been done, or is obvious to some of y'all, but I've an idea I must try. Bridge below and not in direct contact with can. Large enough hole in can string doesn't buzz against the metal.
Picture canjo laying flat in front of you, left-to-right- tuner left, right is the bottom where the can would be:
Create slight slot in stick for can but leave more than normal room (say total 2 inches) on stick below end of can for both bridge and string hole.
Next to can place bridge. Below that (to the right) drill string hole. Screw can into slot tightly. Drill the string pass-through hole in can bottom low/higher/middle of the can bottom, wherever you like.
Depending on what you want to try, the bridge height will determine where that pass-through hole in the can needs to be. Build bridge accordingly.
String it and know that you lose -some- vibration if bridge isn't inside the can... but if the can is tight enough in the slot, bridge perhaps made of hardwood and of course tightly glued in place, the vibrations move via bridge/neck/can anyway though they don't move via the metal can as they aren't quite as much in direct contact with it as when a bridge is placed inside the can (as I normally build mine).
Just thinkin'... Happy Thanksgiving folks! -Glenn
About the center of the can and the high action:
I'm using crooked sticks that are cut so the center of the can lines up about 1/4 " higher than the fret tops. Action is good and sound is good--finding or making proper crooked sticks is a pain in the backside. Each stick has to be custom cut for the particular can unless I can rig some sort of adjustable cradle to permit fine tuning the string action. Working on that as we speak...
About the neck through the can:
It seems that most of the sound comes off the side of the can instead of out the open end. (Handbells also work this way.) I'm thinking "outside the can" and maybe I should use a wide board like Wichita Sam shows below to keep my fat gut from damping the side of the can. (Of course, if I had a wide board, then the neck could go through the can. Hmmm!)
errr, "an unmuffled sound"... typo, sorry
TN,
I think the only thing you give up as you move away from the center of the can bottom is a little volume. I'm using a .025 guage brass wound string and it seems to like G above middle C (same G as you'd get on the third string of a6 string guitar).... It can be tuned as high as the C above that....You can string it with thinner (wound or solid) for a higher open note but with 2 octaves on the fret board, why bother?
Bear, you an do it with the neck in or neck out, string in the center or toward the edge.... personal preference. My reasoning is the neck outside the can helps hold the can off my body for an muffled sound. I can see how it would work the other way.
I might be missing the point, but if the hole is in the center then dose that not result in a high action.
David
W Sam,
Beautiful work. I envy whoever is getting the gift.
2 questions:
Do you get a better (or worse) sound by attaching the string near the rim of the can? (I've been going to some trouble to attach in the center.)
What kind of string are you using on a short 14" scale and what pitch are you tuning to?
Thanks,
TN
Very cool!
So, the "recent" conversation about reversing the can's orientation to get the player an extended available scale made such goo sense, that I have to try my hand.
A couple hours later (minus drying time)....
Can's bottom is forward allowing a 14" (mandolin-like) scale length and two playable octaves. The maple neck becomes a backbone for a pine mini-body.
The neck is finished in spray poly and the body in a translucent blue metal flake.
The neck is pretty standard 1x1 maple, economy tuner, banjo wire for frets, bass fret for nut. 1/4 dots cut from a blue guitar pick.
The business end shot reveals what few "secrets" this kind of build has. Two screws (front and back) goes through can, neck and body to hold everything together. Neck sets down in body in groove made by multiple passes through table saw. And the neck is thinned under the can. This allows the neck to be partially recess in grove and the string to be moved up away from the can edge. If I were doing this build again I would increase this thinning to about half the thickness of the neck instead of just 3/16s of an inch.
This was a fun little project. The intonation is good, ample volume and the body keeps the can from getting "muffled" against the player. I guess I could even add a little string and sling it mandolin style while playing. It is destined to be a stocking stuffer for someone in the family. Hope you enjoyed.
Thanks TN.
Started by Diane in Chicago. Last reply by Keith Zorn Dec 27, 2022. 37 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Adam Jellison. Last reply by Adam Jellison Jan 8, 2020. 6 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Mike Whisenhunt. Last reply by Glenn Watt Nov 22, 2019. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Diane in Chicago. Last reply by James Conder Nov 5, 2018. 7 Replies 1 Like
Started by JL. Last reply by Wichita Sam Mar 10, 2017. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Greg Thompson. Last reply by TN Twang Aug 19, 2016. 4 Replies 5 Likes
Started by Greg Thompson. Last reply by TN Twang Aug 14, 2016. 8 Replies 1 Like
Started by Graham Alibone. Last reply by Graham Alibone Sep 15, 2015. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by David Harris. Last reply by Greg Thompson Nov 27, 2014. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Started by David Bowes. Last reply by David Bowes Sep 29, 2014. 11 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Dustan Eichler. Last reply by TN Twang Jun 13, 2014. 23 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Philip Daniel. Last reply by Rand Moore Apr 4, 2014. 10 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Hillbilly Hobo. Last reply by Rand Moore Apr 4, 2014. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Started by jabes. Last reply by jabes Mar 25, 2014. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Piht Bull (Delta Dawg Guitars). Last reply by PKB Jan 31, 2014. 7 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Mario Poggio. Last reply by Mario Poggio Nov 28, 2013. 7 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Alan "Poor Boy" Ackerson. Last reply by Alan "Poor Boy" Ackerson Oct 20, 2013. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Battmann. Last reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry Jul 23, 2013. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Jim burt. Last reply by Russ Dugger Dec 13, 2012. 9 Replies 1 Like
Started by Randal. Last reply by Randal Oct 27, 2012. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 LikesMay 30, 2024 from 6:30pm to 10pm – The Casual Pint of Huntsville
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!
You need to be a member of Can Jo Consortium to add comments!