Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Dean Wilkerson on September 5, 2016 at 11:56am

Well, I never thought I'd ever build a CBG since there are so many great builders who make some nice instruments at reasonable prices, but after watching these videos a few times, I just had to give it a shot. I certainly took more than an hour to build it and made a few mistakes, but over all I'm impressed how well this thing plays in the end. A few notes from the build process.

• I forgot to add in length for the nut and didn't realize it until the neck was done. Luckily I had room to move the bridge back and re-mark the frets.
• The eye bolts sure get hard to turn as you try to dial in the tuning. I know why tuning gears were invented!
• I am surprised how well it stays in tune.
• Because of the cigar box depth, I get better volume out of this one when compared to a custom CBG I bought that uses a thinner Oliva box. The custom does have a pickup though.
• I'd like to use shorter string guides.
• I didn't quite follow Uncle Crow's tips on drilling the sound holes and had some damage, but some sanding made the holes still work in the end. Glad I used my least favorite cigar box I found for my first one.
• I didn't calculate exactly, but I spent under $20 for parts and have some extras. Prices have gone up since these were initially posted.
• Yes, that means I could see building more!

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Permalink Reply by The Bane on September 5, 2016 at 12:25pm

Dean,

That looks great! Wish mine would have turned out looking that nice!

My first I scrapped (for now) due to some careless mistakes on my part. Plus I only had two 3/16th x 3" eye bolts (all they had in stock locally) anyway.

For the second, I basically finished it but used 3/16th x 1 1/2" eye bolts and mounted them vertically in the head like normal tuners. They worked, and as you said, can be a bear when they get tight to keep tightening, but hold a tune. At least for my D and High G string - I broke two Low G strings over tightening them. Now I am just waiting on my shipment of 12 packs of strings to get here.

Might eventually string up both I have built so far, but already looking at how I want to build my next one. I want to try a 'flying bridge' (think that's what they are called) like the ones I have seen on Uncle Crow's guitars in his latest videos...

Best, and thanks for sharing!
The Bane

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Permalink Reply by Jonno on September 6, 2016 at 12:37am

Well done Dean. You must be satisfied. I betcha you already started on No.2. You got the cbg bug he he

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Permalink Reply by Dean Wilkerson on September 7, 2016 at 10:38am

Thanks! Not on to #2 yet, but it has me thinking about it.

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Permalink Reply by Dean Wilkerson on September 7, 2016 at 10:38am

Hey, thanks! More of the imperfections would show up if you could examine it in person. I am happy with how it turned out overall. With that many sets of strings coming, you'll have reason to build quite a few more. I would really consider standard tuners, but I also think it's cool that the only true part that's normally used for a musical instrument are the strings.

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Permalink Reply by The Bane on September 7, 2016 at 11:08am

You're welcome! The imperfections is what appeals to me. It's what distinguishes a homemade CBG from a store bought git for me.

All those strings give me reason and I intend to get them all built. I did buy a set of tuners from the music shop but, like you, think it's cool that strings are the only thing that has to be bought for the CBG. Even with that, I intend to build at least one with weed eater string strings - bass style. Maybe with just two strings though.

Best,
The Bane

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Permalink Reply by Andy Busch on January 5, 2017 at 5:19am

Hi Crow.  Thanks for the very helpful "Uncle Crow Guitar" vids.  I'm going to build one.

My question:  Would your plan work with a metal box?  I have a cookie tin left from Christmas, and I'm thinking of using it to make my "Uncle Crow".  It's square, so that should help.  I also have a couple of round tins.  I want to make something with those too.  Maybe...since the square one might be a tad flimsy, one of the round ones would be better.  Maybe?  Anyway, would a metal box work?

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Glenn Kaiser on January 6, 2017 at 4:45am

Uncle Crow is the man on these so he may have specific thoughts of course. I just want to say try it Andy! Unless you have zero boxes, parts and such (and they can be found, had or made for nothing or next to nothing) why not give it a shot? After years and countless builds of every variety and then some I have found you just never really know what it will sond like until it's built. You may have a ballpark idea from other builds you've done or other gits you've heard that others have built, but you really cannot know until you build and hear it -regardless of variables. I've made full metal gits with sheet metal boxes using conduit for a neck. Sound cool! I've built plenty of U. Crow models and they almost all sound amazing. And if you're putting a pickup in a git, heck, you can tape a piezo on a cantalope and hit it... it may eventually split but you'll hear it via an amp and can then adjust tones and volumes regardless of it's natural tone. Enjoy Andy. It's a disease... but a really fun, cool one to have :) -Glenn

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Permalink Reply by JL on January 30, 2018 at 12:42am

Metal, plastic, cardboard, ceramic, dried gourd, this type of attachment by using a cleat to screw the resonator chamber to the back of a stick-on-top-neck will work for anything rigid enough to hold its own shape.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Bowman on January 29, 2018 at 10:15am

Great videos for the build and Love the eye-bolt tuning pegs!

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Permalink Reply by George Jones on January 31, 2018 at 3:22pm

These are great instructions . . .   After building a basic one - I used the plans as an R&D experimentation platform and ventured over to make me a rather awesome sounding paint can lid resonator with a fly bridge using the "Uncle-Crow" building method that sounds incredible when played.  See attached photos . . .

The last attached photo shows how I did my inside box bracing to ensure the lid was able to vibrate freely . . .  I duct taped a piezo directly to the 1 gallon paint can lid to allow me to connect it to an amp, but the resonator is loud enough to where you really don't need an amp to easily play it with good volume in your living room . . .

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Permalink Reply by JL on February 1, 2018 at 2:34am

very nice resonator!!!

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