So I lucked into a reallllllly cool looking solid wood box that I believe is all mahogany, it’s a Camacho Connecticut 6X60 20 count box, with a very cool looking black face with the scorpion logo. It’s just crying for a Humbucker and walnut fretboard. The only issue is the top of the box is thick, on the order of 3/8 solid mahog under that beautiful wrapper. The sides and bottom are mahog as well. The bottom is 1/8, and the sides about 3/8 also. My thinking is use the router to chew away the underside of the lid, leaving it full thickness at the periphery, where it closes onto the box, but thinning out the soundboard so it’ll play in acoustic mode also. Any thoughts on the ideal thickness I should make the top? I can preserve the outward appearance by removing the lid from the hinges and routings tge underside, but as it is, the top is deader than a picnic table.
Tags:
I've got 2 the same I'm going to flip them round build with the 1/8 bottom being now the top job sorted to keep it simple , there's no rules in this game . Have fun .
I thought of that, but that black lid with the scorpion in the middle would be so cool looking, lol.
I just don’t want to destroy the darn thing, and wonder if routing it out but leaving the edge thick will let the top ring?
The way these boxes are stored, then released from captivity , alot of them are dried out ,, and a router may be a bit violent for them . one lil snag and the top may get torn apart .
I'd just pop the humbucker in it and call it an" electric" ,...... and if it still sounds loud enough as an acoustic , that's a bonus .
When weighing looks and multi function , sometimes ya cant get the best of both worlds .
but call it electric , and its perfect ;-)
Yep that's a good point Pick after my last outing with a router was a train wreck I should of waited till had my carpal tunnel done ... :-(
Hi, I have mentioned this before, thickness is not a real good guide to producing a top, thats if you are looking for a louder more tonefull guitar.
When I'm prepping a top and back for that matter, I look for flexibility. To this end many a luthier will graduate the thickness to be thinner around the outside edge. Of course stiffer tops can be thinned more than flimsy overflxible top. Then braces added to control movement and add stability.
Thats in the guitar world, but we are dealing with box's, but I use the same theories in my build of a CBG.
When I want the best I can get from both worlds, I build the best acoustic sounding top, but mount the magnetic pickup so it goes through the top without touching it.
Taff
All good thoughts. When I say router, that’s the short version of a Dremel with a router base using a 1/8” four flute end mill, so it’s not too likely to shake the world apart. Point taken that flexible is a good thing. I think I’m gonna give it a go and work toward around 1/8 inch with the border retained at full thickness. Worst case scenario it ends up a dedicated electric. Thanks folks.
Hi, I think that's what is called MDF here, man made fibre. Yep it's killer stuff, as in its not good for you. It will give out a fair sound though.
Taff
Hi, I think that's what is called MDF here, man made fibre. Yep it's killer stuff, as in its not good for you. It will give out a fair sound though.
Taff
Since I play through an amp most of the time (because I like loud) and since when I want to play quietly (like when I'm in a hotel room) I want to play very quietly... I've come to the conclusion that, for me, thickness doesn't matter. Makes my life a lot easier. :D
But kudos to you guys that go for and achieve good acoustic tone and volume.
I hear you. I’m in an apartment with some very nice neighbors downstairs that go to bed early and get up early, so volume is an issue. But during the day nobody else in the building but me. So on the electric front, I’m about to do a pair of guitars, one fretted, one not, using the three string DeltaBuckers. Eventually I’ll probably go for a 10w tube amp. I told my son, if I only wanted to play electric, I’d skip the box entirely and use a stubby laminated canoe paddle as the whole darn thing. But I do enjoy acoustic guitar, so I’m trying to make that happen.
Started by Bill Andy in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Taffy Evans 4 hours ago. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Bill Andy in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by BrianQ. 7 hours ago. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by BrianQ. in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts on Tuesday. 0 Replies 2 Likes
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 26. 8 Replies 1 Like
Started by Southern Ray in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 26. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by J. D. Woods in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by BrianQ. Apr 25. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Rich Butters in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Crazed Fandango Apr 22. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Nomad Jack in Performances, How to Play, Lessons, Concerts. Last reply by J. D. Woods Apr 17. 7 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Moritz Voegeli in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 14. 6 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Apr 10. 14 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Tom T in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 9. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Apr 4. 7 Replies 1 Like
Started by Timothy Hunter in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 27. 1 Reply 2 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 10. 1 Reply 3 Likes
Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by BrianQ. Mar 9. 4 Replies 3 Likes
Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies 1 Like
Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Ken I in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Brian partington Mar 8. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Southern Ray in Cool gear discussion - that's not cigar box related. Last reply by Southern Ray Mar 6. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Taffy Evans in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 5. 4 Replies 2 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!