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RULES, what rules? a lighthearted look.

Hi, just for the sake of making lighthearted conversation, I‘d like to share the following.

Rules. I was checking long-lost posts recently and came across comments, many by long-lost members, that bought up the word, or the issue of rules as related to instruments featured in this forum. So…..

It is often said on this forum that there are no rules when building a CBG. I would suggest that there are rules if that’s the word one chooses to use, and as in all areas of endeavor, not following the rules has consequences.
I do not intend to criticise those that choose to work outside those rules, as I would be criticizing myself. I would be the first to admit that I find it hard to stick to all the rules, all the time that are associated with musical instrument building.
There are however many rules in life that I do adhere to, but in the building of instruments, I’m the only one that faces any consequences of stepping outside the rule.

• What are rules? A set of guidelines or principles governing the procedure within a particular area of activity.
I like to use the word guidelines, sounds less intimidating than rules. But for the sake of this offering, I’ll use the word RULES.

Before I started building instruments seriously, I read and followed all the rules I could get my hands on. In those days the main source of info for me was from magazines. When I could afford books, I learned the rules for building all popular stringed instruments. Why?......

Well, after spending lots of money on tonewood and storing it for use, and being in uncharted waters, I couldn’t afford to mess things up. It took a few years before I started to make my own rules.
• Rules are not static they evolve.
• Rules are based on theories of what’s best based on info at the time.
• When understanding the reason for the rule we can see the consequences of deviating from it.

Rules that restrict more than they enable are often broken in my workshop, but I appreciate and understand the reason for that rule and set my own guidelines.
If everybody followed all the rules laid out by early instrument builders progress would be hampered with new designs, methods, and materials not evolving. I would say that some rules do apply to building “box” guitars as they do for other instruments, and not following those rules, or being selective is what makes Lutherie interesting for me.

• Rules are instructions, a guide to do a task, but not the only way though.
So, when someone asks, “how do I…?” we often respond with a rule or should I say, respond with guidelines.
Footnote: After fifty years of repairing stringed Instruments, and I’ve seen inside all brands, I can confidently tell you we are not the only group not following the rules all the time. Haha.
Cheers Taff

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on February 5, 2022 at 11:51am

Damn, sorry lost my reply I will get back later
Taff

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on February 5, 2022 at 12:32pm

Hi Poorness, hey buddy, if I have written something untoward earlier it is me that should be apologising, sorry about that. And to anybody else, sorry, it was not my intention. My comments were purely general. Everybody’s comments have been informative and constructive I thought.
My intention for this thread was to have beginners benefit by hearing how the “no rules” saying is perceived by others. When I first heard it, it conjured up a feeling of using what you like, designing whatever you like, be free and creative. But as a more experienced builder, I knew that some “rules” would come into play sometime.
I agree with you Poorness regarding the pitfalls of conversations using written words only. It has always been my understanding that conversation is constructed of three components, 55% Visual 38% Tone, and 7% words. Even if it was 55% words there’s still a lot missing when explaining ourselves in writing.
I reposted some of my opening comments purely for the benefit of those that may join in late in the piece, I could see them getting pushed further back due to the in-depth replies being posted.
Cheers Taff

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Permalink Reply by Carl Floyd on February 7, 2022 at 3:24am

Rules? Mostly like this sign............mere suggestion. :)

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on February 10, 2022 at 3:20am

No Rules.

Make them deep, make them shallow.

Make them wide, make them narrow.

Make them long , make them short

why even a box for PORT!

Make them fretted , make them fretless

you can even be quite reckless.

found things,bought things

acoustic or electric.

find a box ,or make it

Make it country, make it metal

make it with a shovel.

banish preconceived ideas

on what you make SHOULD be!

NO RULES!

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on February 10, 2022 at 12:24pm

Hi, well I did say a lighthearted look, thanks, Carl and Timothy.

Here is a list of guidelines that apply to instrument building generally, but can be as equally useful when building instruments of interest to forum members building box instruments.

Timothy Hunter, I have read your rhyme

Gee, it must have taken some time

Your one-line comments really made me chuckle

If they say there are no rules, well here are a couple

In the list I have posted and its one that I follow

You may see that “no Rules” is a hard one to swallow

No rules may be encouraging for a very beginner

But in time you may find there's a need for a winner

So, if you want the best out of what you put in

Remember these guidelines and let your instruments sing.

...Or not.

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Permalink Reply by Carl Floyd on February 11, 2022 at 4:16am

Longer the scale length, the more string tension required.

increased string length decreases pitch. Yet, more tension increases pitch.

Never really thought that through before. Now my head is starting to hurt. :)

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Permalink Reply by the anonymous pick on February 10, 2022 at 6:40pm

PS... Photo is WRONG ! Gate door MUST be made out of tone wood ! ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on February 11, 2022 at 11:19am

Hi,
Ha-ha, very true Pick.
What’s that saying? “Think outside the box’.
Taff

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on February 12, 2022 at 3:06am

I agree with you Taff. no rules/guidelines will make something that will twang. But to make something musical then that's where the guidelines help.

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Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on February 14, 2022 at 11:26am

Hi, our cat was surrounded by tonewood, which did not help either.

Cheers Taff

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on February 16, 2022 at 2:49am

better watch out or he might end up as strings...lol just kidding i love cats.

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Permalink Reply by Carl Floyd on February 21, 2022 at 2:47am

Guidelines, they are called guidelines. :)

"A cigar box guitar is to a regular guitar what a micro-house is to a regular house." "You get to break the rules, but you still have to follow some guidelines." - Farley Andresen

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