Canjo advice please?

Hi,

I've built myself a canjo, and I'm happy with it, it only has one string and stays in tune ok, but I want to build one for a mate, and use either 3 or 4 strings, and I think that will be too much tension for it to stay tuned.

For mine, I've just used a hole in the bottom of the can for a bridge, are any other ways I could make a bridge that would help keep in tune better, or can anyone suggest the best strings/ tuning for less tension?

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Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on July 9, 2011 at 5:41am

Maybe if you used a steel can, like for soup or beans, rather than a soda/beer can. I made one like that with two strings and the holes in the bottom of the can are holding up just fine - not crumpling or tearing. Dunno if I'd put four strings on that, though.

As for string gauges, choose them to match the tuning you are looking for based on your scale length (nut to bridge) using this doohickey: http://www.strothers.com/string_choice.htm Enter one string at a time, and it tells you what size to get for that tuning at your chosen length. I go a bit lighter sometimes so I can ease off of the tension and still get the same note.

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Permalink Reply by Grease Stains on July 9, 2011 at 7:06am

i've only made 3 and 4 strings so far, and almost always used some sort of candy/cookie tins for sound bodys. so far i've had alot of luck using small brass hinges you can find for a few bucks in any hardware store. maybe you can modify this for your use somehow. heres a look at one i did.
i've used a 24.5 to 25.5 inch scale everytime because it's easier for me to find the notes. i haven't been brave enough to add frets yet, and this range is the average of my guitars. as i have no truss-rod, i've been using the lightest guage i can find, i Tune GDgb so i take the A (.036) tuned to G, D (.030) g (0.022W) (the W just means this is still a brass wound string) and the b (.014). it seems if you loosen the tension too much, the string tends to vibrate "out of shape" so it won't sound quite right.

this is the guit in the picture, before i set it up with some piezo pickups. i shut up and start playing at 0.53 into the video, hah. i hope you'll find any of useful, and if you decide to go something along the lines that i do, i've had great luck using 1/4 to 3/8 threaded rod for saddles, as well as wood, but i have found it tends to put out more sound if the saddle is long enough to touch the areas of the "sound board" that the neck isn't under.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bo0qkTUIcU0