Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ryan Rose on January 13, 2012 at 10:28am

Actually, no, not that different, in my experience. Granted, my experience is limited to one cookie tin banjo, but I didn't do anything that wouldn't work just as well for a cbg, other than widening the neck to accomodate the 5th string. I think the biggest differences - for cigar box instruments - would be strings and tuning. In general, with cigar box instruments, they are what you say they are. Within reason, of course.

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Permalink Reply by Bear on January 13, 2012 at 2:25pm

No difference in construction. Here're some standards (copied from the INTERNET, so it must be correct) for two types of 4-string banjos -- tenor and plectrum:

 

The Tenor Banjo
Scale Length: 22 Inches Average
Frets: 19 Average
Tuning: CGDA for Dixieland and Jazz Styles
Tuning: GDAE for Celtic Styles (an octave below mandolin)

The Plectrum Banjo
Scale Length: 26 Inches (relative to the 5-string banjo)
Frets: 22 Average
Tuning: CGBD (traditional)
Tuning: DGBE (Chicago tuning)
Tuning: GDAE for Celtic Styles

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Permalink Reply by Rian Kemp on January 13, 2012 at 11:19pm

Thanks Bear,

 

Looks like the small 7x7x1.5 inch Cigar Box will or could do the trick.

 

My wife said at breakfast this morning that if I was going to build any more instruments I need to learn how to play and understand them.

Bear said:

No difference in construction. Here're some standards (copied from the INTERNET, so it must be correct) for two types of 4-string banjos -- tenor and plectrum:

 

The Tenor Banjo
Scale Length: 22 Inches Average
Frets: 19 Average
Tuning: CGDA for Dixieland and Jazz Styles
Tuning: GDAE for Celtic Styles (an octave below mandolin)

The Plectrum Banjo
Scale Length: 26 Inches (relative to the 5-string banjo)
Frets: 22 Average
Tuning: CGBD (traditional)
Tuning: DGBE (Chicago tuning)
Tuning: GDAE for Celtic Styles

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Permalink Reply by Gary Davis on January 17, 2012 at 11:47am

I am not an experianced musician, but consider the neck length for specific music. You can play G7 chord on all the neck lengths, but if you're focusing towards a certain genre, one length may give a more traditional sound than another.  "Book of the Blues" by Shirley and Driggs publishes 100 blues songs for guitar and tenor banjo in Chicago tuning (DGBE). This banjo tuning is the same as a guitar's top 4 strings and popular for playing chords. I like the book because it provides a couple verses, the chord name above a simple melodic notation; but especially - tenor chord diagrams used in each song are provided and most helpful as a fast reference.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Matthew Borczon on January 15, 2012 at 6:58am

I agree, the cookie tin banjo is a pretty easy build. It is the tuning that makes the sound. Also the right strings help. A small cigar box should sound pretty sweet. Diane in Chicago made me a wonderful sounding banjo out of a large box while I was stationed in Afghanistan. Please post a picture when you are done

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Permalink Reply by atkinson traveler on January 19, 2012 at 9:09am

 Hi

Banjos are set up with a bridge sitting on a resonator with an open back, this is what give the banjo it's sound. The strings transmit the vibrations to the bridge, The bridge transfer them to the resonator and all these things make the sound. I think if you use a closed box you  will end up with a CG not a banjo.

Take a look at the cookie tin banjos to get an idea. If you really want to use the cigar box, The I would try cutting an large opening on the top of the cigar box and attach a piece of cutout cookie tin. Then place a floating bridge on it and you will get the banjo sound you are looking for. If you are really ambitious you can stretch a wet piece of raw hide across the opening, and when it dries it will work like the head on a commercial banjo.

If you use the hide option be careful because the hide will shrink when it dries and put a lot of force on the box. You might want to reinforce it, or it may crush it.

Lastly most of the info I have researched regarding cookie tin banjos suggest that the back be open, or the sound is muffled.You may want to cut the back open or cut some cool sound holes in. The resonator is crucial, I have a couple CG resonators, and they have a banjo quality in the tone.

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on January 19, 2012 at 9:50am

Good luck!  I just bought a bunch of stuff today for a cookie tin banjo project and it seems it should be easy enough to build. I went to Stew Mac for bridges, nuts, a pre-slotted fingerboard and some other bits and pieces.

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Permalink Reply by Rian Kemp on January 20, 2012 at 12:17pm

Thanks guys.

I have had a couple of busy weeks, but hope to get onto a bit of shed time over the weekend.

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Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on February 20, 2012 at 2:59pm

Hi Ryan (Rian) Kemp:

Cigar box nation has a banjo discussion group: "Banjo Players Unite!"  There should be some interesting discussions there. Also, as an alternative to using a cigar box or cookie/cake tin for a resonator, consider using a hand-drum or tambourine. In the case of the tambourine, you should probably remove the "jingle-jangles". I'd also recommend going with a synthetic drum head as natural skin (leather) heads tend to expand and contract too much with changes in the weather (humidity and temperature), so you are always having to re-tune. The more high-end hand-drums and tambourines have both synthetic drum heads and tensioning hardware which will likely result in more reliable banjo. The search engine on Cigar Box Nation and Google for the rest of the Internet) can be used to search for more banjo building articles. I'd spend a fair amount of time to research until I knew pretty much what I wanted and how to build it, then draw out the plans either on computer or on paper to think through all the details. After all, its a lot easier to fix errors while they're still on paper, etc.

Also, if you have never built an instrument before, maybe you should consider building a simpler instrument first. I'd suggest a Dulcijo, but a regular 3-sting cigar box guitar would also be good. Doing so will help perfect skills like head design and tuner placement, neck-to-body attachment, fretting fingerboards, figuring how to attach the strings (nut, bridge, and tail piece), etc. Here's a link if your thinking maybe a cake/cookie tin banjo: The Cookie Tin Variety: a community image bank.

Good luck with you project.

-Rand.

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Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on February 22, 2012 at 3:08am

Tomayto tomarto.... Listen to all the experts..
You think a cigar box guitar is ANYTHING like a guitar???

If you want it to have a banjo vibe look up 'reentrant tunings'.
And just build it. Lotta guys round here get too hung up on labels dulcijo this tintar that. I make unique things how bout you? Call it bruce

Ps rawhide does expand and contract yes but it's how banjos are made. I've done six or seven rawhide topped salad bowl builds and maybe a dozen tribal drums. There is no good reason to avoid it what a load of shit. Pol been using rawhide to make instruments long before there was nice petroleum byproducts handy
Ps2 jingle jangles are called zills.. And yes tambourines on top of a cigar box make a good quickie banjo head, check old lowes pics

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Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf on February 22, 2012 at 5:22am

   "If it's roundish it's a banjo"

   "But it has 10 strings"

   "It's a 10 string banjo-thing"

   "But they're bass strings"

   "It's a 10 string bass banjo-doohickey"

   "B-B-But..."

   "Move along, kid, your bothering me"

   "its made out of a collection plate"

   "WOOF! WOOF! WOOF!"

                                                     

                                                                               

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