Hey all,

Thinking of having an acoustic built, but before I dive into that, I was wondering if there was a consensus as to the best sounding boxes for an acoustic CBG? Cardboard or wood? Which box have you heard that sounded great. Yes, I am aware that all CBG's sound slightly different, but I also know I've never heard an electric Punch box sound that I didn't like. So what about acoustic boxes? Any recommendations?

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  • 306627984?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

    No 4

  • 306625936?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

    No; 3

  • Ha ha, like I said a while back, it's a huge subject.
    Taff
  • 306625640?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

    No 2

  • Maybee this is some fun stuff to read on the subject its 4 pages in total and its about acoustics in and whit wood by a Greek Luther that was introdused a while a go By a Italian Nation Member. O and is JJ not more a electric player then acoustic? and you now Jim! he is a exspert on acoustics and Tone !!

    306625483?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

  • Hey all,

    I sent Justin Johnson an email asking him if he knew of any acoustic builders he could recommend. He recommended himself, LOL. That was a surprise! There is a catch though. He will be building a limited series of guitars for his Kickstarter fundraiser for his new album.  As part of the fundraiser, he is offering to hand-build a series of guitars.  Here is a link to the Kickstarter page so you can check it out: http://kck.st/2sGGufS

    He told me:

    "If you select the JUSTIN JOHNSON SIGNATURE 4-STRING GUITAR reward level, then I can make sure to build your acoustic CBG with the resonator cone, f-holes, fret markers, and zero fret.  Plus, I'll be personally adjusting the action, setting the intonation, and sound testing it before seeing it out. Let me know if your interested, or if you have any questions."

    Arrrgh! I would love to do this...have the man himself, Justin Johnson, build me my next CBG. Only problem is that it's alot more than I wanted to spend. I'm riding the fence on this right now. The thing is, I want an "acoustic only"...meaning: no electrical parts, and honestly, I'm not sure I can see spending $425 - $450 on an acoustic CBG. But man, that would be cool to get a git built by "The Wizard" himself.

  • Always an interesting question.  I think there is a lot more to good sound than just the box.  My 2x4 build was a thin cardboard box with cedar bottom, has fairly big sound hole way up in the corner, but it rings nicely with good volume and over tones. If I tap the top the strings vibrate freely, it is like the whole thing is resonant.  I wish I knew why!  Some of it is that there is very little inside the box and nothing but the bridge touching the top.  There is more to it besides the box itself, some of it is having a design that lets the top move freely as well. The bridge and nut, neck wood, and strings all impact the sound.

    But in reading your comments, a "take anywhere" guitar seems like it should also be fairly stout, based on that I would start with an all wood box like others said, but find one with a thin top or flip it over and use the bottom.

  • I 2nd Ron's comments about the Las Cabrillas and Padron, and would add Cohiba and any of the laminated wood boxes if the top is thin. Even the small but deep ones like Ashton have a nice sound acoustically.

    You could always hole-punch stickers and use as temp fret markers if your builder won't make them. Though not sure why he wouldn't.

  • Yep ! Certainly All wood,thats my advice as well, or it be cigar box any brand thats all wood, and not the ones that have cardboard lids and cedar sides and Bottom,my latest one is a winebox presentation box ,is bigger got more acoustic volume, i separated the box in two compartments ,whit two sink roasters, as a sound hole,

    tree(3) string 25 inch scale, all wood bridge (wide contact) like viola/cello ,and a thee bag clamp for a string holder (chrome metal), and this box is booming for me! dont need no pick up on this one, its like whit the guy's that like the Tin boxes hate to put a hole in it!, but again go for all sedar ( in my country mostly the antiek kind have this quantity)  in the biggest size you can get or all wood of a lighter kind, Its not like reinventing the wheel, most of the things we know are allready know and done, Good luck on your quest Snuffy !

  • Yes Jim, that's what I did also when planning my first CBG, I made a box, 3 actually, to suit the scale length I wanted then played with different sound holes until I hit the sweet spot. Taff
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