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Cedar Box Build

A while back, a member posted a build that He did making the box out of Cedar roof shingles. The instrument had a great sound to it and made me want to build one for myself.

The shingles have a taper to them and would require planing and I don't have a planer. Also I would have to buy a bundle at 18 dollars. Cedar planks were available at the grocery store for grilling Fish. They were 2 boards 1/4" x 5" x 12" at 4 to 6 dollars a package.

Settled on a Western Cedar fence plank at Lowe's 5/8ths" x 5&1/2" x 60" for $2.55. This was just enough wood for the box and any braces needed, but would need to be dried more. Cut the pieces and dried them in the oven.

Made a frame for the box and the top and bottom panels. Since 5/8ths" is too thick for an effective acoustic, I layed the box frame on top of the panels and traced the inside barrier. I routed the back inside to 1/4" and glued a 1/4" brace along the seam and routed the top inside to 3/16th" and glued a 1/4" brace along the seam. I'll have to add a cross brace later for the bridge, but it will only contact the center brace and the box sides to maximize top vibration. The top is glued to the frame and the back is attached with 4 screws for now, may glue it later. The box was sanded to have a curved side profile. It has a 1&3/4" sound hole. I plan to attach the neck to the box side with screws and glue.

The neck and fretboard will be made of Red Oak. Going for 4 strings and 25" scale with bridge near center of sound board. I plan on using a Uke style bridge and nut. Plan on putting in 2 piezo, 1 on the low string side and 1 on the high string side wired to a blend pot.

Pics of what I have so far.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on February 15, 2016 at 11:03am

Got the tuners installed. Time to cut and file the slots in the nut and bridge.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on February 25, 2016 at 11:47am

Did I ever mention that I HATE corian? Was cutting the string slots in the nut and broke off the edge. Arrrugh. I am not going through this crap again. I will be getting a Bone Uke nut and saddle soon. I was close to getting this ready for acoustic play, now It'll have to wait awhile longer.

Added a little something to the box to add to the tone.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on February 25, 2016 at 4:44pm

Well it can't have everything. I found some aluminum channel in my shop, so I may make the nut and bridge saddle out of that instead of using the bone Uke parts. I could put a brass bolt on for the nut or bridge too. Brass for one and aluminum for the other maybe, I'll figure something out eventually.

Here's a pic of the Uke strip piezo.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on February 25, 2016 at 4:57pm

My plan was to put a Lipstick Tube pickup under the top by the neck. I may have to make a small box to go around it to keep noise at bay. I'll try without it first then add later if I have to.

I might put some rake tines in there too. ;)

Permalink Reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on March 12, 2016 at 3:52am

Looking awesome. Looks like hard work but you've got it looking great! ;)

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on April 1, 2016 at 8:46pm

So I finally got around to doing something on this CBG. I strung it up using a brass bolt for the nut and stuck a piece of corian in the bridge slot and tuned it up.

Started having problem with fret buzz and noticed the top was sagged in from string pressure. Apparently my braces aren't strong enough. So I'll need to add a piece of Red Oak that I have to keep the top from sagging. Hopefully it won't deaden the acoustic sound much.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on April 2, 2016 at 7:11am

That was my thoughts on bracing and wanted to try it out. This CBG is loud for it's size. I should've made the bridge bigger to put to pressure across the hole top and may do that before I'm through.

Here's a couple pic of the new brace. Glue still drying on 1 side then I'll glue up the other side.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on April 4, 2016 at 10:23am

Got it back together and it sounded great for about 2 minutes. Then the neck side of the box broke loose at the joints from the string pressure.

Lesson learned: Cedar is great for a box with a through piece to mount a neck on or for a top & bottom of an acoustic style box, but definitely not for the sides unless the top and bottom are glued to the sides for rigidity's sake. Guessing that's why most acoustic guitars only have Cedar for the top and other woods for sides and back.

I'm going to inject some glue into the joints and put something across the box(neck side to bridge side) to reinforce the box.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on April 4, 2016 at 10:33am

Most of the acoustic properties I wanted to have in this build are going out the window by what it will take to fix this. Gotta do what I gotta do to get it working though.

If I do an acoustic style build again, I'll remember not to use Cedar for the sides unless it's twice as thick.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on April 5, 2016 at 7:01am

It will either get a piece of Red Oak(got some lying around) or a threaded rod.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on April 9, 2016 at 8:01am

Got the brace glued in. Hopefully this will hold it all in place once it's tuned up.