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Cigar Box Amp

Posted by the Fred on January 12, 2013 at 10:39am in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

Greetings All!

So I'm building my first Cigar Box Amp and I have a question.  I have some left over foam from some other project years ago, I was wondering if anyone knows if I added some foam to the inside of the box what kind of effect it would have?  I'll probably give it a try, but maybe I'll make it so that the piece can be removed easily, maybe to achieve different desired sounds and tones.  

Anyway, anyone have an idea if I should even bother trying?

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Replies

  • ron carlson February 26, 2013 at 1:05pm

    What kind of foam?

    Although Oily is correct about guitar speaker cab manufactures from my experience, from a audio reproduction standpoint, adding the correct amount of acoustic fill to a non ported, acoustic suspension design will add apparent volume and many times extend LF to the cabinet when using a high Q driver. Using acoustic (sculptured) foam will typically just filter out some HF. Seeing as how most speakers for guitar don't really do HF as such anyway, it may not have much effect whether it be a open or closed design. Thing is though, guitar speakers ain't audio speakers ;)

    I'm a big proponent of experimentation, though.   I'd say to give it a shot and find out for yourself what the audible differences are. My guess would be that your results will vary greatly depending on box size, speaker and amount and type of fill used. No harm no foul as long as you keep everything easily reversible.

     

  • the Fred January 12, 2013 at 2:01pm

    Thanks guys, your input has been great.  I don't have any experience with amps at all and the idea came to me in the shower.  I suppose I should have let it wash down the drain but figured I'd ask. 

    I did get another idea out of this discussion though.  I already planned on building the speaker into the "bottom" of the box, leaving the "top" as a back flap for easy access.  Now I'm thinking I could add a little prop so I can use the amp either closed or open, maybe even different amounts of open depending on where the prop is placed.   Hmmm.

    • TruckDrivingFool > the Fred February 27, 2013 at 8:34pm

      On my porch I set my CB amp on a table next to the window and found I get really good tone by pointing the speakers away from me and letting it bounce back off the glass. That said I'll second thesuggestion of playing around with having the lid open/closed ect. and even position.

      The ones I've made I've always put the speaker(s) in the bottom to save the art work. I've also found with rubber feet you don't have to have a prop they will stay splayed open pretty well just from the grab of the feet..

    • Ron "Oily" Sprague > the Fred January 12, 2013 at 3:38pm
      If you've got a Michael's, Hobby Lobby, Lowe's or Home Depot nearby, you can find one of those brass sliding box lid supports ( some are curved, some are straight) to keep the box propped open at whatever angle you want...
      • the Fred > Ron "Oily" Sprague January 14, 2013 at 9:13am

        Didn't know such things existed!  Thanks, I'll check it out.

  • Ron "Oily" Sprague January 12, 2013 at 1:10pm
    That's how you're supposed to use the commercially-made Pignose amp, too...
  • Scott aka Farmer Ted January 12, 2013 at 11:15am

    a couple ways to get different sounds from cb amp is with the lid...play closed tight (latch engaged) for clean, unlatch so lid rattles a bit, open lid for brighter sound, and my favorite...open & close lid while guitar strings vibrate for a "wah wah" effect.

  • Ron "Oily" Sprague January 12, 2013 at 11:15am
    It will seriously dampen the ability of the speaker to move enough air to reproduce whatever sound is amplified through it. Prove it to yourself by stuffing the foam in one of your other amps. There are no commercial amps that I know of that purposely stuff foam into the amp and speaker enclosure. But go ahead and prove it to yourself; you and we both know you're gonna do it, anyway. >:-E
  • the Fred January 12, 2013 at 11:11am

    BUt would it dampen it in a bad way or just give a different sound?

    • Ron "Oily" Sprague > the Fred January 12, 2013 at 1:12pm
      In a bad way. It will muffle the sound. If that's what you're looking for, might as well stuff a small pillow, a hamster, and some cedar shavings in there, too ;-).
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