Hi, when I was building a series of CBG's using these commemorative biscuit tins, I thought the important meaningful part of the tin was the lid as it carried the message. I also wanted the guitars to sound better that they did as a complete tin, so this it what I did.
I built a box that is the guitar body, complete with a wooden top. The tin lid fits over this [as it did the tin] and has minimal contact with the wood top so does not influence the sound....[much].
The bridge goes through the tin lid without touching it and sits on the wood top beneath.
The tone is a lot more pleasing acoustically and a whole lot more enjoyable when amplified, it does not have that overly bright piezo tone.
Enjoy Taff
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Taff
Hey Taff - I should have gone back and checked my old gits - I tried to lead you astray !!! What I used to do was use a rod piezo in the bridge and then wire it in with a disc mounted under the neck, near the bridge. It's purpose was just to calm down the rod. I have a couple of old guitar pre amps laying around but I've not cobbled them into a guitar yet. I'm retiring in 30 days, so soon....
Taff
I'm inclined to agree that the Tin lid is an important part of the sound, much in the same manner as a license plate guitar, it is the sound board, but the tin that makes up the body is equally important to the sound as the metal of the tin affects the acoustic reverberations of the strings and alters the tone and depth of each note you play.
Deeper tins give a louder sound and wider or longer tins, in my experience at least, give better sustain, up to a certain point of course.
PS Love your build, great tin lid
What you point out is true of all guitars and Stringed instruments, no matter what they are made of. The top (soundboard) is the most important part of the sound production chain. It's what moves the air in the body ( after the strings excite it) to create the sound. what we do is try to improve the quality of that sound in many areas by manipulating the rest of the components..........I'll shut up now sorry.
Oh! I just thought of a story....one of my granddaughters showed me a "tissue box" guitar made at school, using elastic bands as strings. Well, I couldn't help myself, we set about making it sound better. Ha ha, all part of her education. Later as an older schoolgirl she would come into my workshop to build proper instruments.
Cheers Taff
I like your story, a tissue box guitar, that's where I started and then went into my grandfathers work shop to build with him, he is gone from me now, but I honour him by keep building.
Great job
Great looking git Taffy as also the one you submitted for the "Kick The Can" contest.
I usually use 2 piezo in parallel like you did, but mount them close to the neck for a more mellow sound. Also like the springs on the inside. Have you tried either of those?
Like the bridge. Overall, great job.
Springs: sorry what do you refer to here?
Cheers Taff
Shane did a video about mounting springs inside the box(usually stretching from neck side to bridge area) to add some natural reverb to the sound and help with sustain. You can find the video in the "Featured Articles" section.
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