Hi gang - great forum. I just came across these gutiars yesterday when looking for a homemade instrument for my son's school project and I'm getting ready to start a build this weekend.
One part I'm not sure on is the best method to cut out the notches on the box. Some projects I see have a box while others cut out a U-shape. I realize this will change the cut out of the neck a bit, but is one method preferred over another?
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One string tab for Mary had a Little Lamb
7 5 3 5 7 7 7 5 5 5 7 10 10
7 5 3 5 7 7 7 5 5 7 5 3
Thanks for the reply. Both of the boxes I have have the lid that closes inside the outer side walls of the box. I think the best way to go is the U-shape cutout. I think that will leave me the most neck wood inside the box. Cutting out a square hole, I think, means more to cut out on the neck.
Yeah, I guess this first one will turn into my project. I just would like to see him do something better than a shoebox with rubber bands. We've built several pinewood derby cars together, so if he wants to come out to the garage with me for the 2nd guitar, he'll be more than welcome.
Rectangular holes are simpler to cut accurately and if you build a stacked neck then you don't have to worry about bending, neck touching the top, etc.
Also you should probably check with the school to be sure he won't get in trouble for having a tobacco related product on school grounds. You might have to use a craft box or a cookie tin instead.
I think I am gong to throw up.
Yeah, I had wondered about the cigar box at school. I did sand off the word "Cigar" on the one Cohiba box I had. I wish I hadn't done that now. Oh well.....
But good call on the craft box or cookie tin. Would Michael's or maybe JoAnn's have a std wooden box we could use? Would a shoe box work?
Hi Aaron,
Making your own sound boxes are not that difficult to do. There's a group on CBN that specializes in sound box making. Here's the link: Home Made Resonator Boxes 101, v.2.0
There is also a group on CBN that specializes in different kinds of "Canjos".
Here's the link: Can Jo Consortium
If you are building simple instruments for children to play, you should consider building a diatonic stick dulcimer type of instrument (avoids most the complexity of sharps and flats). With a 3 string instrument, you play the melody on string 1, and just strum strings 2 and 3 (the "drone strings") without fretting them. Much easier for beginners to learn to play. Additionally, a shorter scale length will be easier for smaller children to play, perhaps 15 to 20 inches. A tenor ukulele has a 17" scale length, so that may be good. Additionally, nylon (ukulele) strings would be easier on children's fingers because they haven't played long enough to develop callouses on their finger tips. I like hearing about people getting involved with kids building instruments. Good for you! Let us know how it turns out.
P.S. If you need some tabs for songs let us know. I have a bunch, and there are a couple of books available, as well as mountain dulcimer tabs which can be used as well and are freely downloadable of the Internet.
-Rand.
Rand, thanks for the great reply.
My son's project is just to make an instrument that can change pitch and amplitude. I guess these are the terms they've been learning about in their "Sound" lessons.
The dulcimer looks real neat. as does the canjo. His project is due Friday, so I may keep it simple, but man, there's a whole new frontier for me now. I have a whole shop of tools I haven't used in years and this might just be the ticket to get me back into it.
JoAnn's wood boxes
Hobby Lobby wood boxes
Michael's has wood boxes but the website always tries to install junk on my comp so I don't link to it.
I wouldn't think a shoe box is feasible.
Cookie and fruit cake tins sound more like a banjo and can usually be picked up at thrift stores for under a $1; some of the chocolate chip cookie tins are bigger than a banjo head and are loud.
Michael's should have a pretty good selection of plain wooden art boxes. If you want to really weird them out go get an unfinished bird house. They sound surprisingly good! Sound hole is already cut for you too.
I always cut rectangular notches in the boxes to get an accurate match to the neck. I wouldn't want to try and match up a radius with a tight fit.
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