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Resonators-- if not spun, then what ? (make-shift builds)

Drat ! I originally posted this in a group, instead of the Forum..... sorry for the double post (still learning my way around)

Hey everyone.
I'm still at the "everything is eye candy !" stage while I line up supplies and try to get a few more tools to make a build.

Meanwhile, I've been researching simple resonator constructs -- from tins to license plates.

So, my question is like my subject..... If you dont want to go the route of professional Spun Cones with manufactured tops, blah blah....

...what will work well on a strummer (Iwhether regular build or cigar box) ?

I saw a vid of a license plate, but dont know if the cigar box wood top is left on, or cut away underneath.

I saw a candy tin turned upside down without the lid and inserted in a big hole in the top, and was kept about 1/2 inch from touching the bottom....

Any thoughts what would work nice and How-To ?

I love the idea of decorative tins (I'm a small candy / super hero tin collector, especially 3d).

Any helps would be appreciated whilst I wait to get going.

and yeah, my first build will be a simple thing to get started, but I'm sure my second build will be close behind, hahaha

Kindest,
jim

ps-- I should mention, my goal is not necessarily Slide.

Im considering just a 3 sting Strummer type thing, but I like the twangy sound, but a little cleaner than slide..... make sense?

thanks

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Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on May 13, 2011 at 1:06am

Mine, too. The Jim "Frets" Farris vid on the cake pan redo is the classic!

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v15490875esMqkEhD

Watch the other vids, too. Especially the scarf neck.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on May 13, 2011 at 7:41am

You'll find a lot of different approaches. I've used aluminum cooking implements to good effect, here's one:

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/resonator-build-in-progress?con...

this produced an excellent-sounding guitar that's still my favorite.

I used the same approach to convert a cheap steel-string into a full-size "dobro", this one using the top to an aluminum "warming oven" set:

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/resonator-build?context=user

This worked very well also, and the result is a guitar that sounds very much like a commercial instrument.

I've not found that the lack of a chamber is a big factor, likely due to the small overall size of the cigar-box.

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on May 13, 2011 at 8:05am

Great discussion! I have a bunch of little tins like CB Gitty sells on his site. I had a supplier package some parts in them for awhile and I saved a half dozen or so. Maybe I'll make a reso diddly.