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

Replies

Bad Finger (Eric) May 13, 2011 at 3:05pm

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.
Mark Werner May 13, 2011 at 2:41pm

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.
Diane in Chicago May 13, 2011 at 8:06am

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.
HOGS GRUNT May 13, 2011 at 4:37am

Check out my reply to you in the other forum.

Hogs.
The Phrygian Kid May 13, 2011 at 4:16am

C# merle..... excellent...

i just thort, for a gazillion ideas for repurposing stuff into resos...

try here
c# merle May 13, 2011 at 3:14am

I used a large soup can to great success. just cut the tin to fit around the thru-neck and epoxy to the soundboard.

has a nice reso twang to it
Josh Gayou (SmokehouseGuitars) May 13, 2011 at 12:56am

Going ultra simple, you could could us the metal can from wet cat food. Cut the top off, clean it out, ta-da (will sound thin though). I really recommend you check out Mike Lowe's cones, though. They are very easy to install and use and get you damned close to the sound of a real resonator.

http://smokehouseguitars.com/blognewsroll/?category_name=reso_cones
James Boutilier May 12, 2011 at 9:38pm

Hey Ben -- that has been my main question behind what I'm asking.

I think you get more of that bodied sound if there is a chamber (such as the upside down can I was asking about), and I "think" the metal tops only give you that metally/twanging sound "ontop" of the box's sound (if that makes sense)

jim
James Boutilier May 12, 2011 at 9:29pm

Very cool !

I could do this in my first build after all --

Love this forum !

Thanks
Ben May 12, 2011 at 9:29pm

So you still get a decent acoustic reso sound without having a resonating chamber?

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