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Tambourine CBG Body?

Posted by Tom T on June 9, 2015 at 8:54pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

Has anyone ever used a tambourine for the body of a three-stringer?

I picked up a 10" tambourine from eBay for about $10.00.

The head is skin and well stretched. The steel wipes are easily removed and the thing is about 2" deep. Thought it might make a decent body for a three string guitar. If the bridge is positioned correctly, the head should resonate.

Has anyone tried this?

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Replies

  • Monterey June 19, 2015 at 9:36pm
    One fall when we put a steer in the freezer we donated the hide to some Natives on the local Reservation. They used it to make a big pow-wow drum. I think they must have tanned it themselves. Might be too thick for a small drum or banjo but horse hide or sheep is thinner. I think deerskin might work good too
  • the anonymous pick June 17, 2015 at 6:26am

    check out  UJ's   latest . http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/110-0757?xg_source=activity

  • the anonymous pick June 16, 2015 at 6:09am

    306454003?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

    couldn't escape the  "banjo" sound no   matter how    hard  i  tried .  but  still  has a   "national  / banjo  /  cbg "    mix  sound . 

    • RTZGUITARS > the anonymous pick June 16, 2015 at 9:34am

      A good number of cbg sound more like banjos then guitars. Tambourines work great for ukulele, you need a real strong one for a good banjo body. Old style wood body ands tone rings sound much warmer then the metal Bluegrass of today.

    • Matthew Borczon > the anonymous pick June 16, 2015 at 8:35am

      I really loved the sound of that one when you posted the video the first time. But I love the banjo...matt

      • the anonymous pick > Matthew Borczon June 16, 2015 at 4:29pm

        it's over at  hwy  61   now  ;-)

  • The Phrygian Kid June 16, 2015 at 4:12am

    i doubt its really a rawhide head for $10..

    strongly suspect that kinda money gets you a synthetic plastic kinda stuff

    this is not necessarily a bad thing at all, it will be less susceptible to seasonal changes than rawhide. If you are worried about seasonal change then you can come up with some kind of flesh-hoop (google it, or look at a modern banjo / snare drum) quite easily with how you attach it to the box..

    best, pk

    • Tom T > The Phrygian Kid June 16, 2015 at 6:47am

      The listing said it was sheepskin on the head. The finish of the head is a bit course, not smooth like a plastic.

  • RTZGUITARS June 16, 2015 at 2:10am

    4 string Paint lid reso

  • Greg Thompson June 11, 2015 at 8:01am
    This is something that has been on my list for doing.
    I've seen dorm fine examples out there.
    I was even researching how to get hide to make my own drum head.
    The tambourine looks like the most efficient way to start, though.
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