Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on July 4, 2009 at 2:27am

Brian, these aren't up on the site yet?!? They need to be. Dude, these are gold. Well done.

-Wes

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Permalink Reply by Paul Doug on July 4, 2009 at 3:22am

Nice job on the articles. Why not just upload then to the 'Plans' section. I know I looked there first when I found this site. Thanks for making them available.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Lemin on July 7, 2009 at 6:30pm

Here is a very low key article on the value of thick sides in the CBG.

Attachments:

• GOOD NEWS FOR CBG ACOUSTIC BODIES.pdf, 110 KB

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Permalink Reply by Brian Lemin on July 7, 2009 at 6:32pm

This article looks at bridges their function and style. Their relationship to the style of guitars they are used on. What function they have regarding the soundboard.
Not good conclusions reached but plenty of food for thought.

Attachments:

• BRIDGES v2 pdf.pdf, 136 KB

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Permalink Reply by Brian Lemin on July 7, 2009 at 6:55pm

I have approached Shane as to the best place for any articles that members write. Meantime i have written two more.

I am about "articled out"! at the moment. Nothing really burning my creativity. Now I have almost recovered from my bronchitis, i might well get back to building.

What would i like someone to write an article about? Of course i know that there are no rules, choose what you like etc, but those with experience could write an article (or two) that could be a bit of a fast track to our destination.
1. Tuning. Not just the notes, we all have them available to us. But why do players choose one tuning over another. Is one tuning better for a specific style of music. Slide tunings versus chordal/finger picking tunings. Link this to string tensions as i am sure players tune their Open chord "up or down" to suit their voices etc.
2. Choosing a box for a CBG. For those of you who have the luxury of having a stash of boxes, what makes you choose one box over another? What are the advantages of things like, depth, overall size (ie big versus small) What sort of box suits a particular neck. Perhaps it is just that it looks good! Not looking for those "non existent rules" just sharing of experience.
3. Tutorials and or articles on Piezos; pickups; amplifiers and other electronic gear surrounding CBGs
4. Does someone know how reso really work? We know the vibrations rattle around and come out metallic and loud, but how does this happen? What is the effect of the space around the reso components? What is the effect of amplifying these sounds or should they be left acoustic?
5. The effect of our choice on string length. What does this do to our sound production/playing? How does it change it (if it does?)


Paul Doug said:

Nice job on the articles. Why not just upload then to the 'Plans' section. I know I looked there first when I found this site. Thanks for making them available.

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Permalink Reply by Wade on July 8, 2009 at 3:42am

Hi Brian,
Just read your article(s). Very interesting. I enjoy experimenting with these instruments and seeing what sounds can be made from these little boxes. That's a pic of my dulcimer in your article. I did not want to lose strength in the neck (softwood) and I did not want to glue the neck directly to the top. What I did was add a piece of stainless steel wiper blade between the box and the neck. This allows just enough space for the top to vibrate. This worked out very well considering I did not thin the thick lid and the lid is made of fiberboard.

Wade

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Permalink Reply by Brian Lemin on July 8, 2009 at 3:11pm

I feel embarrassed at "stealing" pictures without acknowledgment. The truth of the matter is that i download pics that interest me as and when i come across them. Then I go back to try and find where I got it from and it becomes an almost impossible marathon task. I figure that my post graduate education days are over and that my "supervisor" wont hit me for it! So I do it and suffer the consequences. But thank you for not suing me! :)

As you will know I like your ideas and especially now I know about the windscreen wiper addition!.

You have to know that whilst I enjoy looking at ways and means of improving CBG sound, my personal choice is a nice "twangy" blues guitar! But i like experimenting.
Oh yes, I have made one of those "over and under" bridges that I have a picture of in the "Bridges" article. i have used brass rod not music wire. i now have to make an instrument to put it on.

I have been sick for the past month (bed and house arrest!) but I have been on the computer, then today i went out and got pretty well all i need to build a Cigar Box "Symphonie" (Hurdy gurdy). That, along with an attempt to build a CBG that incorporates the ideas i have been discussing in my articles will keep me busy for a while. I am tossing up whether to use gut strings for an acoustic CBG; would you care to comment? I will probably not amplify it but I might!

BTW I love Dulcimers and have made quite a few over the years. I am currently finishing off a beautiful "Australian native plants, Folk Art" painted instrument (Not CB). I have to fret it and I am turning wooden tuning pegs for it.

Wade said:

Hi Brian,
Just read your article(s). Very interesting. I enjoy experimenting with these instruments and seeing what sounds can be made from these little boxes. That's a pic of my dulcimer in your article. I did not want to lose strength in the neck (softwood) and I did not want to glue the neck directly to the top. What I did was add a piece of stainless steel wiper blade between the box and the neck. This allows just enough space for the top to vibrate. This worked out very well considering I did not thin the thick lid and the lid is made of fiberboard.

Wade

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Permalink Reply by Brian Lemin on July 14, 2009 at 8:21pm

Here is an article on the Virzi Tone Producer. It is short as it is basically a report on a device that might well be useful to some CBG makers. There is a link for the device where it is dealt with in detail.

Attachments:

• Virzi tone Producer v2.pdf, 189 KB

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on July 15, 2009 at 1:40am

Brian,

Thanks for researching the details. Interesting indeed.... Do you have the "Loar" reference? His point of view on the device would be enlightening....

the best,

Sam


Brian Lemin said:

Here is an article on the Virzi Tone Producer. It is short as it is basically a report on a device that might well be useful to some CBG makers. There is a link for the device where it is dealt with in detail.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Lemin on July 15, 2009 at 2:24am

Here are a couple of URLs. They are both on the "Virzi" site.
http://www.siminoff.net/Media/download_LoarHear-9-06.pdf
http://www.siminoff.net/pages/loar_background.html

Go here and click on his picture and there is a lot of stuff about him in the sidebar.
http://www.siminoff.net/pages/siminoff_downloads.html



Wichita Sam said:

Brian,

Thanks for researching the details. Interesting indeed.... Do you have the "Loar" reference? His point of view on the device would be enlightening....

the best,

Sam


Brian Lemin said:

Here is an article on the Virzi Tone Producer. It is short as it is basically a report on a device that might well be useful to some CBG makers. There is a link for the device where it is dealt with in detail.

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Permalink Reply by Steven Miller on July 15, 2009 at 3:22pm

Hello!
I've made over 50 CB instruments now, and have developed basic practices I follow every time, although the specifics change with each instrument. Please visit my web site at www.CarolinaFiddle.com. On the "About" page, there are two pdf articles on "How to Make" CB instruments. Maybe these will help. Alsdo, I have posted photos on this site, you can search under my name. Perhaps they will help. Best Regards, Steven

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Permalink Reply by Brian Lemin on July 15, 2009 at 8:05pm

Thanks Steven. Love your PDFs for Uke and Fiddle.

Steven Miller said:

Hello!
I've made over 50 CB instruments now, and have developed basic practices I follow every time, although the specifics change with each instrument. Please visit my web site at www.CarolinaFiddle.com. On the "About" page, there are two pdf articles on "How to Make" CB instruments. Maybe these will help. Alsdo, I have posted photos on this site, you can search under my name. Perhaps they will help. Best Regards, Steven

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