Beginning Box Building. Nothing too fancy, but functional. For people who don't have easy access to cigar boxes. Other home made non-rectangular box resonator discussions are also welcome.
Jigs & Tools
G'day all, When I first began to get into this cbg thing, I quickly realised that there aren't any cigar boxes available in my part of the world, & they're too expensive on-line. That meant I had to make them. After my fist "proper" build, I realised that I needed to make a few jigs & tools to make it a bit easier. Here's a few pics - my box making jig. Works great, more on this when I use it next. I made a sanding wheel with Velcro pad & table for my bench grinder. A fret slot cutting jig…
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Comments
Michael Fred Johnson thanks. This was what I had in mind for my build. Time to order some parts.
These both use 6" bowls. The red one has the neck dovetailed into a block as in trad construction following my drawing in this forum.The black one has a through neck cut away under the bowl to make construction easier.In both builds the bowl is screwed to a support ring glued under the sound board
I'm starting on my first build and want to try a six inch dog dish build. I noticed on photos of these builds the bridge is in the middle of the dish. I'm guessing that this will allow the most resonation from the strings. Is there any benefit of also using small sound holes in the top above the cone? My plan is to use bracing around the bowl that I can attach the neck to. I'm going to install a pup as soon as I can decide which one to order but I would like to practice without an amp.
Progress:
I corrected an error I have been making. The paint can lid fit pretty tight in the hole, and I kept taking it in and out. But I neglected to physically connect it to the guitar top. This afternoon, I epoxyed it in and the sound is much better with less extraneous sounds and buzzing, etc. Cleaner, but with the twang I have been looking for. I am pretty happy with the sound now and I am getting around 97 db sound out of it acousticly.
I also epoxyed the cookie tin into another top, but haven't tried that yet.
I guess I don't know how to send an audio file on this site. I can email it. My email is
glsheldon@aol.com
Mark,
Now I'll try to send these 2 audio files to the site.
Stressed and unstressed.
The guitar is open G tuned. I had to raise the bridge for the unstressed lid.. 650mm scale length; acoustic only in these files. Forgive my playing. The guitar
has a home made, rather larfe body made from cheap materials.
Mark, I'll try to get a comparison together in the next day or so. I also need to try out my cookie can stressed lid.
On another subject, does anyone know if photographic printer paper with and adhesive back exists? I discovered how much better the photo paper looks than the adhesive mailing labels.
I actually think the paint can lid is a pretty good idea. I had looked at one and considered doing exactly what you did.
My thinking was that the rim would maintain enough rigidity and the tension created by the hammered edge might just create something interesting
I'd like to hear your results in a comparison test Gary! I think you might be on to something good in home made resonator substitutes!
Rand,
I decided to try stressing my cookie tin lid. I tried the lid a few weeeks ago and didn't get a great sound. It was a bit dead sounding also. It is 7 1/2" diameter, so nice and big. I'll put it in the guitar later tonight or tomorrow. I'll let you know.
I am not even sure what I am looking (listening) for. I think more of a banjo sound. It is amazing how the really tight skin on a banjo sounds so much like metal.
Yes. I can easily hear the difference. The unstressed lid has a dead sound. Stressed a more lively sound, more tinny and gritty. That's the best description I can give it. The lids are cheap enough here. It is possibler to try different things on different lids.
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