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.
Location: Planet Earth, but anyone from anywhere is welcome.
Members: 232
Latest Activity: Dec 2, 2022
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Updated: May 15, 2015
Due to my mistake of using the word "Resonator" in the name of this group, there now appears to be two groups of contributors:
1.) People wanting to discuss basic sound box construction (my intended audience):
2.) People wanting to discus building resonator cigar box guitars using metal resonators like what Old Lowe is famous for making and selling:
About This Discussion Forum
For those folks interested in building Resonator CBGs and Resonator Parts, please enter your posts under the Discussion Forum under either the "Resonator parts" discussion, or the "Placing the Resonator" discussion. Also be sure to check out my "Useful Links" which includes links to some interesting Reso-CBG related topics and photos (see below).
Most of the rest of this Discussion Forum is dedicated to people interested in discussing the various methods and styles of box building, including woodworking techniques, joinery, decorating and the like. Maybe we can have a different discussion forum for each style of box (rectangular, circular, octagonal, etc.) We'll see how the group evolves.
Useful Links:
Num. of Sides = Corner Angles
3 sided = 60 degrees
4 sided = 45 degrees
5 sided = 36 degrees
6 sided = 30 degrees
7 sided = 25.71 degrees (26 is okay)
8 sided = 22.5 degrees
9 sided = 20 degrees
10 sided = 18 degrees
11 sided = 16.36 degrees (16 is okay)
12 sided = 15 degrees
15 sided = 12 degrees
16 sided = 11.25 degrees (11 is okay)
Note 1: Plus Shipping Charges
Note 2: Klangbox also makes an interesting low profile magnetic pickup called the "Flatpup 3 Humbucker", which has been well received by some CBN builders.
Started by mitch jones Dec 12, 2018. 0 Replies 2 Likes
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…Continue
Started by Doug Patterson. Last reply by Paul Curry Apr 13, 2017. 9 Replies 0 Likes
If this is not the appropriate place to ask this question, I apologize. I'm preparing my first box for a resonator cone but am unsure as to where the piezo should be placed. Is it placed on the cone itself or somewhere on the box? Any advice will…Continue
Started by Ron Lutz. Last reply by Ken Vickerson Apr 10, 2017. 4 Replies 2 Likes
My very first cbg build is the neck on top instrument made with walnut top, quarter-sawn sycamore sides, cherry back and red oak neck. I did have a couple of small revisions after this photo was made, I added a walnut fretboard and put a veneer on…Continue
Started by Rand Moore. Last reply by Murdoc_420 Apr 3, 2016. 13 Replies 0 Likes
[Originally Posted: Mar 25, 2011] I have decided to call this the "boat paddle box", or simply the "paddle box" design, because of the shape of the final product. This body style is the traditional body style for stick dulcimers and was…Continue
Tags: sound box, stick dulcimer body, paddle box, canoe paddle, boat paddle
Started by Rand Moore. Last reply by Philip Hale Mar 28, 2016. 8 Replies 1 Like
Hi All...For a long time I have wanted to build a resonator based string instrument, but I've put it off for a long time because of a poor success rate on prototype builds. I had lots of excuses. Chief among them was the difficulty of cutting an…Continue
Started by Monterey. Last reply by Monterey Jun 28, 2015. 13 Replies 2 Likes
I made a box clamp out of 1" x 1.5" Spruce I ripped from a 2" x 4" on the tablesaw.The back piece is the length of the box. The 2 sides are 0.5" shorter than the sides of the box, plus 1" for the width of the back piece. The front piece is 4" longer…Continue
Started by Barsymes Cratchnee. Last reply by Monterey Mar 9, 2015. 6 Replies 0 Likes
So I've seen a number of builds on the site with solid wood tops such as spruce and was wondering where people get that kind of lumber. Buying thick stock, joining and planing? Online site with soundboard material? Just curious of people's sound…Continue
Started by sasquatch. Last reply by sasquatch Jul 27, 2014. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Let me start by saying that I don't consider myself an expert in this subject, but I have made two very successful resonator boxes with simplest of tools and cheapest of materials.This particular box is made from 6mm ply for the sides, 3mm ply for…Continue
Started by Barsymes Cratchnee. Last reply by gary sheldon Jun 17, 2014. 12 Replies 0 Likes
Was thinking about building my own box and one of the things I like about some of the cigar box builds I've seen is the ability to open the box when the strings are off. Seems silly, but a nice option if you want to swap necks (screwed, not glued),…Continue
Started by Darren Addy. Last reply by gary sheldon May 19, 2014. 9 Replies 0 Likes
I'll start off by saying that this may not be everyone's "cup of tea" and that some people might consider this "overthinking". To that I will simply say that one person's overthinking is another person's "understanding". Let's start with something…Continue
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I just did a Google search last night on that very thing (Mod Podge), and learned that decoupage methods have changed somewhat from when I was a kid in school.
I typically do my own artwork, and am looking for a way to transfer the imagery to the box, but I want it to be a "thin" transfer (kind of like water-slide), and not have the thickness of the art paper to deal with. I'll try the Mod Podge method on some photocopies of my artwork on a scrap box, and see how it works.
I like the Avery label idea for a quick highlight, but decoupage ain't all that hard. Use "Mod Podge." I know it's a stupid name, but it's from a company in Georgia that seems to OWN decoupage nowadays.
Go to Hobby Lobby or Michael's and buy a jar of "Mod Podge" and a can of spray laquer like artists use to protect charcoal drawings. Lacquer your label to make it not absorb moisture. Then spread the Mod Podge on back of the label and roll it out flat with a glass jar (Mod Podge comes in a round jar!). Get it good and flat so it won't peel.
Spread more of the Mod Podge over the top of the label to protect it. Let it dry and then varnish the whole sound board (or headstock or whatever) for a consistent outer surface.
In a different vein, note that 19th and early 20th-century builders steamed off the paper and threw it away. It was the WOOD that they valued--not the fancy lithography,
You Can Buy Cigar Box Lables on ebay. They are very good.
That's a great idea, Gary...I've got some artwork I want to use on my first CBG, but wasn't sure the best way to do it, but this hits the nail on the head; decoupage is a lost art, and way too messy for me to want to get into!
Rob
Cigar Box Art:
I love the graphics and artwork on these cigar boxes. But, I have taken to making my own "fake" boxes so I can make them larger and select the wood myself.
Today, I bit the bullet and spent $30 on 25 Avery shipping labels. These are clear 8 1/2 X 11 with a backing.
I scan the artwork, print on the label, remove the backing, and self stick it to my box.
Make that 1 1/2 mile from the ferry.
Rand,
Yes, Marin County opted out of BART when it was first proposed, so our transportation is Golden Gate Transid and ferries.
I am about 1/12 mi from the ferry terminal. It would be lots of walking.
Anyway, maybe I could meet you at MacBeaths sometime, then I could bring you over here and then drop you off at some transportation. There is a ferry here and one in Larkspur Landing.
I am off most days, but have some classes at night. I take salsa dancing and Tango. Occasionally I have work doing home repairs.
Gary
Hi Gary,
Sausalito. Yeah, that's not a BART destination. Hmm... Isn't there a ferry service nearby? I could BART to the Embarcaderro and walk to where? The Ferry Building? and catch the Ferry to Sausalito.
Yeah, I haven't owned a car since I moved to China; it's not worth having one if you are only going to use it 2 or 3 months a year. I can sometimes borrow a car, but usually for local driving. However, I will be helping them (my wife's sister and husband) by driving their kids to San Diego and back this week, so maybe I'll have earned enough good credit for another "intra-regional" trip. They are already on vacation (we're baby sitting) and they will meet us there and we'll be going to the Zoo and Sea World, etc. They'll be flying back as well. So, it's kind of a working vacation for me and my wife, but sometimes you have to do this kind of thing to stay in grace with the in-laws. My "flying" funds are depleted flying from China to the States and back each year.
-Rand.
No, I live in the North Bay. Sausalito. I didn't realize that you are without wheels.
Gary
Started by Doug Patterson. Last reply by Paul Curry Apr 13, 2017. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Ron Lutz. Last reply by Ken Vickerson Apr 10, 2017. 4 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Rand Moore. Last reply by Murdoc_420 Apr 3, 2016. 13 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Rand Moore. Last reply by Philip Hale Mar 28, 2016. 8 Replies 1 Like
Started by Monterey. Last reply by Monterey Jun 28, 2015. 13 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Barsymes Cratchnee. Last reply by Monterey Mar 9, 2015. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by sasquatch. Last reply by sasquatch Jul 27, 2014. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Barsymes Cratchnee. Last reply by gary sheldon Jun 17, 2014. 12 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Darren Addy. Last reply by gary sheldon May 19, 2014. 9 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Michael Fred Johnson. Last reply by Michael Fred Johnson Apr 29, 2014. 11 Replies 4 Likes
Started by martin baker. Last reply by martin baker Apr 29, 2014. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Rand Moore. Last reply by Rand Moore Apr 28, 2014. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Started by David Ford. Last reply by Barsymes Cratchnee Jan 8, 2014. 14 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Tom Walters. Last reply by Rand Moore Jan 1, 2014. 7 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Bert the Welder. Last reply by Mike Strehlow Dec 5, 2013. 3 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Richey Kay. Last reply by Richey Kay Nov 9, 2013. 13 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Rand Moore. Last reply by Rand Moore Nov 4, 2013. 6 Replies 1 Like
Started by Richey Kay. Last reply by Richey Kay Nov 4, 2013. 6 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Rand Moore. Last reply by Rand Moore Aug 22, 2013. 9 Replies 0 Likes
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