Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Kevin Lawton on January 4, 2010 at 3:22pm

Bleeding awfull, most likely ! Well, if the MDF is very thin, then it might not be too bad - but will probably be impractically weak as well.
MDF has a very high internal damping factor - it is not very resonant at all. This makes it absolutely great for loudspeaker enclosures - which you want to have no sound of their own - but pretty useless for musical instruments. MDF is basically just sawdust and glue, and it is the glue which gives it so much damping.
Plywood is nowhere near as bad, as it is just the thin layers of glue between the laminates which causes a bit of damping. Solid wood is best of all.
Perhaps you could use your MDF cigar box for building an amp into ?

Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on January 4, 2010 at 3:24pm

I have built on some of these (Romeo Y Julieta) and they've come out sounding good. I've built on solid wood boxes that were "dead".... you never really know until you build, so.... build. The worst that happens is that you get building experience and you have to recycle later. Or,... you get a great sounding box that you keep until you die. Either way, you're having fun....

Let us see what you do.

the best,

Wichita Sam

Permalink Reply by Travis "SlackJack" Woodall on January 4, 2010 at 3:28pm

Pete-

Greetings from Tennessee!! The cool thing about the cigar box guitar is that you never really know what you have until you cut into it. I have used two such boxes and suspect that I have more. Both times I had no idea that they were MDF or HDF. Both sounded equally awesome!! My first one was a thick walled Saint Luis Rey box. Looked like wood to me and it was a deep box with perfect black and gold design. I was pissed when I cut into it and it was not real wood. I put a cheap piezo in it and the thing sounded empty, hollow and had an eerie echo to it. Damn thing sounded haunted. It was my first cbg and although my design was flawed and it played terrible it was that wicked echo that made me want to build another one. I just sold one that I built out of a bright red Romeo y Julieta box that also was in immaculate shape. Couldn't believe a box this nice was once again, MDF. Pete, that darn guitar made a beautiful looking and sounding 3-string fretless!! The box is small but when played acoustically it is loud for such a small guitar, partly due to the thin top and the fact that my neck doesn't touch it. Look at the pictures on my profile and you'll see it. Take that apple and make yourself some applesauce Pete!! Good Luck pal!!!

SlackJack

Permalink Reply by Peter Taylor on January 5, 2010 at 12:33am

hmmm well thanks for the input guy, and yes it was one of those Saint Luis Rey boxes.
As Forrest Gump said, "Guess life is like a box of chocolates , never know what you get"...
Decissions, decissions????? Guitar or Jewelery box???
Might make a nice Jewelery box for the girlfreind now instead...or maybe not..

Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on January 5, 2010 at 4:23am

Peter,

I've built a couple nice CBGs on Saint Luis Rey boxes.... all I can say is go for it.

the best,

Wichita Sam

Peter Taylor said:

hmmm well thanks for the input guy, and yes it was one of those Saint Luis Rey boxes.
As Forrest Gump said, "Guess life is like a box of chocolates , never know what you get"...
Decissions, decissions????? Guitar or Jewelery box???
Might make a nice Jewelery box for the girlfreind now instead...or maybe not..