Tags:
Hi Mike,
I'm no Reso-CBG expert, but the way I look at it is there are two major classes of Reso-CBGs: those that use standard reso cones and those experimental designs that use just about everything else under the sun in hopes of achieving that "reso-sound". As an example of a standard cone, consider Old Lowe's cones shown in the following photo.
The most sure-fire way of achieving that sometimes elusive "good old reso sound" is to go ahead and buy a reso cone and install it in a large wooden cigar box. Old Lowe's are one of the easier ones to install. After cutting the hole, just drop in the cone and screw it down to the sound board with a dozen wood screws. Once the rest of the CBG is complete, string it up with a wooden biscuit placed in the middle of the cone followed by a bridge piece. Tune it up and you're ready to jam! Other cones may not be as easy to install, but none the less can give you that "good reso sound". Here is the list of cone makers/sellers that I have compiled:
Resonator Cone Makers/Sellers
For experimental designs, your chances of achieving that good old reso sound will be a lot more "if-ier" to say the least. This is not to say you won't end up with an interesting sounding instrument, but you probably will have more design hurdles to cross before you get some good results. There are a number of builders at CBN (Cigar Box Nation) that are well known for their experimental reso designs. One person that comes to mind is 'Bairfoot Cajun'. You should go check out his photo collection. The other thing to try is to search on the words "reso" and "resonator" using the search engine built into the CBN website. Here's an interesting thread regarding experimental Reso-CBG designs: link to thread.
There are 3 or 4 discussion groups in CBN where the topic of Reso-CBG often appear. These include:
The last group listed is my discussion group which was originally intended for discussions on basic wooden soundbox building for those who don't have easy access to cigar boxes. But, my misfortune use of the word "Resonator" in the groups name has opened it up to a number of Reso-CBG discussions, and as a service to users I put together a link page into other places in CBN where Reso-CBG members can get their questions answered. Most of the information provided here in this reply is from this 4th discussion group, but most Reso-CBG experts haunt the other three discussion groups.
Well, good luck in getting your questions answered. And happy building...
-Rand.
In resophonic guitars a resonator is a cone of metal, usually aluminium, which vibrates when the strings are struck. The cone amplifies their vibraton and the guitar sounds louder.
Palm Guiatrs ( google for them) in Amsterdam have a wonderful collection of vintage resonators, I was captivated by a resophonic tenor guitar there last year, the 3K price tag was a major ouch, but boy did it sound good.
Homemade Resonators in CBGs might be flogging a dead horse, the air space and top size of a CBG might be too small to get something very loud out of a resphonic cone, but it might produce a pleasing effect. Then again you might hiot lucky and you might get extra volume and that sound you are looking for
Thanks for your input, Sean. It's got me thinking some more...
The best resonators tend to be large, very thin and made from light weight metals like brass or aluminum. A heavy stainless steel hub cab or bowl won't make as good a resonator as similarly shaped object made of thin aluminum. However, many volume issues that occur with poor metal resonators can be overcome with piezo pickups and a good amplifiers. Also, some builders prefer to build their own boxes around the larger resonators rather than be limited to the dimensions of most cigar boxes. Some cone makers like Republic, National also make 9.5" cones for full sized guitars, and if you want to build a good sounding Reso-box guitar with large acoustic volume, then buying a 9.5" cone and building your own box around that is another sure fire formula for success. But 9.5" cones tend to be very expensive, and a good point of compromise is a 6" cone in a large cigar box with some kind of amplification (minimally piezo, but perhaps a combination of piezo and magnetic pups).
I'm planning on buying a couple 6" cones this summer when I return to the States so I can try them out in instruments I build this coming year. Until then, much of what I said is based on hearsay (or what I've read) and some experience I have with building canjos and panjos.
-Rand.
Thanks for your input, Sean. It's got me thinking some more...
The best resonators tend to be large, very thin and made from light weight metals like brass or aluminum. A heavy stainless steel hub cab or bowl won't make as good a resonator as similarly shaped object made of thin aluminum. However, many volume issues that occur with poor metal resonators can be overcome with piezo pickups and a good amplifiers. Also, some builders prefer to build their own boxes around the larger resonators rather than be limited to the dimensions of most cigar boxes. Some cone makers like Republic, National and Delta also make 9.5" cones for full sized guitars, and if you want to build a good sounding Reso-box guitar with large acoustic volume, then buying a 9.5" cone and building your own box around that is another sure fire formula for success. But 9.5" cones tend to be very expensive, and a good point of compromise is a 6" cone in a large cigar box with some kind of amplification (minimally piezo, but perhaps a combination of piezo and magnetic pups).
I'm planning on buying a couple 6" cones this summer when I return to the States so I can try them out in instruments I build this coming year. Until then, much of what I said is based on hearsay (or what I've read) and some experience I have with building canjos and panjos.
-Rand.
P.S. Sorry for the second post, but I ran out of editing time before I could add "and Delta" to the original posting.
Thanks for the info, guys. You cleared it right up for me. Don't think I'm to the point to try adding a resonator cone to any of my upcoming builds just yet. Not that I'm intimidated, just not there yet.
Thanks again for the links, Randy.
Mikey
Started by Justin Stanchfield. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 20. 9 Replies 2 Likes
Started by BrianQ.. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 27. 2 Replies 4 Likes
Started by Ian Boyd. Last reply by Ian Boyd Dec 11, 2023. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Michael Myers Apr 20, 2023. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Brenda. Last reply by MadGomer Dec 3, 2022. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Wichita Sam. Last reply by Taffy Evans Nov 14, 2022. 21 Replies 1 Like
Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Taffy Evans Nov 3, 2022. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Robert Killen. Last reply by Paul Craig Oct 14, 2022. 23 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Larry Sobol. Last reply by Larry Sobol Oct 1, 2022. 6 Replies 2 Likes
Started by jon neet. Last reply by Taffy Evans Aug 16, 2022. 6 Replies 1 Like
Started by Doug Laffin. Last reply by Order99 Aug 11, 2022. 4 Replies 1 Like
Started by Paul Craig. Last reply by Paul Craig Jul 17, 2022. 14 Replies 1 Like
Started by Roy Smith. Last reply by the anonymous pick May 15, 2022. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Al Lobe. Last reply by BrianQ. May 10, 2022. 18 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Taffy Evans May 6, 2022. 5 Replies 1 Like
Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Michael Myers May 2, 2022. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Wichita Sam. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 23, 2022. 2 Replies 4 Likes
Started by Lionhound. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 18, 2022. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Paul Craig. Last reply by Paul Craig Dec 9, 2021. 18 Replies 2 Likes
Started by Ken Hope. Last reply by Christopher G Daniels Nov 29, 2021. 4 Replies 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 LikesMay 30, 2024 from 6:30pm to 10pm – The Casual Pint of Huntsville
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!