Already people have pointed out that it looks like a balalaika. Maybe next time around I'll try to design a balalaika, but I need to figure out how to do rounded bottoms. My wood working skills are not that advanced yet. I may also try to widen the two sound holes a bit to see if I get more volume, which is not too bad on this instrument.

Views: 161

Comment

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Comment by Rand Moore on July 29, 2014 at 2:51pm

Hi Sam,

The wood I use for soundboard is a plywood that is already veneered when I buy it. As I live in China most of the year, the wood I get is different than what is available in the States.  This 2 mm plywood veneer (or should I call it "veneered plywood"?) is sold in large sheets the way they sell plywood in the States. I usually buy "scraps" as I can get a half sheet or quarter sheet at a lower price most of the time. Anyways, this plywood veneer is ideal for sound boards because the wood resonates pretty well and is dimensionally stable. In the U.S., when you ask for veneer they show you this paper thin stuff that you are supposed to apply (glue?) to the wood somehow. Seems like too much trouble to me. The only downside to plywood (even 2 mm plywood veneer), is that exposed edges reveal that it is plywood. When I build sound boxes out of it, all the edges of the boxes are so "unsightly", that I usually spray paint them black. If you build your sound box frame (i.e. the four sides) out of solid wood, then recess the soundboard down inside (and flush with) the box frame, then you can hide the unsightly edges of the plywood. But it's more work, and I tend to be too lazy to do it that way.

I have built many "box guitars" and have found that usually these home built boxes sound better than most cigar box based instruments that I have made. I think this has to do with the thickness of the typical cigar box lid. When I remove the original lid and replace it with a 2 mm plywood veneer, the instrument invariably sounds (resonates) better. Some of my favorite instruments are based on a cigar box, but use the 2 mm plywood veneer for the sound board. So, definitely, plywood is a reasonable material for both the sound board and the backboard. 

One more thing... sometimes the "bottom side" of the plywood veneer looks better (more rustic) than the "pretty" veneered side, so a lot of my instruments are constructed "inside out" as was this instrument (photo above) as I recall.

Hope this answers your question.

-Rand.

Comment by Sam Davis on July 28, 2014 at 5:15pm

did you use plywood for the soundboard, or a professional grade veneer? I'm thinking of making my own boxes, and I wanted to know if plywood is a reasonable material

Comment by Bluesheart on March 16, 2011 at 2:43pm
Looks great, you did a really nice job on that.

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Forum

crossover guitar.

Started by Timothy Hunter in Other stuff - off topic, fun stuff, whatever. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 21. 11 Replies

Tune up songs

Started by Ghostbuttons in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Timothy Hunter Mar 9. 5 Replies

Duel output jacks

Started by Justin Stanchfield in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 8. 6 Replies

How to Get Your Own Music on Spotify

Started by Cigar Box Nation in Feature Articles. Last reply by Southern Ray Feb 21. 2 Replies

CB Bass Guitar

Started by Mi Rankin in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion. Last reply by Justin Stanchfield Jan 27. 5 Replies

Latest Activity

Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Project Punch!

" Thank ya again Keith!"
15 minutes ago
Southern Ray commented on Southern Ray's photo
Thumbnail

Punch Project!

" Thank Ya Keith!"
19 minutes ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on AGP #'s photo
Thumbnail

AGP #527 - ''Led-Zep 2''

"This build really strung you along Alan! Reminded me of all my fishing line experiments; a lot of…"
1 hour ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Diggin’ the slow blues. I like that last pic Andries! Look at all those cool guitars. Yeah!!!"
2 hours ago
Dar Stellabotta posted a video

A Cigar Box Guitar Six Stringer Built by Louie Lamanna

This video is the unboxing and the demonstration of a beautiful, six stringer built by Louie Lamanna. Join Louie and I June 15 at the second annual Pittsburg...
3 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter to you too Andries! The passion is definitely in full swing. Turns out I’m…"
3 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Doug Thorsvik's video
Thumbnail

Hail the Resurrection Day: 2-String Violin Chugger Cigar Box Guitar

"Happy Easter Doug ! the Passion is in full swing !"
4 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on Ricky D's photo
4 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
4 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked Doug Thorsvik's video
8 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked A.D.EKER's video
8 hours ago
Keith Rearick liked Doug Thorsvik's video
8 hours ago

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->