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1 Gallon Gas Can Build

Found a gas can on the curb side last month(silly people throw away such nice stuff). So I'm going to make it into a 4 string. Would it be a CanJo, CBG Resonator or a GCG(Gas Can Guitar)?

I have a Ceramic Mag Double Coil neck pickup to use for it. Figured the filler/pour opening would be my soundhole. Cut the handle off because it was in the way of the neck, will probably use it as a bridge. The can is rusted and a little scared so I'll just clear coat it for that relicked look.

The only part that I'm not decided on is how to install the neck. Usually I run a piece all the way through and bolt a neck on one end and terminate the strings on the other, but it's kind of hard to brace the through piece inside a can. If any of you guys have done a gas can build, I could use your input and suggestions please. Thanks.

I'll add a pic of the can later.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on September 15, 2015 at 8:36pm

I went ahead and put a through piece of Red Oak in the can, 2" sticking out of the rear to terminate the string ends and 2 & 3/4" on the other end to attach a neck.

The plan is to attach the pickup on top of the can surface in a wooden surround and use a arch top style bridge.

Cut the scarf joint for the headstock and glued the pieces together.

Hear are some pics.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on September 16, 2015 at 7:53pm

Thinking about the through piece. I can't add bracing inside the can, so I'm going to take it back out and cut a trench 1/8" wide and 1/2" deep in it and put a 1/8" x 1/2" x 12" piece of steel flat bar into the through piece. That should stop any flexing when I put the strings on and tune up.

There's more than one way to skin a cat, but it won't taste like chicken!

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on September 17, 2015 at 10:57am

Cut a channel in the through piece and placed the flat bar in. Sealed with glue to set overnight.

This might be overkill, but I'd rather not have to take this thing apart to fix it later. Any Job worth doing, is worth doing it right the first time as the saying goes.

Guitar building can be torturous, got a 1/2" splinter under my thumb nail. Ouch

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on September 20, 2015 at 8:17pm

Got the through piece back in the can. Shaped the back of the neck. Hogged out a channel for the non-adjustable 3/8ths" steel trussrod, installed the rod and glued in place.

Next I'll be adding wings to the headstock, shaping the headstock, drilling for tuners and installing them.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on September 25, 2015 at 11:05am

Neck is ready for a fretboard and tuners.

I add wings to the headstock to shape, but had a mishap with my jigsaw. Ended up cutting the wings off and leaving it that way.

Lightly sanded the rust off the can leaving a nice patina and sprayed some clear on the can.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on September 26, 2015 at 10:58am

Working on the fretboard. Couple of can pics with clear on it.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on September 28, 2015 at 10:46am

Had a set back making the fretboard. Had it cut to size, slots cut for frets and started drilling for fret markers. I decided to drill on the top edge exposing an opening on the side which would be filled with a dowel of different wood and would doing the top and side at the same time. I used a Forstner bit and took it slow and practically no pressure, but the Red Oak decided to tear out and chip away anyway. So after many choice words, it's back to making another board, Yay.

Permalink Reply by Brown Water Jerry (Rice) on September 28, 2015 at 11:09am

Hey Paul lookin good. I use 1/4" x 1 1/2" maple from the box depot for my fret boards they don't seem to tear out as easy make I'm just lucky .

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on September 28, 2015 at 8:45pm

I should've known better, Red Oak splits easy. Now that I've cooled down, I though of a way that I might be able to salvage it. Thanks for the tip on the Maple.

The real fun is going to be wiring and installing the pots and switches through the filler/pour spout. I'm betting it will be easier than it was to do my ES339 clone guitar.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on September 29, 2015 at 12:10pm

Thanks for the compliment BTW. Couldn't salvage that board so I'll have to start over.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on September 30, 2015 at 10:24am

Not a good week for my skills on fretboards. I'm also building a 6 string electric License Plate Guitar and decided to cut down the fretboard that I had already done except the frets. Got squirrely with the saw and cut too deep. Good news is I was able to cut it down for this build. Bad news is I just ran out of glue. Have to wait a couple weeks til I get paid to go further so more time for playing guitar.

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on October 5, 2015 at 11:14am

Got the fret markers in place(used 1/4" Poplar dowel) and glued the board to the neck.

Decided to use my old motorcycle hand grip ends for volume/tone knobs. Has Roadhawk written across the Eagle.