After a years time.....its done !

Its been close to a year since I first picked up these boxes. Deemed them too small so glued them together. And there they sat.....AGING THE GLUE I GUESS.

I finally built a tiny box dulcimer/guitar, then a big box slide guitar. But these glued boxes just sat there.

Well I finally got to work on it so here it is.

Neck: two strips of maple glued together with an oak fret board. Headstock is angled.

Nails cut and ground to size and super glued in place.

Two boxes glued together with 2 holes cut thru the joining sides to enable two lenghts of screen door springs to be installed semi tight. Nice twangy sound !

Strings are thru neck using rivet ferrules.

Nut and fret just 2 1/2 bolts cut to size then filed flat on one side for proper string height.

24.5 scale lenght - dulcimer fret pattern. I have it strung for 4 strings, but flip the fourth over a few threads

and have it drone the third string. Figured about 40 hours into the build maybe a little more.

Time to kick back enjoy and maybe plan to add electric later.

Thanks out to everyone for the ideas, support, pictures, comments and store bought hardware from C.B. Gitty.

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Replies

Tom October 26, 2011 at 9:27am

Hhhhmmmmm....... now I have something to think about.. great :)
Order99 October 26, 2011 at 1:07am

Well, my first successful design was two small Romeo & Juliet boxes glued and cored-sounded great even though the sides were paperboard. My Neck was too short and my bridge placement too low resulting in only 13 fret marks but that's another story... Also, my first bowed Dulcifiddlesomethingorother was two small but long boxes and that worked out okay(can't play a bowed instrument any more than I can strum a guitar, but they make pretty sounds and that's what counts, right?).

Your dulcimer-style neck would probably be fantastic for a fiddle BTW-possibly with two boxes of different widths to aallow access to the full string range and the neck allowing string clearance without angling the neck for the (nonstandard, more guitarlike) bridge...

Time to grab my notebook and pen again..
Tom October 18, 2011 at 11:30am

yea, I thought I would try it ( glueing two together ) and it came out pretty good, but then I came across an even smaller box and figured what the heck. Surprise - surprise it came out sounding pretty good as well. I know nothing of what the heck I am doing, so I know its just luck. Maybe the type of wood etc, etc. But the results have been good enough to keep the fires burning, so already I am looking for stuff in the various value shops for items for the next one :)

Seems this stuff is addicting !
howellhudson October 9, 2011 at 9:32pm

Great idea on combing the boxes. I have a couple of small boxes that are nice looking ... but individually too small.
Order99 September 27, 2011 at 11:18pm

Okay-a neck thick enough to shape a little like a scarf jointed one, and a slightly thicker nut than I use...got it.

(carefully wipes drool from keyboard)

Don't feel bad about not being able to play-I can't play anything i've made so far-I carry my finished products over to a local music store to let the clerks(and patrons) run them through their paces-I feel like a blind painter, so help me ('Does this look like a cow to you? What color did I use?' etc etc...).

I tried to take a few guitar lessons this month, and here's how THAT worked out:

Me: Er, do you think you could teach me on a homemade 3 string tuned A-E-a? I know it's a bit of an unusual request-

Teacher: I probably could-Waitaminute is that a cigar box? I gotta try this out-Hey you wired this thing for an amp? let's hook this puppy UP!!!

(Teacher improvs a rendition of Screamin' Jay Hawkins 'I Put A Spell on You' with Wood-bone slide)

Me: Okay, looks like you've got the 3 string down to a science-so what's the Introductory fee for a few lesso-

Teacher: I think i'm in love-is this one for sale?

Me: It..um..yeah, sure-

(sells guitar)

Me: Sigh...see you later for lessons...when I have a guitar.. : (

Hope your daughter appreciates her present-in the meanwhile, I guess you and I will slip on our blindfolds and mix up some paints... :P
Tom September 26, 2011 at 10:08am

Here is a couple of pics trying to show the headstock angle better. The sound clip I am still trying to do as it is in a avi format. Wish I could play as the thing sounds rather nice.

No electrics. My daughter heard the thing and fell in love with it. Since her 40th was coming up, she got it as a gift.
Order99 September 14, 2011 at 12:53am

That is absolutely magnificent-i'll bet it sounds as beautiful as it looks...

Judging by those pictures-did you get your string break just by adding a nice thick Fretboard, or are there some string guides too small for my eyes to spot? Despite my best efforts to properly shave down the heads, every build i've done to date has needed guides(either Hammer-in staples or small screws) so i'd really be interested in some close-ups of the head...and the neck...and the body...

Er, not that I want to drool over the design or anything... ( :
Henry Strat-o-varius Lowman September 13, 2011 at 9:45pm

Your efforts and hard work paid off. This is one fine looking build! Let's hear it when you get it wired up (or acoustic, if you so choose)!
Dan Sleep September 12, 2011 at 9:12pm

If you go to your page on CBN, and scroll down, you will see a spot where you can add your music files.
Vinylhed September 12, 2011 at 8:55pm

That's a wonderfully unique looking instrument, I'd love to hear it.

I had my fair share of injuries whilst making my cookie tin guitar, but you take it to a whole other level. Ouch!

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