Has anyone tried using a cookie tin lid rather than a paint can lid on a banjo type CBG? I know paint lids are easier, but has anyone gotten any good results using a cookie lid?
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Hi, I put a brace in the bridge area to stop any sag, it adds some stiffness to the top and stops the strings from going too low, so easier to set the neck/action.
Taff
Just be careful of the down pressure from the strings' break angle across the bridge, cookie tin lids aren't as rigid as paint can lids. Perhaps some sort of jack screw to raise the tail piece like a commercial banjo has to allow you to adjust it to get just enough break.
Hi Ashley, I’ve built many cookietin guitars and a few banjos as well. I just posted a video here of a banjo I built using a salad bowl for the hoop and a silver-plated serving plate for the head! It sounds reasonably good all things considered. Give it a go! Just about anything will work as long as it’s secured well to the body.
One thing I discovered when I built mine is that in order to get that true banjo sound you have to use real banjo strings.
And on the good side they require less tension than guitar necks.
I discovered this by accident when I noticed that the neck on mine was slowly bending from the tension of regular guitar strings. So I was forced to replace them.
On mine I used a cake baking pan (an old Bake Rite) which I found fit perfectly inside a wooden salad bowl... Used both.
As long as it's metal and it resonates fine, it will work.
Hi, I have, I'll try to post a video of it, I can't play banjo but you will get an idea of sound, and get a laugh. Check out the video section, its too bad to put on you tube.
Taff
It wont matter if it’s paint, coffee, or cookies, as long as it has a big enough lip to catch the box & thick enough to handle the downward pressure from string pull without bending? Use the Search bar for pics, I’m sure you’ll find a few that have been made over the years? Cheers :)