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Quarantine Build: Tele Bridge 6 String Canjo

Another quarantine build (and another sunburn), I forget which number I'm on at this point, maybe 6.

Slightly different from my normal 6 String Canjo builds. instead of my normal Biscuit Tins, I used a top lid tin, like you'd find on old cereal storage tins or oil cans, so I had to adjust my building techniques, but I think I got it worked out. I got my usual length of pine going down the middle on which the bridge and neck are mounted on.

I got an old Ashtray bridge and Tele bridge pickup mounted on face of it. I had to cut an extra hole under the bridge to make space for the tele pickup, but other than that, this is just another of 6 Stringers.

The sound is interesting, acoustically, the deepness of the tin and the manner of which I have mounted everything gives it a nice resonance, but plugged in, it takes on much more a Telecaster sound, that bridge and pickup combination being a big part of that, but with a bit more warmth like a thinline due to the hollow body.

Before I say or do more with this thing, I gotta adjust the pickup, the screws holding it up are short and it keeps slipping its threading, but aside from that, what you guys think?

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Permalink Reply by David L. on May 11, 2020 at 9:03am

I think you have done a great job.

Due to the lack of decent sized cigar boxes in the UK (to make a six string guitar with) all ideas on alternatives are good to see.

How does it feel to play with the deep body? With electric travel guitars (eg Hofner Shorty) having a small body they are sometimes neck end heavy. Is this the same or does the smaller, deeper tin body balance the neck better?

Regards,

David L.

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Permalink Reply by JP Lace Master on May 11, 2020 at 10:54am

Thank you David, I'd say its not so much a lack of boxes of a decent size, but more a wish to do something different, I'd never seen a Cigar Box Guitar until after I started building Canjos.

I find the weight of the neck in contrast to the body rarely an issue. I may be a lefty player, but I am naturally right handed and have a stronger right arm for holding up the neck, plus there is a bit of counterbalance with the weight of the pine framework going through the tin itself. honestly the only trouble I have holding onto one of my tin guitars is that the tin is very cold against my stomach.