I'm just about finished with my first guitar build and I'm planning my second.
I spent about $75 for materials and parts on my first. On my second, I plan to build it very, very cheap. I'm looking to use a 2x4 stud. I hope to make it acoustic without any piezo.
How do I determine how much space I'll need on the inside? I assume the more space I open the louder it will be? I actually like the idea of a quiet acoustic (lieder than playing an electric turned off but not so loud that people in the next room over can hear it).
You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!
What do you guys think of this idea (a combination of the two)? How about a pop-can reso? I don't know if this would be enough volume. The idea is to drill a hole in the middle of the board, down about 1". Then, insert the bottom 1" of an aluminum pop can. Drill a 1/4" hole in the bottom of that. There's my "reso".
Should work and give at least a metallic sound. I did a bunch of Diddley Bows using cat food cans as resonators/bridge combo and they sounded pretty good. The larger the resonator the more sound it will make.
I also like the routing idea. Getting a good box will be difficult with a router. I've considered using three 3" holes created with a paddle bit (overlapping). Then cover with thin piece with a smaller hole. Dunno if this would be enough. Dunno if the largish sides left over would make the effects unusable. Is one thin side enough?
Well, my biggest paddel bit is more like 2". It's a real wrist buster. I'd probably use a 2.5" hole saw. I just read that the standard US pop can is 2.5".
Favoured box sizes seem to be about 8" x 10" x 2 - 2 1/2 ". I have been using some 8" x 8" boxes and I am getting really good tone on a quiet guitar. I also built a 9" x 12" x 2" box from scratch. They sound "Sweet" when played acoustically.
Just as important is the thickness of the top on bottom of the box. You are looking to be at about 1/8".
As for the 2" x 4" neck, I would splurge for a stick of 1x2 oak, or if on a real budget poplar. If on even more of a budget, go around looking for discarded furniture or skids and re-saw one of the legs or the skid into .75" x 1.5" finished dimension. There was a thread on using softwood for a neck and some seemed to think it was OK and would hold. The thing that gets forgotten is that part of the sound is from your neck as it vibrates. I am guessing a lot of the bass is from the neck as the boxes are so small. So a good resonating hardwood may pick you up some extra volume.
Replies
What do you guys think of this idea (a combination of the two)? How about a pop-can reso? I don't know if this would be enough volume. The idea is to drill a hole in the middle of the board, down about 1". Then, insert the bottom 1" of an aluminum pop can. Drill a 1/4" hole in the bottom of that. There's my "reso".
I drew it up for your enjoyment.
Should work and give at least a metallic sound. I did a bunch of Diddley Bows using cat food cans as resonators/bridge combo and they sounded pretty good. The larger the resonator the more sound it will make.
You have a 3" paddle bit? Wow! Be careful!!
Well, my biggest paddel bit is more like 2". It's a real wrist buster. I'd probably use a 2.5" hole saw. I just read that the standard US pop can is 2.5".
I don't see why that would not work. As long as the "top" is thin enough to vibrate you should be good.
You could chisel or route out a hollow on the 2x4 and leave a thin soundboard. I did something similar on my build called Zen-O -Phone. I added a small cigar box but you could just cover the hole back up with some wood.http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/soundboard-1?context=album&...http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/flipside-1/prev?context=album&a...
Favoured box sizes seem to be about 8" x 10" x 2 - 2 1/2 ". I have been using some 8" x 8" boxes and I am getting really good tone on a quiet guitar. I also built a 9" x 12" x 2" box from scratch. They sound "Sweet" when played acoustically.
Just as important is the thickness of the top on bottom of the box. You are looking to be at about 1/8".
As for the 2" x 4" neck, I would splurge for a stick of 1x2 oak, or if on a real budget poplar. If on even more of a budget, go around looking for discarded furniture or skids and re-saw one of the legs or the skid into .75" x 1.5" finished dimension. There was a thread on using softwood for a neck and some seemed to think it was OK and would hold. The thing that gets forgotten is that part of the sound is from your neck as it vibrates. I am guessing a lot of the bass is from the neck as the boxes are so small. So a good resonating hardwood may pick you up some extra volume.
dont discount wine boxes and even old drawers . you can get some nice deep tone with them .. and dont discount a reso . ;-)
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next