Looking for advice on doing a build w/ internal springs for a reverb effect.
What kind of spring did you use? Storm door springs seem too heavy / got too much tension to use. Thinking screen door springs? Where did you get your springs? Local hardware store is a bust.
How did you attach the springs to the neck?
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Hi Clint, I am new to the spring thing so proberebly will not contribute much, listen to the others who have had success. But here's my findings so far.
I built this cbg just for testing the spring thang. Like you, not knowing what springs will work best, I started experimenting. What I did was to make the things I tried reversible and variable.
In this cbg box I have it set up so that I can dampen the springs with a dampener devise operated by the knob on the right, and where you see the sympathetic string tuners I had spring tensioners so as to change the tension of the springs, as I thought that important too.
First springs did not work, possibly too heavy. I Installed the strings you see on this guitar now but they did not work well enough to be audible above the volume of the cbg itself. Then...........A light bulb moment [no pun intended]
I was working at one of my benches that has a desk light fitted into a hole in the wooden top.As I was working, picking up and putting down tools I realised there was a ringing/humming sound coming from some where as I put a tool down on the wooden benchtop. I traced it to the springs on that desk lamp.
The four springs were just the right weight and tension to respond to light tapping on the bench top. CBG reverb at its best I thought, but have not tested further. More demanding things on at the moment.
Photos should tell the story. Even if you haven't got a spare lamp you could test the springs from a lamp and then know what to buy.
Taff
Thanks for the info! May find old lamp @ Goodwill or garage sale.
Quality build btw. Some good craftsmanship right there. The dampening lever is genius!
Funny thing is that the reason I use the eco Mic spring was years ago I was picking up after my grandson .I threw the toy into the box and I noticed it sounded just like the reverb springs on the old Hammond organ my mom had. When I was looking for springs, I remembered that sound. The other spring "was" a replacement for my industrial magnifying light that I grabbed on a dumpster dive( I dropped and broke the lens, after I bought the springs) I think I got them at ACE.
Taff, I'm intrigued by that sound hole design and markings. Is that Aborigine inspired? Your craftsmanship really sets a high bar to reach for! Even your "test" piece would look good hanging on display.
Thanks Will, the design for the soundhole came from messing around with different shape ideas. I keep patterns of the soundhole I use and at times mix and match them.
Taff
Lowes is where I found my springs. You'll need 1.5lbs tension. I've done 5 or 6 and this is an example of the latest one. Yes that big silver thing is a pot lid. Hope this helps you
How do you have the lid fastened? A spacer inside with a washer and nut on the back? I use a light spring for the mid to hi and a heavier one for mid to low. Thanks for the tension info.
Lid is attached with one wood screw, I glue a 1 1/2 x 3/4 x 2 wood block to the back of the neck. Then remove the lid handle, I try to find the older lids that have a screw on knob as they seem to work best, also there have been times when I have to notch the bottom of the neck for the lid to fit between the neck and back of the box. My next experiment on this setup will be embedding a piezo in that block that the lid attaches to. Hope that helps. One other note the guitar that has this setup has a warm and comforting sound that's mid to low similar to a big body acoustic 6 string
I have a lid like that with a threaded rod for the knob to screw on to, it rings a perfect C.
These are the springs I use, The one on the bottom is from an Echo Mic.
Nice clean build there! Thanks for the info & an example.
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