Strings: Materials, Techniques, Sound, Etc. - Cigar Box Nation2024-03-28T10:47:43Zhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/strings-materials-techniques?groupUrl=canjoconsortium&commentId=2592684%3AComment%3A2023330&x=1&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI stand in awe!
Thank you! I'…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-06-13:2592684:Comment:20233302014-06-13T16:46:23.414ZTN Twanghttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/TNTwang
<p>I stand in awe!</p>
<p>Thank you! I'll try all your suggestions...</p>
<p>TN</p>
<p>I stand in awe!</p>
<p>Thank you! I'll try all your suggestions...</p>
<p>TN</p> Look on the bright side-if…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-06-13:2592684:Comment:20229642014-06-13T03:34:08.480ZOrder99https://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RandyWhitley
<p> Look on the bright side-if the can is pointing in the 'wrong' direction(like several of mine) it's easier to play with the design. In the past I have had great fun with outward-pointing canjos, by:</p>
<p>-adding a second soup can with both top and bottom missing (via the magic of JB chemweld) for extra volume</p>
<p>-cutting a can in half and adding it to the bottom of the stick in order to deflect the sound forward like a standard guitar (improving the volume just a little as well since…</p>
<p> Look on the bright side-if the can is pointing in the 'wrong' direction(like several of mine) it's easier to play with the design. In the past I have had great fun with outward-pointing canjos, by:</p>
<p>-adding a second soup can with both top and bottom missing (via the magic of JB chemweld) for extra volume</p>
<p>-cutting a can in half and adding it to the bottom of the stick in order to deflect the sound forward like a standard guitar (improving the volume just a little as well since the 'baffle' resonates a little as well)</p>
<p>- placing the original canjo just inside a larger coffee tin and fastening with screws-the resulting monstrosity resembles a tommy-gun and sounds like echoey musical thunder without an amp :)</p>
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<p> And as was previously mentioned, the 'backwards' canjos are easier to point at a mike and waste less string...</p> Yeah, I've got other can-base…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-06-10:2592684:Comment:20207272014-06-10T19:43:07.117ZTN Twanghttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/TNTwang
<p>Yeah, I've got other can-based configurations in a Diddley Bow and what I call a Stratocanister (made with a cookie tin), but I saw somebody's video of a diatonic one-string "canjo." I loved it, built it (with bobby-pin frets), and have played it at a couple of picking sessions. It was only after the fact that I realized "Oh, crap, my can is pointing in the wrong direction."</p>
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<p>A peculiar advantage of my can arrangement is that the instrument is easily miked. I just set a boom…</p>
<p>Yeah, I've got other can-based configurations in a Diddley Bow and what I call a Stratocanister (made with a cookie tin), but I saw somebody's video of a diatonic one-string "canjo." I loved it, built it (with bobby-pin frets), and have played it at a couple of picking sessions. It was only after the fact that I realized "Oh, crap, my can is pointing in the wrong direction."</p>
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<p>A peculiar advantage of my can arrangement is that the instrument is easily miked. I just set a boom stand with an SM-58 beside my chair and pointed the mic into the open end of the can. It picked up sound great and stayed out of the way of my picking hand.</p> The can opening points toward…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-06-10:2592684:Comment:20205752014-06-10T19:32:28.721ZRon "Oily" Spraguehttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RonaldSprague
The can opening points toward the nut because...that's the way most people build 'em. Either way works, but may give different tones, depending on the usual things: can size, scale length, string diameter, tuning, etc. Also, with the opening toward the nut, it is easier for the player to hear the sound than if it faces away from him.<br />
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Heck, there's a pic somewhere here of a bass made from a 5 gallon plastic water bottle, bolted to a 2x4, and strung with weed whacker line.<br />
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Here's a thought: why…
The can opening points toward the nut because...that's the way most people build 'em. Either way works, but may give different tones, depending on the usual things: can size, scale length, string diameter, tuning, etc. Also, with the opening toward the nut, it is easier for the player to hear the sound than if it faces away from him.<br />
<br />
Heck, there's a pic somewhere here of a bass made from a 5 gallon plastic water bottle, bolted to a 2x4, and strung with weed whacker line.<br />
<br />
Here's a thought: why not face the opening of the can toward the player, at right angles to the neck? Instant sound port. Could also get some unusual resonances by running the string across the mouth of the can that way. Hmmmm.... Which way does the can go?? O…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-06-10:2592684:Comment:20204562014-06-10T19:10:47.792ZTN Twanghttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/TNTwang
<p>Which way does the can go?? Opening toward the nut or opening away from the nut?</p>
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<p>Silly me! I built a one-string with the string attached to the (solid) bottom of the can and the open end of the can pointing AWAY from the nut. That gave me 24.9 inches of room between nut and effective bridge so I could have room for 14-16 diatonic frets and still leave room for picking the string. Rand Moore's diagram from April 8, 2011 (See above.) seems to imply the same arrangement with a…</p>
<p>Which way does the can go?? Opening toward the nut or opening away from the nut?</p>
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<p>Silly me! I built a one-string with the string attached to the (solid) bottom of the can and the open end of the can pointing AWAY from the nut. That gave me 24.9 inches of room between nut and effective bridge so I could have room for 14-16 diatonic frets and still leave room for picking the string. Rand Moore's diagram from April 8, 2011 (See above.) seems to imply the same arrangement with a 25-inch scale.</p>
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<p>However, virtually every other one-stringer that I've seen--including Ben's for sale on CB Gitty AND Rogers Magee's builds based on his infamous 1994 "can dulcimer" patent (See general discussion area: December 26, 2011.)--have the open mouth of the can pointing TOWARD the nut. With the can turned this way, nearly 1/4 of the string length is "baffled" inside the can. The open mouth of the can doesn't provide as sturdy a base for the picking hand, and the number of possible frets is severely limited (typically 9 or 10).</p>
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<p>I see problems with this, but surely this issue has already been argued to death and the best solution carefully thought out. I have no intentions of re-building my instrument (with which I am completely happy), but I'd love to hear thoughts or facts on why everyone else is doing it the other way around. (And, yeah, I know there's no wrong way to do any of this, but I'd love to hear the reasoning of the assembled great minds with vast experience.)</p>
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<p>Thanks in advance,</p>
<p>TN</p> Just made two Canjos using 50…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2013-10-08:2592684:Comment:17545372013-10-08T23:02:45.309ZPete Turnerhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/PeteTurner
<p>Just made two Canjos using 50 lb mono, not sure I like the sound, plus a lot of stretch doubt it will stay in tune for long, of course it's a 1 string Canjo so who cares.</p>
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<p>Just made two Canjos using 50 lb mono, not sure I like the sound, plus a lot of stretch doubt it will stay in tune for long, of course it's a 1 string Canjo so who cares.</p>
<p></p> I was thinking of using 20-50…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2013-09-14:2592684:Comment:17250732013-09-14T19:55:34.639ZPete Turnerhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/PeteTurner
<p>I was thinking of using 20-50 lb test monofilment or maybe grass trimmer line.</p>
<p>I was thinking of using 20-50 lb test monofilment or maybe grass trimmer line.</p> Hey rand, I will upload a pho…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2012-05-08:2592684:Comment:10880152012-05-08T14:46:00.943ZLaura Nadeauhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/LauraNadeau
<p>Hey rand, I will upload a photo of my canjo later because I am at work right now, but I was wondering if you have noticed if the quality of sound varies with the type of wood that you use for the neck? it seems that the canjo that I have is oak sounds much better than the one that I made with just scrap wood that I had in my garage. Any thoughts.</p>
<p>also, my canjo neck is actually inside of my can. is this atypical? because it sounds awesome anyhow.</p>
<p>Hey rand, I will upload a photo of my canjo later because I am at work right now, but I was wondering if you have noticed if the quality of sound varies with the type of wood that you use for the neck? it seems that the canjo that I have is oak sounds much better than the one that I made with just scrap wood that I had in my garage. Any thoughts.</p>
<p>also, my canjo neck is actually inside of my can. is this atypical? because it sounds awesome anyhow.</p> yes!! I use the line that can…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2012-05-08:2592684:Comment:10881212012-05-08T14:42:58.183ZLaura Nadeauhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/LauraNadeau
<p>yes!! I use the line that can catch a shark or what not - it is pretty thick and like i posted to the first inquiry - I have been using the same string for over 5 years and it still sounds great.</p>
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<p>yes!! I use the line that can catch a shark or what not - it is pretty thick and like i posted to the first inquiry - I have been using the same string for over 5 years and it still sounds great.</p>
<p></p> Hi, I have used 500 pound bas…tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2012-05-08:2592684:Comment:10883022012-05-08T14:40:00.905ZLaura Nadeauhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/LauraNadeau
<p>Hi, I have used 500 pound bass Fishing Line and my canjo rocks! I haven't changed the string in over 5 years and it still sounds great. </p>
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<p>Hi, I have used 500 pound bass Fishing Line and my canjo rocks! I haven't changed the string in over 5 years and it still sounds great. </p>
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