Hey good people of the nation, I wonder if you might be able to give me some advice.
I've got a smashing 3 bottle wine box (see photo),and I intend to turn it into a tenor/baritone ukulele. Knowing the downward pressure that strings can exert, I'm a little bit worried that the force might split the wood under the bridge.
The box is quite large at 13" x 13", the wooden lid is thin enough to resonate well. I'm only going to be running 4 nylon ukulele strings.
Should I brace the lid? (I've seen photos somewhere here) I'm going to be making it with a through neck, so could let the neck take the weight, but would this effect the resonance too much and deaden the sound?
At the end of the day I really don't want to damage the box.
Thanks in advance for your input.
Replies
Thanks for your input guys, it's much appreciated .
Oily - Like the idea of using the bottom as the soundboard.
Ni-iice box!
You could try this both ways. First, build without bracing, string it up, play it for awhile. Then, If you still feel compelled, you could fan- or X-brace the top.
OR...
You could even try it BOTH ways in the same box, if you make your neck a build up of screw-on parts inside the box! What I mean is, brace the BOTTOM, leave the lid unbraced. Figure a way to flip the neck over so that the bottom becomes the soundboard...you'd have to do this with a removable saddle...hmmmm.
This could be a first!
Ohhhh, Vinylhead, that is a nice box and a good find. Looks like a ply top, which is stronger and still sounds good. I've not braced a lot. Maybe an easy solution is to have parts of the neck support the top. Sure, you want the top to vibrate freely near the saddle, but on a box this size some strength in the center would help.
I like to strengthen the box, the corners always, often the whole sides if the wood is thin, I usually bolster both ends where the neck will sit.
Good wishes for a great build, process included.
Never braced, never will.... :o)
John Maw writes-
(see a rather longwinded thread that I started on that subject here, but I have to warn you that it does go on a bit),
LOL, I cant believe you would send anyone there John, I thought that was a secret rambling thread saved just for a few complete nut bags like me........
I have braced every one that I have made (all 5 so far), so you can tell that I am a fan (little joke there - fan bracing, get it). One thing that I have noticed is that bracing evens out the characteristics of the box regarding how it tests with a tuning fork (see a rather longwinded thread that I started on that subject here, but I have to warn you that it does go on a bit), so may make bridge placement less critical (and maybe not).
Alternatively, check the flatness of the box with a straight edge and then fit the strings. Check from time to time. If it has flexed noticeably then fit one or two strips, normally arched so they are thickest in the middle and taper to almost nothing at the ends in a similar way to a violin bass bar.
Dan has made many more than I have so maybe start without but just keep an eye on it.
Hope that helps.