Replies

  • Stuart Phillips May 19, 2014 at 9:02am

    Don't go past a good plywood for the box. I have used it and have great acoustic results.  On a 3 stringer with a single piezo in the box, it plays as an acoustic with no amp.... quite by accident. As long as you stick to marine or exterior AAA or ACA grade you'll be amazed at the results. Keep away from the cheap imported plywoods, they're useful for packing cases and that's about it. If you can find it, Austral brand... made in Ipswich is amongst the best you can get, it's a plain hoop pine and has even thickness veneers and very good bonding. So it looks plain ! stain or paint it.  I used 6mm sides and 3mm top and back, it has amazing sustain ! Twang it, go open a beer and it's still humming away to itself. A full sheet of the ply will cost you heaps, some of the better timber outlets have half or quarter sheets.

  • eric gittins February 27, 2013 at 7:13pm

    cigar box size is pretty small, so i tend to resaw timber from salvage that's not much use for anything else.  for hardwoods, i have used jarrah, redgum, karri, and blackwood.  for softwoods joiners oregon, red pine, salvaged spruce from piano soundboards (i know it's not local, but it's a fine thing to do to a piano), and a few i'm not sure of species.

    it all works as far as i can see/hear, although my all blackwood acoustic is my favourite for sweet tone and projection.

    if you want luthier quality timber, a guitar back&side set is enough to make the tops, backs and rim on 2 cigar box guitars, already thicknessed etc. probably starting at about $100 per back and side set, so $50 per box?

    eric

    • rob bryon > eric gittins April 21, 2013 at 6:35pm

      thanx for that.....that's some good advice there...you're right about the piano....jarrah and blackwood are so beautiful.....how did your acoustic come up as far as aesthetics come up?

  • Marty Newbery February 27, 2013 at 12:25am

    Depending where you are, check out www.monarotimber.com.au for supplie's, they have the most extensive range of beautifull timber I have come across, they are very reasonably priced & most helpfull, I have just ordered some PNG Rosewood from them & like I said the'yre range of Timber is unbeleivable .

    • rob bryon > Marty Newbery April 21, 2013 at 6:32pm

      thanx for replying....hmm, just checked out that website, nice....might have to do a roadtrip to the capital when the tulips come up !

  • CRAIG K666 February 26, 2013 at 5:44pm

    Hi...if you can get some CYPRESS pine for the bodies it is excellent..Good stuff to work with also..the finish is so smooth..good luck..

    • rob bryon > CRAIG K666 April 21, 2013 at 6:30pm

      thanx heaps for your response....might give the cypress pine a go

  • Redbelly February 26, 2013 at 3:54am

    The only Aussie softwood I have used is pine. I have used softwood timber from New Guinea and Indonesia. I also get timber from a small mill that processes timber from commercial tree loppers

    • rob bryon > Redbelly April 21, 2013 at 6:29pm

      apologies for the tardy response.....but thanx for your reply....I have heard whispers that pine bends....?

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