Hello from St. Louis

I have only been making CBGs for about 6 months. I got a lot of 25 cigar boxes from ebay to make jewelry and music boxes, while looking for ideas I came across cigar box guitars. So far I have made two, I have also made a suitcase bass. Years ago I made Native American flutes. Professionally I repair medical equipment so am fairly good with electronics and have made a couple of small amps. I am looking forward to learning a lot from all of you good folks on the site and at the monthly meetings in St. Louis.

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  • St. Louis MO. CBG Club/Workshop

    Every 3rd Saturday in St. Louis Webster Groves MO. Hwy61roadhouse host free a CBG workshop from 9:AM - 11:AM It's free, drinks are free and we basically have several things going on at once. Members bring their builds to share and talk about, ask questions. We jam together randomly and occasionally we will trade/swap related gifts such as slides, pickups, exotic woods etc. It's a good time to connect with others in the area that share CBG interest or musical talents.

    • Looking forward to it. Can't wait to see and hear all the cool guitars.

  • For a first time builder, what you have here looks pretty amazing.

    The bass being mute leads me to believe the suitcase is absorbing the resonance. You would need a ridged surface for the bridge in order to sharpen the pitch, the same way a drum skin sounds when the skin goes slack. Possible a couple cross member wood ribs on the underside of the lid beneath the bridge?

    • I did not completely remove the lining from the suitcase so I think some dampening is from that. I did put a balsa wood sound post in to transmit vibration from the bridge to the back of the body. I think the ribs would work well and may try that when I get some time.

  • That suitcase bass is the poster child for recycle. Love it!

  • Sound is a little muted even though the suitcase rings good when you thump it. Probably going to put in a piezo pickup. I got the kit with everything except the suitcase from here  http://stores.ebay.com/charmingsongviolinstore/ they have a very good reputation. I had some problems getting the stain to take on some parts of the neck even though I used a pre stain primer. Neck is finished with walnut stain and gunstock varnish. I just need to finish the cosmetics. If anyone has a suggestion for covering the rough edges on the F holes I would appreciate it. Had to cut down the bridge and tailpiece due to the shorter length of the suitcase VS bass body. The neck is braced on the inside by a 2x4 and outside by the two blocks at the base, they will be shaped and stained to match.

    • I am somewhat familiar with the Charming Songs site, but have never seen such a kit, and cant find it now. 

      The trick would be getting the right length neck, and finding/making that short tailpiece. I can make all that, but would like to find a kit for a few friends who cant. And time. Who has enough.....

      So I was hoping for a little more info. Scale length? Did you use a soundpost? Anything further to add?

      I am wondering if the sound might have been better if the f-holes were more conventionally aligned with the bridge. I would never expect the sound to be GREAT, but still, Cool!

    • Thanks, I was just relieved it worked. Here is a link to the kit on ebay      http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-4-Upright-Bass-Part-neck-with-fingerboard...

      The scale length is 33 1/2. I had no real control over the length. Basically I just temporarily put all the pieces on the suitcase and marked all the cuts in relation to the bridge. Once the fingerboard and tailpiece were cut down to fit, I mounted them, strung it, and had my wife use the side edge of a ruler as a bridge, pulling up until the string height was correct. I then measured the distance between the suitcase top and the ruler edge. I used that measurement to cut the bridge down. I was very happy when it tuned up correctly and was playable. I cut the sound post by measuring the distance inside the suitcase front to back under the bridge position then adding one inch. Then I test fitted it, cutting off just a bit each time until it fit tightly. I would post precise measurements but each suitcase will be different.

    • OK, that helps! I misunderstood, now I see you modified one of the regular neck and fittings kits.

      Suggestions, things I would consider trying:

      Of course, removing the suitcase lining would be a good idea. As would using a hardwood soundpost. Having the bridge and soundholes lined up more conventionally might also improve the sound. Worth a try.

      Thinking about desiging something with a neck block to extend the neck away from the suitcase, or build a longer doghouse box instead of the suitcase for a bass. Or a cello, we'll see.

      Using the suitcase as you did, I would also consider designing some kind of tail block that allowed for a longer tailpiece. Full 3/4 sized is likely not feasible, but perhaps a 1/2 scale or equivalent shortened 3/4 scale. The ultra short tail might be muting some tone.

      Whatever you do, a proper pickup and amplifier and bang on it! I bet it could be rockin'

  • Nice!

    Tell us about the suitcase bass! Sound? Neck source? Etc!

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