Cigar Box Nation2024-03-29T06:40:37ZRick Martinhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RickMartinhttps://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/364434239?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1https://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/superclass/forum/topic/listForContributor?user=2fpsgse1kz34l&feed=yes&xn_auth=noAdjustable sound holestag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2017-09-09:2592684:Topic:29399292017-09-09T22:33:54.739ZRick Martinhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RickMartin
The guitar sounded a bit odd on the base string so I made the sound holes adjustable.<br />
The sound holes can be adjusted to have varying openings including one sound hole open and one closed. The adjustment is made via the two screws next to the sound holes.
The guitar sounded a bit odd on the base string so I made the sound holes adjustable.<br />
The sound holes can be adjusted to have varying openings including one sound hole open and one closed. The adjustment is made via the two screws next to the sound holes. Classical ball end stringstag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2016-12-30:2592684:Topic:27585302016-12-30T15:56:11.966ZRick Martinhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RickMartin
<p>Hey everybody, I am building a concert scale pot lid reso uke,with a piezo pickup. My string ends will show thru the tail piece. So ball end strings may be the ticket. Can anyone recommend steel wrapped nylon strings that will tune like a uke? Also, string gauges that will tune like a uke. I intend to play like a uke but may set it up for slide playing. All ya'lls thoughts are welcomed. jh</p>
<p>Hey everybody, I am building a concert scale pot lid reso uke,with a piezo pickup. My string ends will show thru the tail piece. So ball end strings may be the ticket. Can anyone recommend steel wrapped nylon strings that will tune like a uke? Also, string gauges that will tune like a uke. I intend to play like a uke but may set it up for slide playing. All ya'lls thoughts are welcomed. jh</p> Adjustable CBG bridgetag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2016-06-25:2592684:Topic:26347872016-06-25T12:22:07.004ZRick Martinhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RickMartin
<p>I haven't seen this done before and thought you guys might be interested. I have been using these in my builds for a while now and they work quite well. The bridge can be adjusted in height to suite your frets or playing style. There are factory made adjustable bridges but this one is more in keeping with hand made, because it is hand made!</p>
<p>Below is a link on how to build.…</p>
<p></p>
<p>I haven't seen this done before and thought you guys might be interested. I have been using these in my builds for a while now and they work quite well. The bridge can be adjusted in height to suite your frets or playing style. There are factory made adjustable bridges but this one is more in keeping with hand made, because it is hand made!</p>
<p>Below is a link on how to build.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqMnwAP7cDs">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqMnwAP7cDs</a></p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1079954696?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="750" class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/1079954696?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024"/></a></p> Just intonation/scaletag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2016-06-23:2592684:Topic:26333452016-06-23T17:29:19.936ZRick Martinhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RickMartin
<p>I'm thinking of building a 'just intonation' guitar. 4-5 string, probably 23-24" shorter scale length CBG. </p>
<p>Any thoughts, advice, experience, tips will be most helpful.</p>
<p>I'm thinking of building a 'just intonation' guitar. 4-5 string, probably 23-24" shorter scale length CBG. </p>
<p>Any thoughts, advice, experience, tips will be most helpful.</p> Truss rodstag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2016-06-15:2592684:Topic:26261452016-06-15T03:01:58.874ZRick Martinhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RickMartin
<p>I've been looking for an alternative truss rod just to strengthen a long thin neck.</p>
<p>I've had a peek on e-bog for aluminium T-section rods but they seem just as expensive as buying an actual adjustable truss rod. </p>
<p>What I was was thinking was a 10mm x 10mm (or smaller) T section rod to sandwich between two 20mm x 40mm depth pieces of wood to shape into something playable but all I can find is 1\2 inch. ( which isn't far off but I still think too big and might even weaken wood…</p>
<p>I've been looking for an alternative truss rod just to strengthen a long thin neck.</p>
<p>I've had a peek on e-bog for aluminium T-section rods but they seem just as expensive as buying an actual adjustable truss rod. </p>
<p>What I was was thinking was a 10mm x 10mm (or smaller) T section rod to sandwich between two 20mm x 40mm depth pieces of wood to shape into something playable but all I can find is 1\2 inch. ( which isn't far off but I still think too big and might even weaken wood after I shape it into 30mm x 30mm with a D shaped back). </p>
<p>Has anyone found something similar to what I'm looking for or a nice alternative that is simple to build with? </p> An idea that I haven't seen - any thoughts?tag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2015-03-19:2592684:Topic:22630382015-03-19T23:09:02.516ZRick Martinhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RickMartin
<p>A while back I built a cajon for my grandson with a built-in snare. It came out great and the snare added a whole different dimension to the sound.</p>
<p>I'm currently working on a reso CBG using an Old Lowe cone with a rod piezo in the biscuit bridge.</p>
<p>Has anyone thought about adding a set of snare springs inside a CBG, riding on the reso for a built-in reverb effect? If not for reverb, how do you think it would effect the sound?</p>
<p>I searched the web for "snare guitar", "spring…</p>
<p>A while back I built a cajon for my grandson with a built-in snare. It came out great and the snare added a whole different dimension to the sound.</p>
<p>I'm currently working on a reso CBG using an Old Lowe cone with a rod piezo in the biscuit bridge.</p>
<p>Has anyone thought about adding a set of snare springs inside a CBG, riding on the reso for a built-in reverb effect? If not for reverb, how do you think it would effect the sound?</p>
<p>I searched the web for "snare guitar", "spring reverb", etc, but couldn't find anything.</p> Nonadjustable truss rodtag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-07-09:2592684:Topic:20477272014-07-09T19:17:39.154ZRick Martinhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RickMartin
I am helping my daughter build a 5-string long-neck gas can banjo. It needs a truss rod, and we are doing this the found parts and hardware store way. We have an appropriate, small mild steel bar to embed as a non-adjustable truss rod -- sort of early Martin truss rod style. Our question: how should the rod be glued in? Do we need epoxy only at the terminal ends with padding along the length to deaden vibrations OR should the entire length be epoxy glued! Many thanks!!
I am helping my daughter build a 5-string long-neck gas can banjo. It needs a truss rod, and we are doing this the found parts and hardware store way. We have an appropriate, small mild steel bar to embed as a non-adjustable truss rod -- sort of early Martin truss rod style. Our question: how should the rod be glued in? Do we need epoxy only at the terminal ends with padding along the length to deaden vibrations OR should the entire length be epoxy glued! Many thanks!! Measuring wood ( and/or box) resonances - cheaplytag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-05-19:2592684:Topic:19992792014-05-19T16:48:43.687ZRick Martinhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RickMartin
<p>I'll start off by saying that this may not be everyone's "cup of tea" and that some people might consider this "overthinking". To that I will simply say that one person's overthinking is another person's "understanding". </p>
<p>Let's start with something we can (probably) all mostly agree with: Different boxes (CBs or built boxes) have different sound qualities based upon: the type of wood, the thickness of the wood, joint construction, size, proportion (including depth), etc. (feel free to…</p>
<p>I'll start off by saying that this may not be everyone's "cup of tea" and that some people might consider this "overthinking". To that I will simply say that one person's overthinking is another person's "understanding". </p>
<p>Let's start with something we can (probably) all mostly agree with: Different boxes (CBs or built boxes) have different sound qualities based upon: the type of wood, the thickness of the wood, joint construction, size, proportion (including depth), etc. (feel free to add more considerations).</p>
<p>For building our own boxes, we have control over every one of those aspects. <strong><span style="color: #993366;">Wouldn't it be cool to test the individual wood components going into our boxes and then the assembled boxes to see how each choice changes the resonance?</span></strong><span style="color: #993366;"> </span><span style="color: #993366;"><span style="color: #000000;">If your answer is "no" then move along. If you answer is "maybe", then read on.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000;">This is not a tutorial. It is a set of links us to consider and discuss in this thread. I'm going to cross-post this on the <a href="http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/HMRB101/forum/topics/measuring-wood-and-or-box-resonances-cheaply">Resonator Boxes Group</a>, but I would like to see the discussion take place <strong>there</strong></span>.</p>
<p>This began for me with an investigation into how the various components affect the acoustic properties of a guitar (and then how these might apply to CBGs). Invariably, the question of solid wood vs plywood will come up (or "laminates"). For example, let's say I have a cigar box that has a 1/4" thick solid wood lid and a 1/8" plywood bottom. What sound qualities will I get using one for the soundboard over the other? Another (related) question is: <a href="http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/superclass/forum/topics/testing-a-box-for-bridge" target="_blank">Where do I place the bridge</a> for the maximum resonance for this particular box/soundboard?</p>
<p>Exercising my Google-Fu, I found <a href="http://www.pantheonguitars.com/tonewoods.htm" target="_blank">this interesting article on tonewoods</a> and</p>
<p><a href="http://www.guitarnation.com/articles/calkin.htm" target="_blank">The Heretics Guide to Alternative Lutherie Woods, by John Calkin</a></p>
<p>It was in the aforementioned "where do I place the bridge" thread that someone mentioned <span> "The Art of Tap Tuning: How to Build Great Sound into Instruments" by Roger Simonoff. The "Tap Tuning FAQ" is here: <a href="http://siminoff.net/tap-tuning-faq/" target="_blank">http://siminoff.net/tap-tuning-faq/</a></span></p>
<p><span>For a video introduction to what is possible on the subject, I suggest Mr. Simonoff's "Intro" video on YouTube:<br/> <br/>
</span></p>
<p><object width="420" height="315" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="false"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"></param><param name="wmode" value="opaque"></param><param name="src" value="//www.youtube.com/v/r3bVHNnjH6k?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowfullscreen" value="false"></param><embed wmode="opaque" width="420" height="315" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="//www.youtube.com/v/r3bVHNnjH6k?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0" allowfullscreen="false" allowscriptaccess="never"></embed> </object>
</p>
<p></p>
<p><span>It was the comment below that video that got me <strong>next</strong>. The commenter suggested that Simonoff's approach was too complicated and linked to this PDF entitled: <span>"What you can find out by hitting things, by Don Noon, a retired NASA engineer." (<a href="http://www.maestronet.com/forum/index.php?/user/25192-don-noon/" target="_blank">Don Noon's bio here</a>.) <br/> <br/>
</span> <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://jpschmidtviolins.com/What_You_Can_Find_Out_By_Hitting_Things.pdf" class="ot-anchor aaTEdf">http://jpschmidtviolins.com/What_You_Can_Find_Out_By_Hitting_Things.pdf</a></span></p>
<p><span><em><strong>The beauty of THIS approach is that all you need is the freeware audio editor program Audacity and a computer/laptop and a microphone</strong></em>. (I wonder if one could test piezos or other pickups in a similar fashion).</span></p>
<p>I think that someone who builds a ton of CBGs (and pays attention) comes to understand a lot of this just through experimentation. But I think that this testing method might help someone "get there" a lot sooner by narrowing down what works (better) than other approaches - for the particular sound that they are going for. In particular, figuring out what pattern on the graph (or maybe the total length of the graph, or the amplitude of certain points on the graph) correspond to the low end, high end and midrange, etc.</p>
<p>I might equate this to the different ways that homebrewers make beer. I knew one guy who loved to make up his own "recipes" (by varying ratios of different grains, and throwing in this or that and experiementing with different hops, etc.) But he never wrote anything down. So if he got something particularly good, his chances of replicating it (ever again) were somewhat reduced. This is sort of the point of recipes. Keeping track of what materials we use, in what proportions, and what thicknesses, etc. seems to me to be similar. Being able to graph the sound qualities of different designs seems to me to be something that might be helpful in replicating, or fine tuning the direction of our successful builds (or experiments)</p>
<p>Does this interest anyone besides me?</p> Builders trickstag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-04-02:2592684:Topic:19466742014-04-02T02:37:53.719ZRick Martinhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RickMartin
Hi all. Here to pick some brains and share what I can if I can. Here my latest finished project. The Blues Legend.
Hi all. Here to pick some brains and share what I can if I can. Here my latest finished project. The Blues Legend. Making a brass tailpiecetag:www.cigarboxnation.com,2014-01-05:2592684:Topic:18479362014-01-05T20:38:48.105ZRick Martinhttps://www.cigarboxnation.com/profile/RickMartin
Has anyone made their own tailpiece out of brass? Is so, what gauge did you use?<br />
<br />
I am thinking of making one for a 6 string reso project I am starting<br />
<br />
Thanks<br />
<br />
Tim
Has anyone made their own tailpiece out of brass? Is so, what gauge did you use?<br />
<br />
I am thinking of making one for a 6 string reso project I am starting<br />
<br />
Thanks<br />
<br />
Tim