Project 2 the mystery box is underway and I have some questions.

Posted by Carl Robson on June 29, 2010 at 10:39am

After my last CBG has ended up as a diddly bow (no bad thing), my next one is going to be a square tin box (held a murder mystery game and cost me a quid).

Locally, I'm still having trouble locating hardwood for the neck even from specialist timber merchants and antique restorers and furniture makers. Closest I could get was a 6" block of pitch pine that was basically tall Newel post sized, but I don't have a band/table saw to chop it down.

Been thinking though about heavy ply. What if I was to laminate together 2 layers of 18mm ply. Could something like that work as a neck. I know it can be flexy but at that thickness it should be limited especially when the grain of the sheets of layers go against each other to stiffen.

Would be easier for making a headstock too.

Any thoughts on this.

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Replies

Carl Robson September 13, 2010 at 3:34pm

I have my neck of choice now. I love pickaxe handles.
The mystery box is now back together strung with strings 4,3,2 from a Matthews Custom light acoustic set, tuned D, F#, A.

It now plays nicely with an nice metallic ring. like a cross between a reso and a banjo.
I just need to learn how playing works.
Carl Robson August 13, 2010 at 6:21pm

~~And here is a little bit of me doodling away as I can't yet play anything recognisable~~
Oops already did this.
Carl Robson August 13, 2010 at 6:18pm

Here are the pictures.

.

Not as pretty as the last one I put together, but this one makes a reasonable noise.
Carl Robson August 13, 2010 at 5:03pm

Well, I've got it together, the action is too high, so I need lower the nut.
I've attached a short mp3 of me doodling around as I still can't play.
This is strings 4,2,1 tuned D,F#,a.
This one is fretless with an old key as a bridge, and M6 threaded bar for the nut.
Eventually it will be electric, but for now I was just testing it acoustically.

Will get a photo added shortly.
teststrum.mp3
GARAGE HERMIT August 12, 2010 at 5:25am

you could try laminating 3 pieces of 2" x 1/4" thick pine, should do the trick,,
Naz Nomad August 10, 2010 at 5:36pm

ChickenboneJohn said:
Maybe it's a Yorkshire thing....but I too hate having to pay good money for timber...

It's definitely not a geographical trait ... I'm firmly of the opinion that once you have to pay for timber, you should quit and take up crochet. :-)))
Carl Robson August 10, 2010 at 5:07pm

OK, been a bit of a break, but things are moving on now.
I will probably hate myself when it fails, but I'm going to use a piece of plain unplaned softwood for the neck for this one.
Going to be fretless with a flat headstock, should play OK with light strings.

I have the tin cut, and will self tapping screws to hold the top and bottom together. The neck will be screwed to the tin, and the tailstock/saddle will be a hinge screwed to the through neck with threaded bar for the bridge.

May change the bridge and nut to hard plastic chopping board pieces.
Planning to use the E,B,e strings.
Colin S July 8, 2010 at 11:30am

Ayup Mr. Chickenbone John sir,I would be very interested in purchasing some of your very reasonably priced wood!
If you could let me know how much you are asking (including postage) for the different types of wood I'd very much appreciate it.

ChickenboneJohn said:
Maybe it's a Yorkshire thing....but I too hate having to pay good money for timber...that's why I usually get my stuff from skips, discarded furniture etc. I've had maple, cherry, oak, marbau and mahogany from skips. I have recently actually bought some timber..but it was around 1/2 tonne of oak, mahogany and tulipwood roughsawn strip for a good price, which I'm working my way through (individual pieces available at very reasonable rates planed to size for necks!!)
ChickenboneJohn July 8, 2010 at 10:59am

Maybe it's a Yorkshire thing....but I too hate having to pay good money for timber...that's why I usually get my stuff from skips, discarded furniture etc. I've had maple, cherry, oak, marbau and mahogany from skips. I have recently actually bought some timber..but it was around 1/2 tonne of oak, mahogany and tulipwood roughsawn strip for a good price, which I'm working my way through (individual pieces available at very reasonable rates planed to size for necks!!)
smojo July 6, 2010 at 2:37pm

Good idea but think about what you can get free. I haven't had to buy any hardwood for necks yet. Look in local skips for pieces, ask neighbours/family if they have any old timber in their garages e tc. Old table tops, cupboard frames etc ripped down make great necks. A good source is freecycle. Join your local group and put a wanted add in. I got a load of solid mahogany shelves this way. Talking about laminates - ice-hockey sticks make fantastic necks try asking for stuff like that on freecylcle.