Seen a few CBGs made out of tin boxes , Biscuit boxes etc.

Any one got any opinions or experience with using them ??? 

Views: 1272

Replies to This Discussion

Heres one that I sold last week, I have another finished at the moment still unsold. A you tube clip is uploading at the moment that I'll post up once its finished.

Modern tins are like glorified tin foil, so bridge support if essential, if you are thinking of making a canjo, just remember to allow for the fact that the tin will not take ANY load. Best have a stock of 2 or 3 tins before you start a build because you WILL wreck a few before its right. =/

But its well worth the effort once perfected, as they have a far more distinctive tone than a CBG IMHO.

Heres the clip, of my current finished build. Ive no idea if the embed will work as its my first post with a clip.... wish me luck.

enjoy. =]

Actually you don't need to put bracing or other support under the soundboard of a tin box guitar. It's true that tin can be flimsy in certain ways but it is very strong in others. The key is how you use it.

Think for a moment about instruments with membrane type sounding surfaces (eg. banjos and a whole range of African instruments). They don't have bracing under their bridges and the stuff they're made from is much more flexy than tin. Think also about resonator guitars. The cones in proper reso guitars are made of very thin metal - although they derive some strength from their dished or conical shape they still have a bit of give in them. You need to tension strings evenly and be prepared to do a bit of gradual fine adjustment until the instrument settles fully into tune. That doesn't mean they can't be great guitars.

Well, there can be a lot of parallels between the above and tin guitars.

The basic engineering is quite simple. Tension in the strings produces a downward point load through the bridge. This is balanced by tension in the soundboard (either the tin lid or base). Tension in the soundboard pulls on the sides of the tin. The problem is really with the sides of the tin, rather than the top or base. Tin is strong in tension but weak in terms of bending resistance. Unless you do something to support or stiffen the sides they will tend to bend inwards and you'll have a flexing, hard-to-tune, hard-to-play instrument.

There are at least two things you can do:

(1) Brace the tin internally (so as to provide support at the places indicated by the arrows above - not under the bridge)

(2) Use tins with curved or shaped sides - because giving certain types of shape to a thin sheet can imbue it with much greater resistance to bending. (modern cars are a great example - the sheet metal they're made out of will flop around like so much tin foil until it's pressed into shape).

I've tended to combine these techniques. The box I used for the tin guitar pictured in my earlier post had a "wavy" outline to its edges, which seems to make them quite stiff. There is also some bracing support provided by the thru' neck. But it is just the neck - no additional wood bracing was needed for strength purposes.

Other types of tins that will benefit from the strength inherent in their shape are the many circular tins available, and also those with a sort of "distorted circular" shape like the one in the picture from Dr X.

To sum up, what I'm saying is that you can leave the soundboard free to vibrate as long as you ensure that the rest of the guitar is sufficiently stiff - and you might be able to do that by just using a conveniently shaped tin. The soundboards of my guitars are completely free and unsupported (the thru' necks being carved away so they're not in contact apart from at the every edges). I've found that works very well.

WOW, i feel a bit dim now mark =] .. makes perfect sense, thank you for such a comprehensive answer 

i have three builds at a stage where i can impliment these ideas ... watch this space. 

This is exactly right. I've never braced the lid and I've done over a hundred of em

I am using a section of threaded rod about  8mm as a bridge on a tin body, my question is should I have a flat bottom on it?

I read some where you should.

David

Metal on metal will be.quite skiddy so a flat to stop it rolling would make sense, if you arent having any bridge support, id be tempted to make it a little longer than needed and round off any sharp edges.. so as not to punch/dent the skin when under string pressure,

Having said that i find a wooden bridge adds warmth to the tone.

Dr X

Thanks, I was considering a wooden bridge, but was unsure it would work with a tin lid. I think I will give a wooden bridge a ago, as it will also be easier get a flat bottom and  to adjust the height.

Thanks

Mahogany, with a piece of fret wire lightly grooved for strings is my default.
Id love to see some pics =)

Nice idea,I was  just pondering how to do it.

David

I really like the sound of metal bridges on tin gitts. Try a bent spoon. See my pics for many examples

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Discussion Forum

Pink Toothbrush Alternative Market & Record fair

Started by Keith 66. Last reply by Keith 66 Apr 24, 2023. 1 Reply

Small box woes?

Started by Sleepy John. Last reply by Jock MacHinery Jun 15, 2020. 12 Replies

Newby

Started by David Tarry. Last reply by David Bowes May 11, 2020. 7 Replies

FX rigs and recommendations

Started by Alex Rigby Mar 25, 2019. 0 Replies

London One Man Band festival with Hollowbelly

Started by Blind Boy Fullers. Last reply by Blind Boy Fullers Mar 20, 2019. 4 Replies

Best Amp

Started by Seasick Mick. Last reply by Seasick Mick Mar 13, 2019. 18 Replies

Looking to play some festivals next year

Started by Alex Rigby. Last reply by Alex Rigby Jan 13, 2019. 3 Replies

New Site goes live!!

Started by John Pilling. Last reply by t-belly johnson Oct 30, 2018. 14 Replies

Demise of Gibson

Started by Sleepy John. Last reply by Sleepy John May 3, 2018. 3 Replies

boxes for sale

Started by Rick D. Last reply by Tony Dec 14, 2017. 5 Replies

My latest build - hubcap resonator

Started by Alex Rigby. Last reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear Oct 10, 2017. 4 Replies

My CBG

Started by Steve. Last reply by Steve Sep 13, 2017. 2 Replies

Some of my songs

Started by Alex Rigby. Last reply by Alex Rigby Jun 7, 2017. 2 Replies

School project

Started by Keith 66. Last reply by Michael Fred Johnson Feb 5, 2017. 8 Replies

Old Timers

Started by Mal Chilvers. Last reply by David L. Oct 13, 2016. 2 Replies

Looking to get started

Started by Hubert Knight. Last reply by Hubert Knight Oct 11, 2016. 6 Replies

I Could Really Do With A Jig !

Started by Philip Hale. Last reply by Philip Hale Aug 5, 2016. 19 Replies

Help with parts please

Started by Toofy Peg. Last reply by Fomhorach Jun 14, 2016. 19 Replies

Brass Eyelets - big ones - where to get?

Started by Alex Rigby. Last reply by Fomhorach Apr 27, 2016. 16 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you Poorness ! for loving it ! appreciated!"
12 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
12 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
13 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Punch Project!

She now sports gold metal CBGitty knobs, speaker and an Artec 2.5 watt speaker. Finished this in…
13 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Project Punch!

Gonna finally get back on this long-delayed project that is more than half complete. (The matching…
13 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
15 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
15 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"I appreciate the kind words Papa D! I have always loved the look of these cigar boxes. Glad to have…"
18 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
21 hours ago
A.D.EKER posted a video

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

The recorded History By Alan Lomax for the library of Congres of the Blues, from Mc Kinley Morganfield (Aka Muddy Waters) the in this take recorded Tribute ...
22 hours ago
Papa D commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"Beautiful..Nice work Doug.."
yesterday
Papa D commented on Papa D's photo
Thumbnail

american1 Sun Glo

"Thanx AGP & Doug..  4 more coming soon"
yesterday

Events

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->