Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by MadGomer on July 20, 2020 at 4:19pm

Good plan Paul. But no matter how big you make it, seems like it's never big enough!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on July 20, 2020 at 5:48pm

Hey Paul, if you haver not seen it yet check out my post "saving space in a workshop", its still listed here. he's got some good ideas, but lots of space too.

Taff

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Craig on July 21, 2020 at 7:41am

I know what you mean MadGomer. I tried to figure out the right amount of space without being too small or too big.

Thanks Taff, I'll give it a look for sure.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kigar on July 27, 2020 at 3:47pm

Finally may be getting back to the bench, looking for your opinions.  I made a cedar board enclosure for our tomato plants to keep the critters out and have some nice offcuts that say they should become a box or two.  So if you have actual (not box store size) 2x4" thick pieces, what size box would you make and how thick would you make the top, sides, and bottom?  I have planer, table saw and miter saw to work them to size.  No wrong answer, just looking for suggestions.  Thanks

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on July 27, 2020 at 6:21pm

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on July 27, 2020 at 6:21pm

Hi Kigar, sides do not play a part in the sound producing side of things so can be say 3/16" or 1/4" thick. Gives a decent gluing surface for the top and back. For tops and backs I go by flexibility of the piece. You want it thin enough to be responsive [to vibrate] to the strings vibrations.

It depends on the stiffness of the timber used as to how thick. I often find that I have cedar thicker than some spruces and get the same flexibility. For a box size guitar I would think that 1/8" thick would be ball park. Don't forget that's what braces are used for, adding strength too thin flexible tops and backs. Backs can also play a part in sound production too, if you allow them.

Taff

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Southern Ray on August 1, 2020 at 6:32am

 Taffy,

 Your comment at the end there. "Backs can also play a part in sound production too, if you allow them." reminded me of a question I have pondered since I started building: Would a vertical post from under the bridge. to the bottom, a sort of bridge to a "bridge" for the bottom be helpful energizing the bottom panel or do the sides suffice? - I hope that made sense.

 Thank you

Ray

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MadGomer on July 28, 2020 at 1:26pm

Kigar, I agree with Taffs comments. Are you hoping to create an acoustic or electric pickup instrument? I'm in the midst of ripping all of the cedar siding off of my house (tired of the maintenance, going back on with steel) and planning to recycle the cedar in raised bed garden boxes. Will have lots of scrap left for gits too. For acoustic instruments I'm generally trying to get below 1/8" as Taff said, ideally 3/32 (top and back). Does depend on the natural stiffness of the wood. For mag pickups, it can be one thick slab. For piezos I still like to build it as an acoustic, at least for the top.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kigar on July 29, 2020 at 2:55am

Thanks guys. I am thinking acoustic for this one, but may slip a pickup in there.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on July 29, 2020 at 9:20am

Gitty made some kool stuff from 2x4 size wood?

https://cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/simple-build-2x4-instruments

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Taffy Evans on July 29, 2020 at 1:34pm

Hi Kigar, I forgot to mention this in my last post, and it will not matter too much in a cigar box style guitar, but if you want  an even better sound keep this in mind, acoustic stringed instruments normally have hardwood back and sides and a softwood top. 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Southern Ray on July 30, 2020 at 7:38am

 Thank you for that tidbit. I had no idea... (common with me)

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• …
• 150
• 151
• 152
• 153
• 154
• …
• 187
• Next ›
• Page