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Anybody use a Bridge for Canjos?

Any body use a bridge for Canjos or is it just me. On my first build the string started cutting through the can after playing it for a little while. I made a bridge out of brass and enlarged the hole and solderesd it in. Have made numerous other builds and put what I am calling my bridge buttons. I make two models but am thinking of just using the one that will work for aluminium cans without the soldering. You can see one of the soldered type if you look at the bottom of the can where the string passes through it in the photo attached.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on July 26, 2011 at 2:20pm

Hi C Cook,

I looked at the photo of your Busch Beans canjo. This type of canjo is what I describe as one where "the can is in-line with the neck". Normally on this type of canjo, a bridge is not needed because the hole in the bottom of the can serves that function. But you say you are having problems with the wire string cutting through the bottom of your can. I haven't had that problem. Are you saying you found a fix for this problem? And that is what you call a "bridge button"? In your photo I see what might be a grommet through the hole in the bottom of your can, is this what you're talking about. If so, it seems like it should work to prevent the wiring from cutting the tin, so yeah, thanks for the tip. You said you also made a brass bridge. Do any of your experimental bridges do anything to improve the sound and/or volume of the instrument. That would be cool, as we all would like to see the instrument design improve.

I got my start building canjos, but after discovering Cigar Box Nation, and trying a cigar box as a resonator, I have pretty much given up on the canjos. I much prefer the tone of the cigar boxes. However, a year has past since then, and I'm thinking maybe with my experienced gained making instruments, I could build a better canjo. But it will have to wait till I return home to China where my "shop" is and after a few other projects I been planning to do. Maybe we should have a build contest of some kind to see who can build the best sounding and the loudest canjos. Need some way to judge them. That way we might be able to see some more innovation in the canjo design.

-Rand.

Permalink Reply by Chester Winowiecki on July 26, 2011 at 4:27pm

I've been doing something very similar for just the same reasons. I use a 5/16" diam. aluminum pop rivet trimmed down to about 1/8" in length and I just press it into an appropriately sized hole in the bottom of the can. The only issue I've had is some buzzing if the rivet length is too long as the end of the string makes contact with more than one part of the rivet...cool sitar sound though.

Permalink Reply by C Cook on July 26, 2011 at 6:18pm

Hi Randy, I guess you could call it a grommet but it is turned down from a brass rod with the hole in the middle of it slightly larger then the music wire then soldered onto the can. The other type I make has threads that extend into the bottom of the can so you just stick it into the aluminuim can and tighten the nut up with a little bit of glue to keep it from vibrating loose.

Rand Moore said:

Hi C Cook,

I looked at the photo of your Busch Beans canjo. This type of canjo is what I describe as one where "the can is in-line with the neck". Normally on this type of canjo, a bridge is not needed because the hole in the bottom of the can serves that function. But you say you are having problems with the wire string cutting through the bottom of your can. I haven't had that problem. Are you saying you found a fix for this problem? And that is what you call a "bridge button"? In your photo I see what might be a grommet through the hole in the bottom of your can, is this what you're talking about. If so, it seems like it should work to prevent the wiring from cutting the tin, so yeah, thanks for the tip. You said you also made a brass bridge. Do any of your experimental bridges do anything to improve the sound and/or volume of the instrument. That would be cool, as we all would like to see the instrument design improve.

I got my start building canjos, but after discovering Cigar Box Nation, and trying a cigar box as a resonator, I have pretty much given up on the canjos. I much prefer the tone of the cigar boxes. However, a year has past since then, and I'm thinking maybe with my experienced gained making instruments, I could build a better canjo. But it will have to wait till I return home to China where my "shop" is and after a few other projects I been planning to do. Maybe we should have a build contest of some kind to see who can build the best sounding and the loudest canjos. Need some way to judge them. That way we might be able to see some more innovation in the canjo design.

-Rand.

Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on March 8, 2012 at 5:04am