Hey i want to make my own box with this next build so i can get good acoustics . Im just wondering who all has done this and what wood and thickness did you use ? I dont have any way of getting specialty wood so im stuck with whatever HD or Lowes sells . Any advice ?
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I just call them Box guitars, although most of what I make are 3-stringers so I do call them 3 string guitars as well.
I don't think it's that important what you call them, you can refer to the history of cigar box guitars and point out the differences in the ones you make.
I use 3/16 birch plywood from cabinet shop that they give me ,, make the sides 2 inch ,,end s are 2 3/16.
Got a jig to make picture frames with ,, pull it all up tight to glue .. Then I use a 1/4 in and glue it inside the bottom and sides on the box for strength .. let the bottom spill over a little them route it down to fit . I use 2 in deep 8 inches wide and 12 inches long . Get me a really good sound . The 12 inch length lets me use a 24 in scale which I like ,, make the 12 fret be 4 inches forward of front end of box ,, aligns everything up really good .
A suggestion ,, find u a good poster that u like . get a can of glue for wall paper to glue it down ,, cover the box with that and u can "theme" it .
There's a discussion group on CBN about box building where you can find lots of advice...
Thanks, Dan and Richey and David and Norman,
I may have hijacked the discussion, but your feedback is helpful. I can definitely work the word "custom" into the description to emphasize the overall desirability of the product. In passing, I saw Rand's link to the "Home Made" group. That has a nice, wholesome ring of authentic Americana. ("One-of-a-kind homemade custom box guitar!" has a nice sound to it.)
I guess the real point is that no one makes cigar boxes with the quality of woods that were commonplace in 1870. It's probably illegal to import some of that in the US nowadays. (Note the problems they've had over at the Gibson factory.)
I'm looking for ways to recycle precious early American timber and promote roots music at the same time. For example, a local luthier made me a dulcimer out of wood from an abandoned railroad water tower in Nashville. For a few hundred bucks, I got a work of visual art that sounds great and has a wonderful story.
Thanks again, everyone,
TN
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