Tambourine CBG Body?

[Tom T]

Has anyone ever used a tambourine for the body of a three-stringer?

I picked up a 10" tambourine from eBay for about $10.00.

The head is skin and well stretched. The steel wipes are easily removed and the thing is about 2" deep. Thought it might make a decent body for a three string guitar. If the bridge is positioned correctly, the head should resonate.

Has anyone tried this?

[Ron "Oily" Sprague]

Yep, been done numerous times. Here's some examples (testing out the Search functionality on the new-and-improving site):

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/coming-home-warning-no-cbg

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/banjo12?commentId=2592684%3ACom...

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/banjo-building?commentId...

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/forum/topics/plans-for-a-cbg-banjo-ou...

Also, you might want to look into the Group Banjo Players Unite! here on CBN:

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/group/banjoplayersunite?

[Tom T]

Thanks for the references. Looks like the new search functionality works pretty well. What was the search criteria?

[Ron "Oily" Sprague]

Tambourine banjo ;-)

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot >:-E

[Joe Caruso]

My first thought too...

[The Phrygian Kid]

Old Lowe has done a bunch back in the day

[Marcus Darwell]

I'm just starting a build with a 13 sided frame and raw-hide cover...about 14" across so hopefully going to be as loud as fark....same kinda principle as a banjo I guess. Originally a drum.......

[Greg Thompson]

This is something that has been on my list for doing.
I've seen dorm fine examples out there.
I was even researching how to get hide to make my own drum head.
The tambourine looks like the most efficient way to start, though.

[Dane Donato]

I recommend a company called Moscow Hide and Fur for goatskin for the banjo head. Great company, great service, good prices. 

One of the challenges in this type of instrument is that you don't have the ability to tension the head. In humid weather, the head will sag, and the bigger the diameter, the more pronounced this will be. Keeping the head diameter smaller will help. Making multiple height bridges is what I end up doing. 

[RTZGUITARS]

[The Phrygian Kid]

i doubt its really a rawhide head for $10..

strongly suspect that kinda money gets you a synthetic plastic kinda stuff

this is not necessarily a bad thing at all, it will be less susceptible to seasonal changes than rawhide. If you are worried about seasonal change then you can come up with some kind of flesh-hoop (google it, or look at a modern banjo / snare drum) quite easily with how you attach it to the box..

best, pk

[Tom T]

The listing said it was sheepskin on the head. The finish of the head is a bit course, not smooth like a plastic.

[the anonymous pick]

couldn't escape the  "banjo" sound no   matter how    hard  i  tried .  but  still  has a   "national  / banjo  /  cbg "    mix  sound .