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May 10, 2010 20:34:13 GMT
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I'm in the middle of making my own Cigar Box Guitar. No photos yet, but a small video of the box I'm going to use is on Cigarbox Nation. As Cigar boxes are getting hard to find for cheap/free I've needed to use the jewellery box in video, was 50p from a junk shop. Pulled out the lining/dividers. The neck is a decking rail spindle in Hemlock from Wickes. Ideally it should be hardwood, as softwood can warp/bend under tension of the stings, but the neck is nearly twice as thick as a normal cigar box neck so it should be stiff enough and have enough timber for shaping into a grip. Planning to go fretless with this one, but mark the fret points onto the neck with a soldering iron before staining. Going to go the Piezo buzzer pickup route for this build, but I have a funny idea it won't be my only home made guitar type build.
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awoo
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,506
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May 10, 2010 22:58:45 GMT
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these things are cool ive toyed with the idea of doing it but always get too ambitious and ruin the essence of a cheap build.
built a couple guitars, one completely from scratch the other from various random parts to make a baritone sitar guitar
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I decided I would keep this as cheap as possible this time round, so thanks to the local freecycle I have a 6 string acoustic with a split neck (only need the heaviest 3 strings), and a partly stripped 70's/80's Satellite strat copy with no bridge/strings. But it does have machine heads, tone and volume pots, and two pickups.
For this one, as I'm going to go for a Piezo element based pickup, I can use the metal acoustic strings.
Next build will hopefully be built out of a biscuit tin and I can use the mag pickups, and be something like a tin canjo but again, 3 string and electric.
Once complete, there will be of course piccies, and hopefully a vid of me making it sound like a strangled cat.
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May 11, 2010 11:33:18 GMT
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My dad smokes cigars so theres always boxes kicking about here
I played a cigar box guitar the other day, (with a slide) , it was hooked up to an old amp, it sounded really good! Never made my own instrument but I used to make tracks with synthesizers and midi etc
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75 Range Rover 2 door 82 Range Rover 4 door 84 Range Rover 4 door 78 Datsun 120Y 2 door 78 Datsun 620 Pickup 81 Datsun Urvan E23 86 Datsun Vanette van 98 Electric Citroen Berlingo 00 Electric Peugeot Partner 02 Electric Citroen Berlingo 04 Berlingo Multispace petrol 07 Land Rover 130 15 Nissan E-NV200 15 Fiat Ducato
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markbognor
South East
Posts: 9,970
Club RR Member Number: 56
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May 11, 2010 11:43:06 GMT
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I'm of very limited musical ability. I have made these though. Five note keyboard and five note stylophone. They both use the same circuit based on an astable 555 circuit.
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May 11, 2010 15:40:02 GMT
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^^ I built the astable 555 circuit too, but I used a CDS cell in a tube for the variable resistance.. Kinda like a Rolf Harris version of a theramin.. (speaking of Rolf, Autofive looked a little bemused the other day, cos I was using a sheet of 1mm mild steel as a wobbleboard ) anyway.. on topic.. I found a drum hoop, an old remo weatherskin head, and a huge chrome hubcap. I think I'll build a banjo
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To get a standard A40 this low, you'd have to dig a hole to put it in
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May 11, 2010 19:35:07 GMT
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The hubcap banjo sounds good. Seasick Steve has a guitar made for him that use a moggie minor hubcap as the body.
I'm planning on putting together a "smoky" amp but using a tobacco tin instead of a cig packet. Maybe have a look at circuit bending something to make a basic synth if I can, especially if it is something that can sample.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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street
Posted a lot
6.2 ft/lbs of talk
Posts: 4,662
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May 19, 2010 10:37:27 GMT
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I do circuit bending and make some crazy electrical instruments that way, with varied success! Currently working on a Speak & Spell and some weird box of tricks that I found in a charity shop earlier this week called a 'TV Teddy'.
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psycho83
East of England
Rhythm and Booze
Posts: 777
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May 19, 2010 15:56:33 GMT
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Davenger
Club Retro Rides Member
It's only metal
Posts: 7,272
Club RR Member Number: 140
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May 19, 2010 21:46:51 GMT
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That rules!!!!!!!!!
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psycho83
East of England
Rhythm and Booze
Posts: 777
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May 20, 2010 15:05:46 GMT
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no real details on this one except to say it's a fueltank upright bass, and it's awesome!
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Those two basses are very cool. Spot on for the job.
Another thing I plan to make when I get closer to finishing the guitar is a stomp box. Another small wooden box, with a piezo element inside to tap your foot with, or a suitcase bass drum, using a base drum pedal to slap out a percussion beat under the guitar.
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Hopefully I should have some photos soon.
I've cut the sound holes in the box body, shaped the neck, and drilled out where the tuners from a cheap acoustic are going.
I scrounged an old fork to drill/cut/bend as a string holders for the tailstock and have got hold of some threaded M8 and M10 bar for the bridge and nut, but something in the back of my mind says boil then dry some chicken bones and go proper old school.
Can't decide whether to stay fretless, just burn the fret marks, or cut down some 50mm flat nails to make proper fret markers.
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