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Resonator guitar converted from old acoustic guitar

last photo ←

I had this old acoustic guitar and decided to convert it to an electric resonator guitar.....I'm retired in Costa Rica and my tools and resources are limited so it's more work with what you have.....The cone is an angel-food cake pan......The cover plate I made from an aluminum pot lid.......The electronics and pickups (Stratocaster style takeoffs) I ordered on ebay...... I refinished the whole guitar and added new frets........The cutout is popsicle sticks glued, filled with wood filler, and sanded smooth.......

35 comments

Mar 29, 2012. 2:40 PMlukev2 says:

another way to make the resonator cone is by taking a metal strainer and metal bowl and putting the bowl upside-down in the strainer..... this guy did it and documented how to build the whole thing.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Afo-AkFSezw&feature=plcp&context=C47fd663VDvjVQa1PpcFMAuATA_2WriQRGP1RzRwAAsmQIO9Sjgsk%3D

Feb 2, 2012. 6:01 AM

freeza36 says:

what did you fill in the old soundhole with, and how? Also, what kind of bridge is that? I plan on building this soon.

Jan 21, 2012. 12:09 AMMatBishop says:

Fantastic! I wish I had the time (and brain power) you put into your instruments!

How is the "bridge" pickup held in place?

I think I'm going to do this same conversion with a cheap 12 string I have.

Aug 1, 2011. 3:52 PM

ALEX_HOLAND says:

Congratulations, thats a great Job

Jan 13, 2011. 9:29 AMresophonicguitarist says:

In the background of the last picture I noticed another guitar, is that also a conversion?

Jan 13, 2011. 9:26 AMresophonicguitarist says:

Wow you did a great job!
http://www.youtube.com/user/rightwingted feature=mhsn#p/a/u/1/HfWaD1goeXk

With your skills you should have one of these guitars for free!

It is a Regal RC-51 Resonator Guitar. BTW I am not that great at playin'.

Oct 5, 2010. 5:28 PMdermord says:

amazing...how can i downloaded all the photos???

Jun 7, 2010. 6:28 AMcomputeruser28 says:

i dunno, but isn't that a classical guitar (judging from the head)? i'd think you should be using an actual acoustic guitar for those steel strings, but if it works fine then good for you :)

Sep 1, 2010. 3:34 AM

busupholstery (author) says:

The guitar is an acoustic guitar made in Costa Rica........It was only about 5 years old and fairly worthless as a guitar.........

Aug 31, 2010. 4:54 PMBenDempster says:

Many cheap 'parlor' guitars from that era have classical style headstocks (with metal tuners of course), for what reason I'm not entirely sure.

Mar 6, 2011. 6:56 AMmike patterson says:

The back angle on a "classical" style headstock is only 10 degrees as opposed to 15-17 on a steel string style headstock, to achieve the same string break angle --meaning you can use a thinner piece of wood for the neck. Also both ends of the tuners are supported which is a good thing.

May 13, 2010. 6:01 AMold_bass_masta says:

I like it

Apr 19, 2010. 6:41 AMkjeff3000 says:

I love it!
I'm going to run off with my own version of your idea!
Way to go!

Apr 14, 2010. 6:48 PMRe-design says:

First class work!

Apr 14, 2010. 5:53 PMDownoninit says:

I hope you make an instructable to this, and I'll also like to here the sound you got out of it

Apr 13, 2010. 12:20 PMbalno says:

Absolutely great. awesome.

Apr 13, 2010. 1:34 PM

busupholstery (author) says:

Thank you all for the comments.......

Apr 11, 2010. 2:50 PMthestyrofoampeanut says:

you sir are an artist
how long did this take and what did you use to fill in the hole from the cutaway?
it didnt look like wood but maybe im wrong
did you just temper thin wood?

Apr 12, 2010. 4:19 AM

busupholstery (author) says:

I used popsicle sticks glued vertically along the cut out.......sanding and filling the low spots with wood filler did the trick.......It actually amazed me at how smooth it turned out.......

Apr 12, 2010. 4:23 AM

busupholstery (author) says:

It took about two months.....lots of hours....mostly in the refinishing and getting it to look professional using canned spray paint.......

Apr 11, 2010. 7:49 PMMahavishnuMan says:

Awesome job, I never thought to use a Bundt cake pan.

Apr 11, 2010. 12:55 PM

NachoMahma says:

. Beautiful! Great workmanship!

Apr 11, 2010. 10:35 AM

rimar2000 says:

Awesome work. Maybe you can add a MP3 or WAV o MPEG file... Thanks!

Apr 11, 2010. 3:36 AMunderkill says:

Excellent job man. I wonder what's messing with your volume unplugged though? Probably the cover plate like gmoon said. Can't wait to hear it/ see video.

Apr 11, 2010. 2:35 AMthomas_c says:

That is so sick, hats off!

113

Apr 10, 2010. 5:13 PM

caitlinsdad says:

The Bundtanator. The grate is for when you are shredding.

Nice work. It is good to save any instrument to make music.

Apr 10, 2010. 2:07 PMmike patterson says:

does the cake pan rest on the back of the guitar on the inside? because the cone in a national and in a spider setup, are suspended from the front ot the guitar and do not touch the back----- love the project and will have to move forward on an classical I have here with a cutaway but a broken top---perfect use for it.

Apr 10, 2010. 3:15 PM

busupholstery (author) says:

No, the cake pan floats on the top edge.......it is only held in by the bridge and strings.......

Apr 10, 2010. 11:28 AMdarus67 says:

Looks great.
I love your use of found materials. Is that a cheese grater in there?

How does it sound?
It would be great to hear a sample of it being played.

Apr 10, 2010. 3:13 PM

busupholstery (author) says:

Yes, a cheese grater......will try to post audio

Apr 10, 2010. 12:21 PM

Phantomn says:

Awesome! Love it! :D

Apr 10, 2010. 11:20 AMzascecs says:

Lookin' good!!!

Apr 10, 2010. 10:52 AMSpint180 says:

It looks fantastic great job!

Apr 10, 2010. 4:57 AMgmoon says:

I completely love this, especially the cakepan resonator.

Is the cover plate maybe a little too thick to add any resonance? I have an old National, and the cover is quite thin (not so thin as the cone, of course.)

Still--brilliant!

Post video or audio for this?

Apr 10, 2010. 6:20 AM

busupholstery (author) says:

The cover plate is thick but it is above the strings and doesn't touch the cone so it really has no affect on the resonance.......this guitar really only sounds great when played through an amp......it has little volume otherwise........