How to Build a Wooden Stomp Box

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Things You'll Need

  • 2 1/4-by-2-by-6-inch sections of maple plywood

  • 2 1/4-by-2-by-13-inch sections of maple plywood

  • 2 1/4-by-6 1/2-by-13-inch sections of maple plywood

  • Wood glue

  • Bar clamps

  • Damp rag

  • 1 Guitar pick-up kit, with 1/4 inch phone jack

  • 1/4-inch drill bit

  • Drill

  • Fine-grit sandpaper

  • Wood finish of your choice

  • 4 felt pads

Street performers often use stomp boxes.

Wooden stomp boxes are a traditional American folk instrument. A toe-tapping guitar or banjo player would often amplify their tapping by using an overturned wooden crate or box. Foot stomping on this box would supplement the guitar providing rhythm to a jaunty country song. The stomp box is still in use today, however many contemporary musicians opt to attach a microphone or install a basic pick-up with a jack so that the sound carries through all of the other amplified instruments. Even with this added technology, the stomp box is fairly simple project that can be completed in a home workshop.

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Step 1

Place two 1/4-by-2-by-6-inch sections of maple plywood parallel to each other approximately 13 inches apart. These are the ends of the stomp box. Place two 1/4-by-2-by-13-inch sections of maple plywood perpendicular to the ends to form a box. These are the sides of the stomp box. Place one 1/4-by-6 1/2-by-13-inch section of maple plywood on top of the box. This is the stop box bottom. Apply a bead of wood glue to the edges where the wood joins together. Clamp the assembly together using bar clamps. Wipe off any excess glue with a damp rag. Allow the glue to dry. Remove the clamps.

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Step 2

Place a guitar pick-up kit with a jack on the bottom of the box. Remove the paper covering the pick-up bottom to reveal the self stick backing. Place the backing inside the box on the bottom. Drill a 1/4-inch hole through one end of the box using a 1/4-inch drill bit and a drill. Place the jack through this hole and secure it using the nut that comes with the jack.

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Step 3

Place the final 1/4-by-6 1/2-by-13-inch section of maple plywood on top of the box assembly. This is the top of the stomp box. Apply a bead of wood glue to the edges. Clamp the top in place using bar clamps. Allow the glue to dry and remove the clamps.

Step 4

Sand the stomp box exterior with fine-grit sandpaper. Apply a wood finish of your choice to the exterior of the stomp box. Allow the finish to dry. Apply one felt pad to each of the bottom corners of the stomp box. Plug an amp into the jack and start stompin'.

Tip

For different sounds experiment placing the microphone in different positions on the outside of the box and find an effect that you like.

Warning

Wear eye protection when working with wood.

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