#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Cigar Box Nation is sponsored by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!

cigar box 2 string bass

Hey all i am building my first cigar box bass and for the neck i used a red oak 1 by 2 my question is can i use the a and d string without the use of a truss rod or should i use weed wacker line ? any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks ! Scott

1 member likes this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Seaman Jay on August 10, 2011 at 3:56am

which scale (and which neck length) will you use? A and D are perfectly OK for a "stumpy" guitarron-like neck, but if you're going to build something more CBN-standard (small box impaled on a quite long stick) you'll have either to take "plastic" strings (nylon strings or WW line) or make some neck reinforcement.

Bass A and D strings only "look" like they had no tension, but there's some you'll have to fight back.

OTOH - it depends on the thickness of the neck. I'm pretty sure the axe handle I want to use in my "bass project" won't budge a millimeter. But it'll be - again - a short scale bass.

Korruptus built one few days ago, he used WWL and AFAIK he likes the sound.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by brent hale on August 10, 2011 at 12:52pm

I did a short scale, 25" , 2 string fretless bass, with the A, and D string from an electric bass. The neck is a maple 2x3 with a 1/4" red oak fretboard, so far no problems at all, kinda wishing I would have done closer to 30" scale, there's always next time.