Cigar box not wood. Pressed board of some kind

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Permalink Reply by David Ford on November 1, 2011 at 11:27pm

it seems to "ring" just like a wood box when I tap it.

 

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Permalink Reply by Richard G Caudill on November 1, 2011 at 11:37pm

Yes  I have used several of the same name brand ,,    and some other ones that top was fiberboard ... one of my best "pup"is a Chuchhill 54 X 7   they work good

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Permalink Reply by David Ford on November 1, 2011 at 11:49pm

ok, thanks.  I've got the neck milled out perfectly to fit this box (love having engineer friends), seems a shame to go another route.  I'm not going to glue anything together yet though.

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Permalink Reply by SmokeBoxBlues on November 2, 2011 at 6:51am

YES!

My two 5 strings are made of Thompson Barlovento Cigar Boxes... the top and the sides of the boxes are made of cardboard, mdf... only the bottom is made of plywood... and I love the look and the sound of those two guitars!

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/video/nuthin-special-and-the

http://www.cigarboxnation.com/photo/dscf0585-1?context=user

Also, Danelectro were and are made of mdf, and sound awesome... 

Cheers,

Fernando!

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Permalink Reply by C. B. Gitty (Ben) on November 2, 2011 at 8:01am

It is very rare to find a paper-covered box that is wood underneath these days. Most of the big manufacturers have all switched over to using hardboard. All of the paper-covered boxes I send out with my CBG kits are this way, and in my opinion they are great for cigar box guitars.

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Permalink Reply by MichaelS Country Boy Guitars on November 2, 2011 at 8:56am

I have made many from both the fibre board and the plywood topped box's.  They both sound like cbg's.  The plywood can be twangier and the fiber board a bit deeper in tone but both work well.  Some people swear by the plywood and wont use the other box's, thats ok just ask them for all the reject box's and have fun.

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Permalink Reply by Hippy Chip's guitars on November 4, 2011 at 6:46am

I am building a guitar right now from an antique box from the 40's. The lid and bottom of the box are cardboard about 1/8 inch thick.I glued up apiece of 1/16 plywood to the lid and it seems to be pretty stiff. I think it is going to sound great.The guy I'm building it for just wants it for a display, but I had to make it a playable instrument. I will not build toys that don't work!

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Permalink Reply by MBliss on November 4, 2011 at 1:43pm

Build it. Dont even worry about it.

A: it will sound fine

 

B: even if it didnt, put a piezo in it and crank it up. Its SUPPOSED to sound at least a bit primal!

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