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EASY TO BUILD CIGAR BOX GUITAR: AN UNCLE CROW STYLE CBG IN ONE HOUR!!

Today we're going to have a step-by-step cigar box guitar building class! The total time to build is about one hour, not including the introduction video, or video 8, where we're just playing the guitar.

Build a three string, slide cigar box guitar with the following items:

Materials

wooden cigar box - $3
1x2 - $1
three eye bolts, 3/16" x 3" , 24 thread - $1.50
six #8 washers - $.98
three wing nuts, 3/16", 24 thread - $.98
three 6/32 machine screws with matching nuts - $.98
machine bolt, 1/4" x 2" long - $.98
guitar strings, one pack - $5
three wood screws - 1 1/2" long - $.98

These items are really much cheaper than i list here. most of them are bought in bulk, so for just a little more money you could build a LOT of guitars. The prices listed above are the average hardware store price, if you were to buy the item in small numbers in individual bags from the pegs in the fasteners section.

Tools

drill
1/2" paddle bit for three sound holes (you could use 1/4 bit with six holes)
regular smaller drill bits
phillips bit
hand saw (box saw is best)
sand paper

Additional items

guitar picks can be bought at most box stores
slides can be bought at home depot. go to the cabinet section, and ask for a 2" long 3/4" steel spacer. they cost $1.50, and are the best slides i've ever used!!

WORKSPACE, SUPPLIES AND TOOLS

NECK

NECK, EYE BOLT TUNER INSTALLATION AND BODY BLOCK

MOUNTING THE NECK AND SOUND HOLES

FRET CALCULATION AND FRET MARKERS

Fret Markings: THANKS TO DAZEDLEMONPIE, the following fret measurements have been transcribed for us, and i've copied and pasted them here.

"i just written down all the fret measurement from part 5 of the video, I thought I would share it with those interested in building one.

The following are based on scale length of 59cm

59cm multiply .9439 (or any other scale length) equals your first fret location. It should be marked as follows:

55.6cm
52.5cm
49.6cm 0
46.8cm
44.2cm 0
41.7cm
39.3cm 0
37.1cm
35cm
33.1cm 0 (G chord)
31.2cm
29.5cm 00
27.8cm
26.2cm
24.8cm
23.4cm
22.1cm
20.8cm
19.6cm"

STRINGING IT UP, STRINGS AND EYE BOLT TUNERS

TUNE IT UP AN PLAY!

PLAYING THE CIGAR BOX GUITAR : COLLECTIVE SOUL - "SHINE"

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Andy Busch on February 1, 2018 at 4:09am

I've wondered about putting a pup on a resonator-ed CBG. Looks like you put the piezo directly on the resonator. Yes?

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Permalink Reply by Edward McCarthy on December 22, 2019 at 7:48am

Absolutely awesome!

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Permalink Reply by rodger moore on May 4, 2018 at 8:01am

Thank you so much!

These are so cool.

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Permalink Reply by Timothy Hunter on June 6, 2019 at 3:10am

depends on the size of the neck and the type of wood used. the tension of the strings will tend to bow the neck. if it is a slide git then its not really a problem but if fretted then you can get intonation issues like fretted notes going sharp .

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Permalink Reply by Edward McCarthy on December 22, 2019 at 8:01am

I know it's been a long while since you posted this but I just completed my very first CBG, and I used you plans.The Uncle Crow is beautiful in it's simplicity and soundness. I'v built a lot of different things over the years, but I'm pretty excited over this (especially for and old dude such as myself - nearly 63). I thank you for sharing your plans and thoughts. I really enjoyed this and plan on building more. I'll post some pics in the very near future. Again thank you, and if you read this Merry Christmas! - Eddie Mac