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Is this cigar box just too complex to work for a first build project?

I put photos in my album here and some comments for them. First, this is my first attempt at making a CBG and I may have made a mistake in the choice of my box, but I just loved the style and wood used in it and decided I'd either make it work or simply ruin a good cigar box in the process. My shop skills are those of a wild, poop-tossin' monkey, to working on the compound curves of the sides to this box may be a bit challenging for me. I have several miscelaneous parts on order to turn this project into something to be proud of if it works out okay. Hopefully this will end up being a four string CBG when it is all said and done.

There are a thousand ways to skin a cat and the cat ain't likely to appreciate any of them, so I have looked over many different build techniques and also posts at this site and on YouTube. I'll work out one that seems to best suit my individual needs as to simplicity. I have learned a lot from the discussions here and the photos or linked sites. I'll ask questions as my build progresses and I can think out what I need to know as I go along.

I don't know how to link the album here so here are ust a few of the same photos, but without all the comments to each. Anyone else use a similar box in making a CGB in the past? How did it work out for you if you did?

I am retired, so I need some projects to keep my mind active and my interests gowing. I have also ordered a lap steel guitar to learn on and I'm trying to get back into playing on my guitar as well. I am hoping to not have too many irons in the fire and lose interest in any of these projects, but each is unique and all are uniquely fun.

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Permalink Reply by Bill Baker on August 13, 2014 at 12:30pm

You will just have to be more careful when you cut out the area for the neck to fit in. I just found the same box and they are very nice looking. You may want to cut into the lid a ways so the last 2 or 3 frets will extend into the top,.

Bill

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Permalink Reply by Seth Kent on August 14, 2014 at 3:59am

Man, that is a sweet box! Take your time to think about how you want the neck to attach and then take your time building it. Buy a few neck blanks so if you mess one up you can start over, and give it a whirl.

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Permalink Reply by Old Fingers Green on August 14, 2014 at 4:52am

Spend some time just looking at the box and thinking about how you're going to go about it, take your time and take it slowly. I spend abut as much time thinking and drawing how I'm going to do it as I do actually doing it, works for me.

Also with a nice box like that I'd be having a long think about bridge type and where it's going to land, wouldn't want to cover up that lovely artwork or break it up with a hunking chunk of wood in the middle of it..

Take it easy, measure twice (or thrice) cut once and most importantly enjoy yourself and it'll work out fine. Also if you make a mistake don't immediately think "I've ruined it" and bin it, again just think and you'll find a lot of the times there's a way round, sometimes a mistake can be turned to your advantage if you look at it in another way, certainly more than one of my builds has turned out better than expected due to what I first called a mistake.

Have fun!

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Permalink Reply by James Huey on August 14, 2014 at 5:27am

I have a multitude of projects besides this one in particular and I try to keep my thinking cap on as securely as I can before I begin each. That does not mean that I still don't make mistakes or have failures, but just as you stated, you can often learn more from an initial mistake than you do from a success right out of the box.

Thanks for the encouragement and support. I can't wait for my box to arrive so I can start some work on it. Your totally correct as to placement of the bridge and not wanting to ruin the artwork on it. This becomes even more complex, as there is additional artwork inside the lid to the box, so placement of anything is really going to be a challenge to get correct.

I have a four string neck ordered for this project. Being a newbie, I really have little idea as to this being a better choice or not. My own playing is usually a self-learned, crude fingerpicking style on my acoustic guitar. I figured a four string CBG would work better for me, at present. I have made no final decision on that just yet, though. I take photos of everything, so I'll do the same on this project once I get it going. All of my playing or pretence of such is simply self taught.

I am not sure how to link YouTube videos here, but if this works, it sort of shows my crude fingerpicking for songs I write for myself to enjoy. Forget about the sicko voice thgough, as only a faithful dog would love such.

:-) ........

http://www.youtube,com/watch?v=jD4EHo9Z-zE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=/P_4mn4K3EN0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqtX7dzeaZU

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Permalink Reply by mojoatomic on August 15, 2014 at 2:41am

No, no.. that's the wrong idea - that is far to advanced for you to use... you should probably just box that thang' right on up and send it on down to me :-)

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Permalink Reply by James Huey on August 15, 2014 at 4:07am

I probably should, but my wife has the boxing fingers in our home and she has a mean right cross with them. Otherwise, you know I'd box it up in a heartbeat. She said to tell ya' that, just like those wonderful items you can't live without on tv these days, there is a 2 fer 1 special and you get not just the first box for $19.95, but the second on for free. All ya' got to do is pay the additonal shipping and handling fee of $49 dollars and 99 cents. Make check payable to her and she also accepts PayPal. :-)

Every single lie of this is the truth, I swear... :-)

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Permalink Reply by Dooder on August 22, 2014 at 1:45pm

I think that I can speak for almost all of us on here when I say that if you build, you will break. Pretty sure all of us have messed up a box or two (or more, bungled cbg projects make great screw containers). I approach a build with a WTH attitude and have at it. You can ALWAYS find another box, or just make your own. My projects that don't turn out with playable quality get gifted to the kids of friends and family. As far as skills, with humility and patience, you can build em. My first woodworking project was a kayak paddle, my second a full on skin on frame kayak. Three dimensional curves, all pegged and lashed with no fasteners. A few years later, and I'm making furniture, CBG's, and rocking horses (the fully carved ones), but I still can't hang a door or frame a window. I would suggest approaching a build from a process, rather than an end result mindset. As for the curves on that particular box, I would mark my lines using a combination square set off the top and bottom flat sides.

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Permalink Reply by Manny Lopez on August 25, 2014 at 3:02am

There is only one way to find out. Try.

That said, there is lots of advice on here. I started with a simple Punch Box - it was cheap, I had a few and it looked like a simple construction - still made mistakes. It's a bit ugly, but of the three I've made, its been said that its the best of the lot. Once I find out what makes it the best of the three, I will be able to make more that sound good.

My advice - with experience comes confidence. Work within your comfort zone.

I've a few really nice boxes - some handmade - that I am apprehensive about using, but they're here for a reason. The more I learn as I go, the less scary the undertaking becomes. Of the mistakes I've made recently, each one has been correctable in some way that has encouraged me to try something different. And the things you do right eventually become almost automatic. Making a bridge and string tree from fretboard offcuts is like second nature to me. Three cuts and three pieces, done. First build was about 36 cuts and two extra ugly bridges.

Take your time with that box. It's a beauty.