Submission Thread for 2011 Cigar Box Guitar Builders Challenge

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mr.C on December 8, 2011 at 9:45pm

How you adding your pictures

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on December 9, 2011 at 4:33am

When you post, there is a toolbar above where you type. The first icon to the right of the work LINK is the image icon. If you hover your mouse over it, you will see the word Image pop up. Just click on it and make sure the From My Computer tab is highlighted. Just follow the prompts.

c storz said:

How you adding your pictures

Permalink Reply by Habanera Hal on December 10, 2011 at 4:03pm

A Shamisen inspired 4-string Tenor Ukulele.  A shamisen is a centurys-old 3-string Japanese instrument utilizing cat skin to cover it's body.  Lacking a cat, I decided to do a version using a cigar box.

The body of the uke is a Padilla La Terraza.  These boxes are an excellent size and produce a very sweet sound.  It has solid cedar sides and a thin laminate top and back.  The finish is Inferno Red Metallic, shadowed with a translucent black.  Sunlight makes the metallic flakes explode in a shower of glitter.  Cherry blossom appliques that mimic actual inlays were applied to the body and fretboard.  The neck is tiger-striped maple, a lucky find from my local Home Depot, finished with Watco Cherry Danish Oil, as is the interior of the box.  The head and tailstock plates are 1/16" Cherry and the fretboard is1/8" Cherry with an Ebony stain.  The entire neck is actually made of 11 separate wood pieces.  The nut and saddle are genuine ebony, and the tailpiece grommets are polished aluminum rivets,  The string holes on the underside of the tail are countersunk so the ends of the strings are hidden.  The neck has an 18" scale, 14 frets to the box, with an 11-degree scarf joint.  There is a piezo element under the bridge, and I was pleasantly surprised by the tone and projection (both acoustically and amp'd) by the Aquila strings

The headstock is similar in shape to that of a traditional shamisen, however, I wanted a 4-string instrument using geared tuners.  I purchased a set of individual tuners from C.B. Gitty expressly because they had molded on buttons.  I removed the buttons and replaced them with modifed satin nickel ceiling fan pulls with translucent knobs.  The "purfling" on the head and tailstock is actually automotive pinstriping tape. Lastly, the the Kanji symbol for Music greets the player through the central soundhole.

I look forward to your consideration in the 2011 Builder's Challenge!

Permalink Reply by Bear on December 10, 2011 at 9:28pm

I really felt like messing around making a video, and thought it'd be a good way to see and hear my "Builder's Challenge" entry. So here it is!
Find more videos like this on Cigar Box Nation
 

Permalink Reply by john eppolito on December 12, 2011 at 1:21pm

This is my entry it is my second build.  The box is made from poplar and mahogany,a maple neck and mahogany fret board with maple fret marks, mahogany bridge and volume knob. 25 1/2'' scale with 21 frets, 4 string, 37 1/2''x 7 1/2''x 2 1/4''. There is a piezo under the bridge, Gotoh tuners and nickel-silver frets. I am quite pleased with the way my guitar has turned out it sounds GREAT and fun to play. I even made a case for her. My great grandson Anthony loves this guitar

Permalink Reply by Habanera Hal on December 12, 2011 at 3:25pm

Very nice!  I like the reverse-style tuners.  I have 3 La Aurora Connecticut boxes on my shelf right now and can't wait to dive into them!

Bear said:

I really felt like messing around making a video, and thought it'd be a good way to see and hear my "Builder's Challenge" entry. So here it is!
Find more videos like this on Cigar Box Nation
 

Permalink Reply by darren brown on December 16, 2011 at 7:51am

think it will pass were its not a cigar box ?

 
john eppolito said:

This is my entry it is my second build.  The box is made from poplar and mahogany,a maple neck and mahogany fret board with maple fret marks, mahogany bridge and volume knob. 25 1/2'' scale with 21 frets, 4 string, 37 1/2''x 7 1/2''x 2 1/4''. There is a piezo under the bridge, Gotoh tuners and nickel-silver frets. I am quite pleased with the way my guitar has turned out it sounds GREAT and fun to play. I even made a case for her. My great grandson Anthony loves this guitar

Permalink Reply by SlowHound on December 16, 2011 at 8:26am

I'll try this again.

Permalink Reply by SlowHound on December 16, 2011 at 8:39am

What the heck, here's mine.

25 inch fretless.

Poplar neck and heal stained with pickled oak. Fretboard stained with a natural clear.

Wood incased piezo. Gitty parts. Red oak/brass bridge. Brass nut

My first attempt with a burn tool. The vine leaves mark the fret positions.

Our beagle Darla posing.

Permalink Reply by Dan on December 16, 2011 at 8:59am

Conch-on-a-stick.

Ash neck, corian nut, dual piezo's under the bridge, and of course...the Conch

Permalink Reply by Chris Ellbogen on December 18, 2011 at 12:52pm

 Here is my entry. This was my last guitar project I finished a few weeks back. This guitar features solid Mahogany sound board, 6" aluminum cone, and 5 pice laminated neck. The other thing that makes this one special is the fret board and all of the black inlay is made from Paperstone. 

Permalink Reply by Tom Bingham on December 18, 2011 at 1:55pm

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• …
• 12
• Next ›
• Page