Submission Thread for 2011 Cigar Box Guitar Builders Challenge

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by mike anderson Blues Box Guitars on December 30, 2011 at 4:00pm

mike anderson Blues Box Guitars said:

Permalink Reply by Dan Sleep on December 30, 2011 at 4:47pm

This build is by J. Robinson. I just reposted it for him due to some technical difficulties.

Spidey box was salvaged from a jack in the box. Take notice on the third pic there is the red crank handle the runs the spiderman jack in the box themesong  from back in the day.

I thought the "Punch" box was most fitting for our masked crime fighting friend.

Oak through neck design with a unique sound hole being in the upper right corner.You will notice the illumination in the picture due to the fact the back of the hole is lined with high grade reflective tape. You may also notice on the tape just a glimpse of a spidey leg That is a kids temp tattoo over top of the reflective tape. Spidey in 3d on the top plus notice the bridge area where it tells the tale of Peter Parker after getting bit feeling a little funny. 

 

Thanks for checking it out!!!!

 

J. Robinson

Permalink Reply by Nathan King on December 30, 2011 at 6:46pm

Presenting, for your approval...

My first ever cigar box banjo!

I wanted to really go for an "old timey" look, feel and sound for this creation.

My initial inspiration was the old gourd banjos.  Hence, on this build, the really exaggerated "frailing scoop" (where the neck comes off the box; this scoop aids in clawhammer playing, but like I said it's really exaggerated here).

I also wanted to keep it fairly low tech.  In that regard, it's pretty simple: fretless rosewood neck, nylgut strings, leather tailpiece... all materials that would fit a "throw back" instrument like this one.

However, as you can see, I did put a pickup in it.  While I wanted to go for the look & sound of an old fashioned instrument, we do live in (almost) 2012, so I put some modern touches into it, including: an active preamp with piezo pickup, geared tuning pegs (as opposed to the difficult to stay in tune friction style), and nylgut strings (which supposedly keep the tone of catgut strings, without being as subject to changes in humidity and cost).

This cigar box banjo is made from a CAO "La Traviata" cigar box, and features a quarter-sawn African mahogany neck, Bolivian rosewood fingerboard, leather tailpiece, and a maple/rosewood bridge.  Strung with nylgut strings on a 26.25" scale.  Sorry the pictures aren't too great, but I'll get some new ones posted (eventually) on my profile here at the nation, as well as some audio and/or video. 

This little instrument sounds pretty good acoustically, if a tad on the quiet side... but plugged in, I couldn't ask for a better sounding instrument!

Happy new year to all here on the Nation!

-Nate

Permalink Reply by JP Swenson on December 30, 2011 at 7:45pm

Nice looking build Mike.  True Black Beauty.  I'd have to say it's about the prettiest Bass CBGs I've seen on the Nation's pages.  I think you should throw in a couple more photos to showcase your outstanding craftsmanship....maybe a sound file or video too.  Good luck and Happy New Year my friend!

Permalink Reply by JP Swenson on December 30, 2011 at 7:57pm

Nice looking build Mike.  True Black Beauty.  I'd have to say it's about the prettiest Bass CBGs I've seen on the Nation's pages.  I think you should throw in a couple more photos to showcase your outstanding craftsmanship....maybe a sound file or video too.  Good luck and Happy New Year my friend!

mike anderson Blues Box Guitars said:

Permalink Reply by Moon on December 30, 2011 at 8:13pm

Hi this is my submission.Carl Mullins Aka "Moon".Fret markers are made from the inner sides of the box as well as the nut.Red oak neck with red oak finger board.It also has a piezo pickup in it.

Permalink Reply by Trevor Bohay on December 30, 2011 at 8:18pm

awesome!

Dan Sleep said:

Spidey box was salvaged from a jack in the box. Take notice on the third pic there is the red crank handle the runs the spiderman jack in the box themesong  from back in the day.

I thought the "Punch" box was most fitting for our masked crime fighting friend.

Oak through neck design with a unique sound hole being in the upper right corner.You will notice the illumination in the picture due to the fact the back of the hole is lined with high grade reflective tape. You may also notice on the tape just a glimpse of a spidey leg That is a kids temp tattoo over top of the reflective tape. Spidey in 3d on the top plus notice the bridge area where it tells the tale of Peter Parker after getting bit feeling a little funny. 

 

Thanks for checking it out!!!!

 

J. Robinson

Permalink Reply by Terry Horn on December 30, 2011 at 10:27pm

I've been hooked on uke's for a minute so I thought I would build one to play in my experimental ensemble, can't be like all the others.  Cigar box, some found wood, some old acoustic guitar tuners, nails, piezo contact mic, and a bit of an old coat hanger..  Here you go:

Not sure why they're all turned horizontal but you get the idea.

Poorly recorded sound file:

6 string cigar box uke

Permalink Reply by Loco on December 31, 2011 at 2:57am

 

Here is my submission for the 2011 Contest Build off. This is my second CBG build

Tenor CBUkulele

17" Scale

Poplar SoundBox

Poplar Neck  *The neck was laminated and carved by hand*

Poplar Fretboard

Birchwood SoundBoard

18 Frets

Bone Nut and Saddle

Custom Bridge

Open Gear Tuners

Walnut Stain

Semi-gloss Finish

Aquila Strings

Tuned GCAE

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by JP Swenson on December 31, 2011 at 8:16am

Mike, this is one gorgeous, bad ass bass cigar box git!  I had to come back and take another look and now I notice you've even put an arch on the fretboard!  I've never seen a box like this either, it's beautiful.  Great choice of materials too, and your craftsmanship makes it look like it was never any but a CBG.  Awesome build.  I hope the judges look this puppy over close....you deserve to win!

mike anderson Blues Box Guitars said:

Permalink Reply by legnahkra on December 31, 2011 at 11:00am

here it goes..! this box has been in my hands for about 3  months...
thinking about the design and not wanting to do a copy of the previous montecristo builds so...

here's my offering..!

beautiful warm tone both plugged and unplugged. looks pretty elegant and pretty heavy..!
combining the sound of a high output humbucker with the traditional cbg sound of a piezo pickup..!

weird shape 2/4 headstock design... stripped off the original black finish
and added some black stain and satin lacquer

used the front side of the box taking advantage of the "montecristo" logo. gitty's screened sound hole covers,
polished..! telecaster-style bridge and gold humbucker with screened inserts...

matching the soundhole covers.

straplock system to safely secure the strap to the box (strap not present... duh..!)

single volume control with a 3-way switch
(up: humbucker - middle: humbucker & piezo - down: internal piezo).
black jackplate with gold screws to match the rest of the hardware...

Permalink Reply by Ross Porter on December 31, 2011 at 11:49am

New to this and all I can say is this is 9 pages of pure awesomeness. Pure creative talent at its best, glad I'm not judging.

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