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All Blog Posts (1,010)

Cigar Box Ukulele Project 1, Part 2

Back again. I have been building a concert sized cigar box uke, but I messed up gluing together the head and neck (the scarf joint), so I'm going to try to build it again in a day or two. One of the surfaces I glued was not completely flat and when I glued, then clamped the two pieces together onto my "work bench", both clamps were on one side and I failed to inspect the back side. Had I done, so, I'd have noticed the big gap that only got bigger when I clamped them tight. I didn't notice till… Continue

Added by Rand Moore on July 18, 2010 at 1:05am — 2 Comments

Diddley Bow (just built)

Well, just built a diddley bow. It now works, but it wasn't as simple a process as I thought it would be. However, here it is in all its glory-

Added by Roy Mathur (Junior) on July 16, 2010 at 11:34pm — No Comments

Saattara Update (seven string cigar box ektara/gopichand build)

First post in months! Sorry, was busy with various prob-eh-challenges. It was an experience building it; my first ever woodwork project (outside school woodwork disasters), but it never really worked, see here for pics and vid- http://roymathur.com/saattara/

Added by Roy Mathur (Junior) on July 16, 2010 at 11:21pm — No Comments

Cigar Box Ukulele Project 1

I have found a couple sources for Cigar Boxes around my "summer home" in the SF Bay Area. I quickly made a one-stringer (diddly bow-like) CBG w/o frets, mainly to get the idea of how to attach the neck to the cigar box. Another goal was to make an instrument I could use to play around with a slider while using a chop stick to pound on the strings (a new style of playing), as well as picking while fretting with imaginary frets (also a new experience for me). Wish I knew more about how to… Continue

Added by Rand Moore on July 14, 2010 at 4:30am — No Comments

3-String Headstock Design #1, Part 4

Added by Rand Moore on July 13, 2010 at 11:30pm — No Comments

Well, the first one is built and tuned...but that's all I can say. I think the neck is bowed slightly, so I can't play notes on it (does that make sense?). I'm not sure how to fix it... I'm already …

Well, the first one is built and tuned...but that's all I can say. I think the neck is bowed slightly, so I can't play notes on it (does that make sense?). I'm not sure how to fix it...

I'm already planning my next build. I have a small Cruzado box I was thinking about turning into a strummer, but I'm kind of leary about risking another failure! Still, I feel inspired by what I think it will look like. I guess if all I get out of it is wall art, I shouldn't complain.…

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Added by Stacey on July 13, 2010 at 9:33pm — 3 Comments

Tragic accident.

What is NUNU's? http://townmarket.homestead.com/

http://deuxbayousgallery.homestead.com//

I lost five guitars when a gallery that my guitars were in burned down this Sunday July 11,2010. NuNu's in Arnaudville Louisiana. It burned down Sunday with loads of art work and musical gear, P.A., Lighting, Kitchen, Bar.... It's all gone. The family owned establishment was family financed… Continue

Added by Albert J. Guilliot on July 12, 2010 at 8:39pm — 1 Comment

Hello Everyone

I'm Tim from Mc Henry Illinois. Ive been making 3 strings for about 4 months. Im on my 6th build now and its a 4 string! I've got a set of d'addario light accoustics in front of me n im not sure what strings to use for a 4 string... Do i go high or low?

Added by Catalyst on July 8, 2010 at 4:24pm — No Comments

3-String Headstock Design #1, Part 3

This is part 3 of my 3-string headstock design and build project.

Well, now I have a block of wood about 5.5" long by 2.25" wide by 0.75" deep with which to build my headstock. It also has a 22 degree angle cut for where the head piece will mate with the neck. The headstock diagram I drew will soon be used to shape the headstock and to drill out the 3 holes for the tuning machines (tuners). Before starting this work,… Continue

Added by Rand Moore on July 6, 2010 at 2:00pm — No Comments

CBG # 1

I put the strings on the guitar on Saturday, but found that the bolt I had planned on using for the nut doesn't work. So now I'm searching for an alternative. :(

My youngest son wants his own guitar now. I think I'm going to surprise him with the one I'm working on, since I'm already planning on a strummer for my next build. :)

My hubby is excited about this project of mine. He got out his old violin and has been practising every day. He told me that he's looking forward… Continue

Added by Stacey on July 5, 2010 at 10:27am — No Comments

3-String Headstock Design #1, Part 2

Once you have a board prepared for use as the headstock (as described in the previous post), you need to decide how you will be attaching it to the neck and how you will be installing the tuning machines (tuners).

Let's start by discussing how I plan to connect the headstock to the neck. As you may recall from the first post, my neck and neck stock both have a 22 degree cut (plus or minus a degree), revealing a sloped surface about 2 inches long. The question is how the headstock will… Continue

Added by Rand Moore on July 4, 2010 at 6:00pm — 1 Comment

Cigar box guitars on the Bone Collector on the Outdoor Channel

There is someone named Mark that was featured on Michael Waddell's "Bone Collector" show on the Outdoor Channel. Does anyone know who he is? Is he a member of CBN? On the show he built a CBG that was went to Iraq and came back with signatures of soldiers on it. It was awesome. Anyone have any information on this?

Added by Tim Norman on July 4, 2010 at 5:25pm — No Comments

1st cbg

Finished my first cbg last week. Looks pretty good but sounds like crap. I had to restring it several times until I got it right. Any suggestions? Also, I can't play a guitar, would that have anything to do with it?

Added by William McCauley on July 4, 2010 at 4:10pm — 1 Comment

Ben Prestage Live

Just noticed Ben Prestage is at The Green Parrot Friday & Sunt. July 9 & 11. Free live web cam.

www.greenparrot.com at 5:30. No connection but just noticed it on their calendar. Good bands every so often.

Bob

Added by Bob Holland on July 4, 2010 at 2:27pm — No Comments

Headstock Design #1, for a 3-String Cookie Tin Canjo

I'm working my way up from "one string soda can on a stick" variety canjos to "3-string round cookie tin Banjo-Canjos," I finished a "2-Stringer" a few days ago and have been playing and tweaking it, since. The instrument is tuned G-D, and the second string plays/sounds best as a drone. So, playing it is not much different than a one string canjo, but it sounds a lot better. Now I want to add another string, but that means a more complex headstock design.… Continue

Added by Rand Moore on July 4, 2010 at 10:00am — No Comments

I have everything I need to start, just aint started....

Still reading thew articles both on this site and others. On everything from the pros and cons of an internal resonator, bridge placement, piezos, materials for nuts and bridges..and the list goes on. Yep you caught me. I’m a geek who likes to have all my ducks in a row before I start. LOL For me the challenge is the best part. I’d be no fun at all to just toss a stick of wood on a box and…

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Added by Paul Stephen Eklund on July 3, 2010 at 11:06pm — No Comments

You know the Blues

You know, the blues is something that's hard to get acquainted with. It's just like death. Now, I tell you about the blues. The blues dwells with you every day and everywhere. See, you can have the blues about that you're broke. You can have the blues about your girl is gone. The blues comes so many different ways until it's kind of hard to explain. But whenever you get a sad feeling, you can tell the whole round world you got nothing but the blues.…

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Added by Tracy Kennedy on July 3, 2010 at 1:59pm — 5 Comments

just learning

hi everyone i'm actually just learning how to play the cbg friend of mine lent me one of his and i think it is super cool any tips would be grately app.

Added by matthew millett on June 28, 2010 at 7:38pm — 1 Comment

1/2 step forward....

Well got all the tools I need. And found a place for wood. Sorta. They're only open wile I'm at work. Been working Sat's as well. They're closed on Sundays. Drove all the way there today to find that out in person. Oh well. LOL Really itching to get started on a first build so I can have something to post about. Seems like every time I check this site out there's 300 more hand made cigar box guitars. I'm kinda falling behind here. LOL

Going to get a pound of fret wire from…

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Added by Paul Stephen Eklund on June 27, 2010 at 3:30pm — 1 Comment

Not much progress and some thoughts.....

Even though I have wood I can glue together to get a nice neck I'm still looking for a source for more. Everywhere I go it's the same story. They can get it but it'll have to be ordered in. Which means I'll be stuck buying wood without seeing it first. Don't like the idea at all. It's not just wood I'm looking to get. It's a part of a musical instrument. Something I'm going to build and play. Means a lot more to me than whatever they decide to ship. I know of one lumber yard 40 or so miles from… Continue

Added by Paul Stephen Eklund on June 26, 2010 at 12:03am — No Comments