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All Blog Posts (987)

Thanks!

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement and enthusiastic support for the boxes I've built. I really don't know what I'm doing, but I'm learning from all of you, and it seems like each guitar is a little better than the one before. I've had a lot of hobbies over the years, but without doubt this CBG thing is my favorite. And, thanks to Shane for starting the 'Nation'. I wouldn't have gotten into this without the lead provided by this site.

Added by Jess on February 6, 2010 at 12:31am — 1 Comment

Fret board

Hey ya'll Max again. I have yet to make a guitar with a fret board. My next build is going to have one. What is the rhyme and reason for the spacing in between the frets? Thanks!

Added by Max "Georgia Boy" Legge on February 6, 2010 at 12:00am — 2 Comments

More Photos of 'TotalRojo' Guitars

I've been so busy working on my current 'TotalRojo' guitar that I have not uploaded photos of creations #3; 4; or 5.

The name for my guitars (TotalRojo) originated from a trip my wife and I took to Cancun. We were on the beach and I decided to go to the cabana for towels. The kid asked my name and when I told him it was Allred, he said, "Oh, Mr. Todo Rojo." We had a good laugh, and from then on, I was known to the waiters by that version of my name. For various reasons and uses, I… Continue

Added by Jess on February 4, 2010 at 3:29pm — 1 Comment

A Big Thank You

Thank you everyone who helped me with my first build. I couldn't have done it without yall. You took up your time to explain things, took pics, and answered my questions. I can't remember who all helped me. Thank you very much. Thank you for being patient with me. Go to my page and check it out. I named my first build, Sweetheart. Thanks again. Dianne/Georgia

Added by Dianne Woods on February 4, 2010 at 2:13pm — No Comments

Cutting bottlenecks for slides.

I found that you can cut a bottle neck with a diamond hacksaw blade The cutting is slow and could be done with a dremel cut off wheal much faster. I heard a tile saw might work to.

Added by Steve Howlin Dog Haines on February 3, 2010 at 11:40pm — 1 Comment

Neck flex

Knowing now that I was just never putting enough tension on the strings I pulled out CBG #1 and just kept cranking until it was tuned. Wow, sounds a LOT better, imagine that!

Of course that also put enough bend in the neck that it looks more like a bow than a guitar. Fretting is all but impossible, but with a slide it seems to really sing now. I may have to go get some low tension strings to try it :D Neck bending on #1 was why I decided to use Oak instead of Poplar on #2, oak being… Continue

Added by Jason Hitesman on January 31, 2010 at 12:58pm — No Comments

Harbor Freight Japanese Flush Cut Saw as a fret saw (plus jig)

Guys, I have seen so many folks use God knows what to cut fret slots. Hacksaw blades, coping saw blades, knives. Well, if you want to cut them right, you have to use a decent saw.

First, let me say that if you use Stewart MacDonald fretwire (or any fretwire that is .024"tang), the BEST tool is their fretsaw. Make no mistake, that is the tool to use.

BUT if you are not inclined to buy a $30 saw, try this saw:… Continue

Added by Wes "I'm Baaaaack" Yates on January 31, 2010 at 10:41am — 12 Comments

Inspiration!

Wow, there's nothing that get's the ol' blood boiling and the body moving like inspiration from a fella's peers.

Just this past week I was reading Shane's suggestion that designing and creating a CBG was simply not enough of an accomplishment, and that in order to really enjoy the effort you gotta get out of the workshop and light up the box in front of an audience. It didn't say that talent was an important ingredient . . . just get out there and play!

Another commentator… Continue

Added by Jess on January 30, 2010 at 2:51pm — 2 Comments

new to this site would appreciate any help

New to Cigar Nation really dont know what to expect. Dont know how to find responses or comments.

Added by Dan Barton on January 26, 2010 at 11:17pm — 3 Comments

My New Website

www.slackjackguitars.com

Added by Travis "SlackJack" Woodall on January 26, 2010 at 10:00pm — No Comments

About Cuban Cigars

Cuban Cigars originate from Cuba. There are lots of things you'll find fascinating Cuba and what it is famous for. It is a small island that is located just few hundred miles away from the Florida coast. It is mostly famous for its rum, dancing and women.

Cuba is very famous for its world-wide famous cigars. They are considered to be the best as well as expensive ones. They have become a style icon as well and these have also been labelled as the forbidden fruit; it is because of… Continue

Added by Sam Alien on January 24, 2010 at 6:11pm — No Comments

Zazzle store link.

Woops forgot my store link to Zazzle.

http://www.zazzle.com/slucepan

Added by Steve Haines on January 19, 2010 at 6:43pm — No Comments

Check out my custom cigar box tea shirts at my Zazzle store.

Check out my custom cigar box T shirts at my Zazzle store.

Featured this month is my outlaw blues T shirt.

I will have more shirts in the future.

Have fun viral marketing our favorite hobby with a one of a kind discussion starter!

Other proposed shirt ideas are Gospel blues, Surfing on 3 strings, One string boogie, 3 string punk oi, and psychedelic 3 string mind trip.…

Continue

Added by Steve Haines on January 19, 2010 at 6:26pm — No Comments

Neck length

Hey y'all, Ga. Boy here. I have made a bunch of guitars and dont really know if there is a standard length for the neck or if it really matters or not. Any ideas?

Added by Max "Georgia Boy" Legge on January 17, 2010 at 4:00pm — 2 Comments

My First CGB

Well, the bug has bitten. I am in the process of making my first CBG. Hopefully it will turn out OK!

Added by Stephen Stocker on January 17, 2010 at 12:44am — 1 Comment

2010 Deep Blues Music and Film Festival

We're pleased to announce that our January 2010 Deep Blues Film Festival will be an official event of the St Paul Winter Carnival. Please join us Saturday January 23rd and Saturday January 30th for several great films and also special live performances by some of the musicians featured in the films.

Saturday January 23rd Films - at the St Paul Eagles Club 287 Maria Ave St Paul MN

noon - Wayne County Rambling

2pm - Moments and Truths

3pm - The Hand Of…

Continue

Added by Chris Johnson on January 15, 2010 at 7:58pm — 1 Comment

Just the parts mam... duh, duh,duh,du

Okay it's not Drag net.. but In response to a number of request, we at Back porch mojo have added a "Parts Pack"

Just the parts, no box, no neck...just the parts you need to make a 3 or 4 string Cigar Box or cookie tin guitar

available in the Back Porch Mojo store

available in a 3 string… Continue

Added by Darren "Big Daddy" Dukes on January 15, 2010 at 3:06pm — No Comments

Fingerboard Software (And How I came To Find It)

Hi all,

I have promised to build my 9 year old nephew a guitar.

I was showing The Nation to some relatives during our family Christmas gathering, and Jake got hooked.

When Jake was 5, he tangled with a piece of lawn equipment and lost his left hand and half his left forearm.

He has decided he doesn't want to learn to strum with the nub..... he wants to play slide and be able to finger pick.

Well, I happened to have a bottleneck with me, and (don't ask why) some aluminum… Continue

Added by Jeff "Strat Fink" Tinsley on January 14, 2010 at 1:55am — 4 Comments

First guitar finally done

I have several guitars in process, but this is the first that has made it to a playable stage. Didn't have a cigar box I wanted to use so I found a couple of pans at Goodwill. The neck is made from Juniper that my wife and I sawed with our portable sawmill. Plays pretty good and has a nice semi-resonator sound. Definitely learned a lot, especially on what not to do! Anxious to try some other things.

Body - two pans from Goodwill

Sound… Continue

Added by Juniper Jaxx on January 13, 2010 at 11:06am — 2 Comments

2nd build - the "Pete" model

Over the Christmas break, my dad (Pete) and I made a nice little CBG out of a big box. It's a LOUD through-neck four string, 25 inch scale with a tapered neck, four-barrel carburetor, power-matic transmission and a cold six-pack built in (just kidding about those last few). The neck is made from 3 oak… Continue

Added by Corey on January 12, 2010 at 12:07am — 5 Comments