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2013 Cigar Box Guitar Builder's Challenge - Submission Thread

Please post pictures of your contest submissions here. Be sure to include any pertinent information about your instrument that you think others, including the judges, would enjoy knowing.

*** NOTE ***

When the submission period ends on 12/31, I will be deleting all comments from users that are posted in this thread. To make it easier on the judges, this thread needs to end up with just the posts from the contestants. It makes it difficult for the judges if they have to wade through scores of pages of posts to find the actual entries.

Contest Rules:

One submission per person.

Each submission shall be an instrument of the builder's own construction and overall design.

The instrument shall prominently and visibly feature a cigar box in the design.

Each builder will submit up to five pictures of their creation. No videos please till after the judging is complete.

Entries must be submitted no later than midnight December 31, 2013.

Builders shall post the pictures of their instruments in the separate "Contest Submission Thread."

Builders should include descriptions of their work, including any technical details such as features, materials used, or any other information they feel would assist the judges in reviewing the submission.

Once the submission period ends, all comments in the submission thread from other CBN members will be deleted to make it easier for the judges to review the entries. The judges will review the pictures and select a winner.

The decision of the judges is final.

Feel free to post away, just know that this thread will be cleaned up once the submission period is over.

Good luck and good building!!!

The Judges

JP Soars

JP Soars is an accomplished, award winning blues guitarist. JP along with his band, the Red Hots, has won the International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee, as well as the Albert King award for most promising guitarist. His most recent album, More Bees With Honey was named the 2nd coolest CD of the year by Little Steven and his Underground Garage on XM Radio, and was in the top 5 click to pick on BB King's Bluesville on XM also. On stage, JP plays a 2 string slide CBG he made himself.

Tony Steidler-Dennison

Tony Steidler-Dennison returns again this year to help us judge. Tony is the creator and host of the free, long running Roadhouse Podcast. Tony has completed over 400 one hour shows of the Finest Blues You've Never Heard, and is a veritable encyclopedia of the blues.

Justin Johnson

Justin "The Wizard" Johnson is certainly no stranger to cigar box instruments. His collection of roots instruments grows on almost a daily basis. He, along with his partner Nikki, have been traveling the world, bringing his virtuosity and roots music to fans everywhere. He has begun work on his much anticipated double album Smoke & Mirrors. You can read more about it on his web site.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by robert bramuchi on December 23, 2013 at 10:17am

SG Locomotive. reinforced internals w/ poplar blocking.

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Permalink Reply by DeltaglowBoy on December 24, 2013 at 7:32am

CBG Builders Challenge submission: The Deltaglowboy "Red Rocket"

Info: Calle Ocho Doble box, 25" scale, LED back lighting, bolt bridge and Corian nut.

Door handle string mount / lock striker plate.

Permalink Reply by Liam Stirling on December 25, 2013 at 5:39pm

Introducing the Cigar box Stoessel lute!

This interesting instrument is invented in the early 1900 by Mr. Stoessel in Germany, who made them in a small factory till about 1940.

This instrument is very peculiar as the way of playing is not in the normal way of fingering around the neck, but by wrapping your palm over the end of the neck andpressing down the strings from the top.

Many different models were made, also with different numbers of strings. As you could not "move up the neck" there were only 5 frets.

This example is made at a 15.5 inch scale length with six strings tuned in fourths. it is a very lovely sounding instrument and surprisingly comfortable and easy to play.

The neck and tail mounted head stock are made from Mahogany polished with beeswax and linseed oil to a high sheen. the finger board and top of the head stock are made of Koa treated in the same way. The bridge and nut both are buffalo horn and the decorative elements are brass.

Enjoy.

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Permalink Reply by Liam Stirling on December 25, 2013 at 5:39pm

more photos of the Stoessel lute.

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Permalink Reply by Adam Kovarik on December 26, 2013 at 3:35pm

Hi, this is my submission to the "Steampunk" builders competition. I call it "Gun Smoke" I have built this out of an insert of a Montecristo cigar box. It has a walnut neck and jarrah fret board. Clock gears, a bullet on the headstock, a trigger off a old plastic revolver, exhaust pipe headers and a 1930's Bakelite Bob Harrison pick up. The chrome strip is off a Electra Glide, Harley Davidson motorcycle. I hope you all like it.

Thank you.

I have a demo video if you would like to see it in action.

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Permalink Reply by Adam Kovarik on December 27, 2013 at 1:47pm

A couple more pictures of "Gun Smoke"

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Permalink Reply by Matt on December 26, 2013 at 6:53pm

Well, I'm still pretty green when it comes to building these things, but the thought of a steampunk themed guitar was just too much to resist!

Now, I cain't string together fancy talk as well as some of you folks, so I ain't even gonna try...I'll leave that to folks like Oily, Katfish, and Duck!

I dug around and found some LEDs that flicker like a candle, and stuck an orange and a red one in the box, so it looks like there's a fire in the box-after all, ya can't make steam without fire, right? I used a 1/2" copper cap to cover the ugly red button on my on/off switch. The other cap is my potentiometer knob, which I rigged using a cork and a 3/4" copper end cap. The mess of copper tubes on the bottom and up the neck were salvaged off an old furnace coil. The copper tubes wrap the back of the neck and go under the fretboard at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 12th frets. Had the gauge laying around. Found the clock at Goodwill, and was pleasantly surprised that it works, even if it does take the weirdest battery I've ever bought. The sound hole cover is a shower drain cover. Three string, fretless, tuned open G, with a simple Peizo pickup, all build on a refinished Cohiba cigar box

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Permalink Reply by Matt on December 26, 2013 at 6:54pm

And the last two pics...

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Permalink Reply by heatmisergeorge on December 27, 2013 at 12:54pm

Gentlemen, Thanks to advances in science and ingenious devices created in home laboratorys , Paranormal investigations in the 1800's didn't have to rely on ouija boards and seances for comunicating to the dead anymore. Behold the Aether Ecto Para Aura Metre Tri Zither .Featuring a self machined gage used for the electro- magnetic frequency detector, as spirits are believed to cause an increase in the immediate magnetic field surrounding them. A crystal aural string exciter , helping shades convert their energy to string vibrations. A piezo placed under a brass-wood drawer pull to amplify the electronic voice phenomenon caused by apparitions. A brass water pipe and light fixture to pick up spirit voices. An attached telephone receiver mic placed inside for speaking back. An exterior light fixture, silver soldered together for a sound horn to amplify string vibrations caused by their energy. In the right settings you can find you're not alone, as it practically plays itself. Ringing out its bell like tones, it sounds like a haunted banjo. I hereby respectfully summit for your approval the specifications of the construction of the Aeter Ecto Para Aura Metre Tri Zither.

¼” brass rod set into a 25.5” scale stained poplar neck

Brass shims cut for fret markers and headstock binding

Lamp parts /brass plumbing parts

Homemade brass soldered engraved corners

Phone receiver mic

Piezo cut to fit under brass / wood drawer pull

123 year old window latch for bridge

Homemade brass gage

Crystal from 123 year old light for volume knob

I thank you for your mindful presence,

Heatmiser

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Permalink Reply by heatmisergeorge on December 27, 2013 at 12:56pm

more photos

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Permalink Reply by michael zewe on December 28, 2013 at 1:53pm

This is my first build off and here are some pic of my bass guitar. it body is a cigar box the neck i used copper piping head is wood and the gears all work on front and back and turn. the center of the neck is a tube light made from tubing and LEDs. the eye is center weighted and moves at will .a pressure gauge for effect also a vented sound hole it is electric and can be plugged in to any amp.

Permalink Reply by michael naiman on December 30, 2013 at 5:07am

This was my second build. Got all the parts off Craigslist..from a retired clock restorer.
Probably went through 10-20 versions of the gears and such. It did turn out to be on the heavy side

due to all of the brass attachments. Sure wish I could afford some real wood shop machines...all done with hand tools. Volume and tone knobs have been " geared up" at the corner...

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