Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Steve Robbins on October 6, 2015 at 2:23am

Thanks Paul... I tried to shape the headstock so that it somewhat matched the font style used in the text on the guitar.

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Permalink Reply by Clark Rowden on October 5, 2015 at 11:42pm

Looks great, far better than my first CBG (finishing up #6 now). Bet ya got a zillion ideas spinning in your head now :)

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Permalink Reply by Steve Robbins on October 6, 2015 at 2:25am

Thanks Clark... You are so right!!! I have a zillion ideas spinning in my head.  So many ideas... so little time... and so little cash!!!

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Permalink Reply by Bluesheart on October 7, 2015 at 2:40pm

Dang, that is your first one?!?! I'm quitting! That looks fantastic and I'm sure it sounds great too! Nice one!

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Permalink Reply by Steve Robbins on October 8, 2015 at 2:37am

Thank you so much for your kind comments.  Don't quit!!! Perhaps I just got lucky on my first one. I think it sounds good but I don't really have much to compare it to.  I plug into a Fender Frontman amp and hack away.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Robbins on October 8, 2015 at 2:39am

Thanks Wayfinder!!! I wanted the headstock to somewhat match the font style in the text. I am now working on a matching Bone Daddy Stogies amplifier.

I have started on my second guitar where I am using a 'real' cigar box.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Robbins on October 8, 2015 at 9:06am

I did the date and signature with a cnc laser cutter. I first created the text in Corel Draw by using one of the available fonts... then the laser engraved it exactly as designed. I also used the laser to cut out the box parts and engrave the graphics on the front. Its a pretty cool machine that can do a lot of different things.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Robbins on October 8, 2015 at 9:26am

Oh... the guitar is dated 9/12/15... that is when I cut out the box. It still took me a few weeks after that to actually finish it.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Robbins on October 9, 2015 at 3:36am

Only about $3,800 more... Rockler sells a Full Spectrum Laser which is the same brand as one of mine.  See: http://www.rockler.com/full-spectrum-h-series-20-x-12-desktop-co2-l...

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Permalink Reply by Bama Hound on October 9, 2015 at 3:58pm

Steve,while the CNC and prewired electronics that are available off the internet would just about get it to the point where a fellow could quit his day job or be able to "crank them out" to the point to where the unit cost would make a good sideline. I am going to have to stick to doing it the hard way. I know zero, as in "0",about CNC pyrography, so I had to look. Smaller desktop units are available,but I wouldn't know how many megawatts it would take just to burn or be able to make through cuts on 1/4" plywood.I saw some desktop units that were below 1000 bucks. I made the mistake of turning a hobby into a job onetime and it became a job and it was years before I could ever do it for fun again. Just kind of thinking out loud,maybe too loud. No offense meant.

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Permalink Reply by Steve Robbins on October 10, 2015 at 2:36am

Hey guys... Absolutely no offense taken. I know exactly where you coming from. That is one reason why I'm now working on a guitar with a real cigar box and not something produced by a laser cutter/engraver. I hope I never lose the awareness of time tested methods of using hands on skills.

I purchased my lasers for another business that requires mass cutting of small wood parts. After putting up my workshop in my backyard, I wanted to also use the tools for a personal hobby... I was needing a littel self gratification. Since I'm an average guitarist I decided to try CBG building. And since I'm an average craftsman I decided to use the laser to help me build my first one.

I'm just building these for fun. If I sell one that's so I can buy stuff to build another one. If guitars start piling up around the house my wife would likley become concerned. I have made the mistake in the past of turning a hobby into a business and that quickly sapped all the fun out of it.

Even though I will build some CBGs the old fashioned way... I will likely build most of my guitars with the laser. There is a good bit of skill required to create a design using the Corel Draw software and transferring it from the computer to the laser and on to the wood. My skills are little better at that than they are at fine woodworking.

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Permalink Reply by darryl kernaghan on October 10, 2015 at 3:17am

CBG's can be built with rudimentary tools,and that's great,but if you happen to have tools that make it simpler/easier,no need to feel as if you're not 'authentic',unless you're inclined to work by candle light

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