A while back, a member posted a build that He did making the box out of Cedar roof shingles. The instrument had a great sound to it and made me want to build one for myself.

The shingles have a taper to them and would require planing and I don't have a planer. Also I would have to buy a bundle at 18 dollars. Cedar planks were available at the grocery store for grilling Fish. They were 2 boards 1/4" x 5" x 12" at 4 to 6 dollars a package.

Settled on a Western Cedar fence plank at Lowe's 5/8ths" x 5&1/2" x 60" for $2.55. This was just enough wood for the box and any braces needed, but would need to be dried more. Cut the pieces and dried them in the oven.

Made a frame for the box and the top and bottom panels. Since 5/8ths" is too thick for an effective acoustic, I layed the box frame on top of the panels and traced the inside barrier. I routed the back inside to 1/4" and glued a 1/4" brace along the seam and routed the top inside to 3/16th" and glued a 1/4" brace along the seam. I'll have to add a cross brace later for the bridge, but it will only contact the center brace and the box sides to maximize top vibration. The top is glued to the frame and the back is attached with 4 screws for now, may glue it later. The box was sanded to have a curved side profile. It has a 1&3/4" sound hole. I plan to attach the neck to the box side with screws and glue.

The neck and fretboard will be made of Red Oak. Going for 4 strings and 25" scale with bridge near center of sound board. I plan on using a Uke style bridge and nut. Plan on putting in 2 piezo, 1 on the low string side and 1 on the high string side wired to a blend pot.

Pics of what I have so far.

Views: 2528

Replies to This Discussion

Got it tuned up and so far it's holding up and staying in tune.

It's has an awesome mellow tone. A lot of sustain due to the bracing that links the bridge to the neck, but the top still vibrates enough to give it very good volume. Very pleased with it so far.

Need to fix a couple of frets and add the strip piezo and Lipstick Tube pickup when I get more funds. Then I'm going to try making a video. May take a couple of months.

Wondering if 250k pot will work well with the lipstick Tube and the strip Piezo?

All is well with this after the box fix and I've been enjoying it a lot. Next month I'll get a Lipstick Tube pup, pots and switch to finish it out.

A couple of pics in the sun.

In the first pic, you can see that the fingerboard area that supposed to get a marker is just a shade darker than the rest of the board. I also added some white colored pencil side dot markers.

Really love the access to the tuners and they all turn the same direction so it's easy and not confusing.

Need to work on fret #2 some, but it has a great mellow tone with a lot of sustain and reverb from the springs. Been having fun with it when I can.

An unexpected benefit.

I was sitting with this CBG on my leg and lightly against my stomach and started getting a echo effect that warbled when I pressed on the top and let go.

It's coming from the back. The back is just attached at the corners by 4 screws for easy access. The back is slightly warped creating a gap on the sides. So closing the gap and letting it open creates a warble effect that is acoustic only. I'm sure it won't be in the pickup signal when I install the pickups and wire it.

An update:

After playing it for a couple weeks now it still sounds great. Had to add a couple of screws to the back lid to stop the echo effect because it was just too uncontrollable. I noticed the string level getting taller on the upper frets, I think that the front side of the box is bending inward because it's the weakest part and has been a problem before. The neck is Red Oak and has a trussrod and is straight, so it's not the problem. Has to be the front side of the box.

Maybe I should try a lower/drop tuning to take pressure off. It's tuned G/D/G/B now, so I'll drop a whole step at a time till it works out.

So a lesson is learned, don't use Cedar(or other soft woods) for the sides of your box unless your neck goes through the box.

This has been a long journey for you. I am glad you ended up with a good instrument. You also learned a lot along the way and shared what you learned. You sought advice and listened to that advice. You Sir, are a valuable member of this community. Play on!

Thanks, I'm always eager to learn something new and pass it on. 

I tuned down from G/D/G/B to E/B/E/G# and I was able to play all the way up to the 12th fret without fretting sharp.

Then tuned down to D/A/D/F# and I can fret to the 19th fret without fretting sharp. The strings aren't too loose, but they're on the dark side. So this is as far as I can go with it.

I can always use a capo for higher stuff, if I can find one that will work on this neck. Does anyone make a capo for these? Has anyone used a regular capo with success?

A piece of hardwood dowel and an o-ring makes a decent looking capo. Cut the dowel an inch longer than the width of the neck. Cut a small notch on the dowel with your pocket knife, about a 1/4 inch from each end on the same side of the dowel. Using the o-ring like it is a rubber band. Hang the o-ring on the dowel, in the notch, pull it around the backside of the neck, to the other side, and place the other end of the o-ring into the dowel notch on the other side of the neck, so the dowel presses down against the strings next to the desired fret.

RSS

The Essential Pages

New to Cigar Box Nation? How to Play Cigar Box GuitarsFree Plans & How to Build Cigar Box GuitarsCigar Box Guitar Building Basics

Site Sponsor

Recommended Links & Resources


Discussion Forum

Cutting deep boxes in half

Started by Justin Stanchfield. Last reply by Taffy Evans Mar 20. 9 Replies

Attention 1st time builders!

Started by BrianQ.. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 27. 2 Replies

Brickhouse CBG Wiring

Started by Ian Boyd. Last reply by Ian Boyd Dec 11, 2023. 1 Reply

Fretless fret markers

Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Michael Myers Apr 20, 2023. 8 Replies

canjo building and tuning

Started by Brenda. Last reply by MadGomer Dec 3, 2022. 5 Replies

Minimum tools needed

Started by Wichita Sam. Last reply by Taffy Evans Nov 14, 2022. 21 Replies

High G problem

Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Taffy Evans Nov 3, 2022. 4 Replies

Doubling the high string

Started by Robert Killen. Last reply by Paul Craig Oct 14, 2022. 23 Replies

Aluminum License Plate

Started by Larry Sobol. Last reply by Larry Sobol Oct 1, 2022. 6 Replies

C. B. Gifty three string fretless kits.

Started by jon neet. Last reply by Taffy Evans Aug 16, 2022. 6 Replies

Frettin' and stainin'

Started by Doug Laffin. Last reply by Order99 Aug 11, 2022. 4 Replies

Bolt on neck to a set neck body?

Started by Paul Craig. Last reply by Paul Craig Jul 17, 2022. 14 Replies

Locations

Started by Roy Smith. Last reply by the anonymous pick May 15, 2022. 2 Replies

Help please re Bento Box Uke "nut"

Started by Al Lobe. Last reply by BrianQ. May 10, 2022. 18 Replies

Clarification on pick ups

Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Taffy Evans May 6, 2022. 5 Replies

Licence plate cbg

Started by Michael Myers. Last reply by Michael Myers May 2, 2022. 5 Replies

Builder's Tips

Started by Wichita Sam. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 23, 2022. 2 Replies

Getting there but needing advice/help please.

Started by Lionhound. Last reply by MadGomer Feb 18, 2022. 8 Replies

Tres Cubano Build

Started by Paul Craig. Last reply by Paul Craig Dec 9, 2021. 18 Replies

CB Gitty Country Roads Banjo kit

Started by Ken Hope. Last reply by Christopher G Daniels Nov 29, 2021. 4 Replies

Latest Activity

A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
Thumbnail

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

"Thank you Poorness ! for loving it ! appreciated!"
15 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
15 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
16 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Punch Project!

She now sports gold metal CBGitty knobs, speaker and an Artec 2.5 watt speaker. Finished this in…
17 hours ago
Southern Ray posted a photo

Project Punch!

Gonna finally get back on this long-delayed project that is more than half complete. (The matching…
17 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
19 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
19 hours ago
Doug Thorsvik commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"I appreciate the kind words Papa D! I have always loved the look of these cigar boxes. Glad to have…"
22 hours ago
A.D.EKER commented on A.D.EKER's video
yesterday
A.D.EKER posted a video

Im Troubled (Tribute) Mc K Morganfield by BCB - A.D .Eker 2024.

The recorded History By Alan Lomax for the library of Congres of the Blues, from Mc Kinley Morganfield (Aka Muddy Waters) the in this take recorded Tribute ...
yesterday
Papa D commented on Doug Thorsvik's photo
Thumbnail

Dueling Flatheads

"Beautiful..Nice work Doug.."
yesterday
Papa D commented on Papa D's photo
Thumbnail

american1 Sun Glo

"Thanx AGP & Doug..  4 more coming soon"
yesterday

Music

© 2024   Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

\uastyle>\ud/** Scrollup **/\ud.scrollup {\ud background: url("https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/963882636?profile=original") no-repeat scroll 0 0 transparent;\ud bottom: 25px;\ud display: inline !important;\ud height: 40px;\ud opacity: 0.3 !important;\ud position: fixed;\ud right: 30px;\ud text-indent: -9999px;\ud width: 40px;\ud z-index: 999;\ud}\ud.scrollup:hover {\ud opacity:0.99!important;\ud}\ud \uascript type="text/javascript">\ud x$(document).ready(function(){\ud x$(window).scroll(function(){\ud if (x$(this).scrollTop() > 100) {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeIn();\ud } else {\ud x$('.scrollup').fadeOut();\ud }\ud });\ud x$('.scrollup').click(function(){\ud x$("html, body").animate({ scrollTop: 0 }, 600);\ud return false;\ud });\ud });\ud \ua!-- End Scroll Up -->