Last week, I stopped by at my local cigar store and picked up the starting points for a few projects.  I found:

• a Romeo y Julieta Reserve box (red label)
• a Brick House box (red stained), and
• a Baccarat “Gordo Baccarat Havana Selection” box.

I paid three bucks apiece for the boxes, and was happy to find them.  I plan to make a 3-string fretted CBG from the R&J as my first project.  I want to save the Brick House box for a 4-stringer, and the Baccarat box will be perfect for an amp enclosure. I have a Honeytone I'd like to move out of that plastic case to give the speaker some breathing room. 

I’ve built a mountain dulcimer, so I’m familiar with the use of fret wire, as well as a lot of the other required skills.  However, these CBG’s are a bit different, so I’d appreciate some feedback before I start sawing anything.  Here’s where I am on the 3-stringer:

1. Purchased a 4-foot length of 1 x 2 poplar for the neck

2. Got a 2-foot length of 2 x 1/4 red oak for the fingerboard

3. Ordered from C.B. Gitty:

          a. 6 ft. Med/med fret wire

          b. Shane Speal signature tuners

          c. Basic Piezo Pickup Kit for Cigar Box Guitar

4. Scrounged up from my guitar room and garage:

          a. Buncha new strings

          b. Grommets for sound holes

          c. Tru-Oil, and other finishing supplies

          d. Gold-headed screws for string trees

          e. Additional hardwood stock (poplar, maple, hard pine, and walnut)

          f. Hot glue gun and beer bottle caps for potting the piezos

          g. Lotsa pop rivets for ferrules

          h. Lotsa metal odds and ends for tailpiece, bridge saddle, nut, etc.

I’m planning a through-neck design with wings at the headstock area so I can make it a bit more decorative.  I haven’t decided whether or not to scarf the neck – opinions would be appreciated.  Just for giggles, I’m also thinking about decoupaging a Romeo y Julieta graphic onto the headstock.  I’ve done something similar before using Tru-Oil as both adhesive and finish.

Also, I notice that most plans call for putting blocks under the neck inside the box in order to secure the neck to the inside bottom, and a few don’t.  Seems like an essential step to me.

I do have a few questions about the piezos.  I’m thinking about potting them with hot glue in bottle caps, then gluing them to the sound board on the bass string side of the neck.  The set of two should (I think) be wired in parallel to reduce feedback.  Make sense?  I’m feeling my way through this, so give me a holler if I’m all wet, particularly as to the piezo placement.  Pictures would be nice....

I understand that I can ground the electronics to the tailpiece, since I’ll be using a wood bridge with a brass saddle (or something similar).  Can’t really ask any questions about this until I get a look at the wiring diagram.  I haven’t decided how to make the tailpiece yet, but it will be metal so I can ground through to the strings.  Worst case, I’ll just use a hinge.

I’ll post photos here as I get them.  Please let me know what you think about this, especially if I’m missing something important – if so, it won’t be the first time!