Building a Cigar Box Guitar 101

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Building a Cigar Box Guitar 101

This group is for discussing the basics of CBG building for newer builders - where to start, what to do, common pitfalls, tips and techniques.

Keep in mind that new builders can find other great informative articles on CBG building, as well as most of the parts you'll need, over at C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply!

Members: 1746
Latest Activity: Mar 20

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

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Comment by Fomhorach on September 28, 2016 at 9:15am

Yeah it's spare parts. As a guitar it's almost dead, it would be a little money hole for just a child's guitar. Probably just as cheap to buy another.

Nice Grover's though. Keep your eyes peeled for stuff on second hand guitars. People like to upgrade stuff and if you have a bit of know-whats you can sometimes snag a bargain.

For instance, you can find great pickups on cheap 80s guitars. Back then the 'cheap' came from the wood they used, but they still had to get pickups from reasonable sources.

Comment by Paul Craig on September 28, 2016 at 9:00am

There could be a trussrod access on the back of the heel, won't know til you take the neck off. Most likely there isn't a trussrod on that neck. I would remove the neck and put another neck on it and fix the electronics, turn it into a CBG or strip it for parts.

Comment by Mark Bliss on September 28, 2016 at 7:31am

Harmony:

If the neck is straight, I'll pay 4 times what you paid and cover shipping in the cont. US.

Seriously, love to add it to the collection here. PM me if you are interested.

Comment by mtfallsmikey on September 28, 2016 at 6:37am

Really? do you know of any FB or other groups? I'll have to explore that, maybe that could fund some  parts from Gitty.

Comment by Fomhorach on September 28, 2016 at 6:05am

There's a market for vintage harmony guitars. I would look into it before gutting it.

Comment by mtfallsmikey on September 28, 2016 at 5:49am

I picked up a Harmony electric for $10 at a yard sale, going to gut it for parts, will have to see if it has those Grover tuners on it.

Comment by Fomhorach on September 28, 2016 at 3:49am

I think, but I'm not sure about it, that these type of Grover's were put on the cheaper European Gibson's from the 90's. This guitar has lots of problems with keeping tuning. Not only is the action high, the neck connection and/or the neck is not stable. The frets are very cheap and the strings catch and lock on the side of the frets, there's little sharp edges running down the fretboard. 

I think someone has had this for their child and over time tried to fix it from being a very cheap toy into something playable but failed. Replaced the tuners from some old guitar to try and contract the unstable tuning, tried to see if it was the neck joint and 'squinted' it after unscrewing. When the strings started to catch the edges of the frets due to neck misplacement, they have raised the action at the nut with shims and made it worse. 

I found it in Cash Converters. They probably just wanted rid of it after the kid couldn't play it. £20, thank you very much.

Comment by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on September 28, 2016 at 3:28am

I've not heard of grover tuners before. Wonder why someone would change tuners on a toy guitar and then put expensive ones on it. Very strange. Definitely a bargain then. I've fancied a guitar with a speaker for a while and looked at the pignose one recently. I think I'd prefer a CBG with a speaker built in rather than a bog standard guitar. Maybe one day. Good luck with the guitar :)

Comment by Oscar Myer on September 28, 2016 at 3:15am

If the action is high enough, you can re tune, use it for slide & just plug into an amp. would be quite impressive.

Comment by Fomhorach on September 28, 2016 at 2:16am

It's a parts guitar, that speaker setup will just drop right into a standard CBG no problem. But what turned it for me is those locking Grover tuners. Very very nice. Those will get put aside for something special. 

 

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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

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CB Gitty Country Roads Banjo kit

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