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 Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on April 4, 2018 at 2:55am

That should have said "consider a raised block at the edge" not "raised black". Crazy autocorrect doing its thing again!

Comment by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on April 4, 2018 at 2:53am

Hi Thomas. A mandolin tailpiece is shorter than a guitar tailpiece (I believe). Have you considered a search for one of these on eBay? You'd sort the string spacing out over the bridge anyway so instead of the eight strings for a mandolin you'd be using 6 of the string spaces. Homemade is good too though. You could consider a raised black at the edge of the native drum even and just run your strings through the holes drilled in a raised edge (wood or metal). Either way, all the best with your banjitar. 

Comment by Thomas Parr on April 4, 2018 at 2:47am

That is one definite possibility, thanks.

Comment by Mike Simpson on April 4, 2018 at 2:39am

Hi Thomas, I have seen people use a cut down metal spatula (pancake flipper type)

Mike

Comment by Michael Fred Johnson on April 4, 2018 at 2:28am

How about a variation on this Thomas?Cycle brake cable,unequal stainless angle anchored onto the strap button.You also get a very simple vibrato device.

Comment by Thomas Parr on April 4, 2018 at 12:14am

Can any of you fine builders advise me on making a 6 string banjitar tailpiece.  I have a native hand drum with a Remo head.  I intend to use a standard guitar fingerboard with a reinforcing bar in the neck, with a through-rod in the drum head.  With a 25 1/2 inch VSL, conventional tailpieces are too long for the drum head.

Comment by Paul Craig on April 2, 2018 at 7:16am

I used to glue my non-adjustable trussods in the neck til I had one setup in a permanent backbow. I was sure that the steel was straight. Don't know what happened with it for sure, but thought that maybe the curing of the glue warped the wood. It made a good Lap steel slide guitar. Haha

Now I cut a channel that's really tight, place the non-adjustable trussrod in the groove and use wooden shims to secure it in place to keep it from rattling. Then glue the Fretboad on.

That only happened once out of 6 guitars I did that way, but I'm going to do it this way now so as not to have another problem with it.

Comment by Thomas Parr on April 2, 2018 at 12:47am

When glued in with saturated epoxy, there is no fear of breaking loose.

Comment by David McQueen on April 1, 2018 at 9:50am

Lol ... I am using a table saw so the depth can be set fairly well. More important is blocking off both ends of the steel so that it cannot break loose from the glue. That needs some 1/8" thick wood strips.

Comment by Paul Craig on March 31, 2018 at 9:08am

That's the easy way to do it David and it works great as long as the saw depth is right that is. Haha

 

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Discussion Forum

Cutting deep boxes in half

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C. B. Gifty three string fretless kits.

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

Frettin' and stainin'

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