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 Thomas "Duck" Petry on April 23, 2019 at 12:28pm

Welcome to the insanity Art. I have used clear rattle can Lacquer with success. Not a fan of poly, but I can't see why it wiuldn't work as well.

Comment by Art Prior on April 23, 2019 at 11:35am

New member here with his first question. I am working on my first cigar box dulcimer--a guitar will be next----and I was wondering how you folks finished the boxes that are paper covered. I finished the neck in clear poly but I am not sure what to put on the paper cause I don't want to ruin it. Thanks in advance for your help,  Art

Comment by Joe Caruso on February 1, 2019 at 1:21am

Finish the box is the last thing I do just before final assembly.

Comment by Chuck Groves on January 31, 2019 at 4:18pm

After.  For same reasons as listed by Dani.

Comment by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on January 31, 2019 at 2:39pm

After Ricky. Then all the splinters, chips, dents and imperfections from tooling are covered without the need for touch up afterwards. 

Comment by Ricky D on January 31, 2019 at 2:10pm

Hey everybody!!! Those of you who finish your boxes, do you finish before cutting/drilling or after?

Comment by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on June 22, 2018 at 8:57pm

Thanks Jim. I think MusiciansFriend is an American company but I'm sure I could do the equivalent with a website over here in the UK. 

I don't know what sizes I need but I've figured out that I could do D-Aa- Dd with a single set after some more thinking. Thick E down a whole step to D, thick A to pitch with the b down a whole step to a, and then thick D to pitch with the thin e down a while step to d. Doesn't give me the double course on the low D but should still work without buying a set of 12 strings.

Thanks for the help. If anyone has a better suggestion that gets me double course on all three sets of two from a single pack I'd really appreciate the advice. As always, you've been marvellous and generous in the help given and it's greatly appreciated. 

Bear :0)

Comment by Jim Dickison on June 22, 2018 at 8:37pm

If you figure out what sizes work, you can buy packs of a single size at MusiciansFriend.com.

6-Pack Plain: Single Electric Guitar Strings - Plain

3-Pack Wound: Single Electric Guitar Strings - Wound

You can get just the sizes you need. This is how I buy strings for my electric ukulele. I like the Ernie Ball strings I linked, but they also have Rogue brand in a 12 pack for even less...

Comment by the anonymous pick on June 22, 2018 at 5:38pm
Comment by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear on June 22, 2018 at 5:32pm

I did mean double course. I always heard it as double cores when people said it. Funny English language getting the better of me again. Three sets of two strings is what I meant, in 1-5-1 tuning. I.e. Gg Dd Gg.

Thanks for helping and thanks for correcting my Pick. If we're never corrected then we're always wrong, right? :0)

 

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

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