The theme for this my first build is a Classical one - based on the look of classical instruments i tried to give it an Antique effect, like an instrument that had been found in a dusty workshop in Vienna and restored to its former glory (though a little rough round the edges (-;  )  .... forgive my euphoria but so far it turned out better than i expected - ten years of pulling apart and setting up all sorts of guitars and drums seems to have borne fruit, but over the course of the build I have  learned hundreds of new ideas and techniques, and how to cover up a few mistakes!

 

 

But now to the sound....acoustically light and mellow, sweet and "woody", resonates perfectly. Connected up to my Vox heaphone amp the piezo bridge sounds nice and sharp, the humbucker adds a lot of body to the sound but seems rather muffled on its own, not sure why but together they sound very natural and sweet, though the supplied tone adjustment doesn't seem to affect the sound...

 

After many adjustments and tunings i tuned the guitar to GDGB, or BGDG in left handed fashion and setting the most comfortable action height she gives a very mellow mid tone and great sustain, the body slips around a bit on your lap but will find a way of anchoring it in the right playing position, also once i learn a few tricks and get my video editing program up and running all will be revealed.  Many thanks to all the advice and help i received from the many great articles and advice on Cigar Box Nation, wouldn't have made it through otherwise! Now all i've got to do is learn how to play it and look forward to my next project...(-;

 

I bought the 10" x 5.5" x 1.75" Don Pepin box from a supplier in the US, the neck was made and supplied by Big Daddy Dukes from Back Porch Mojo, the rosewood fretboard and telecaster hardware was purchased  from Janika's Music Shop, humbucker supplied by SYC Guitar Parts in Cornwall and the piezo bridge supplied by Dave Owens. I took up the fiddly job of fretting to a 25.5" string scale myself, another first! The strings are from a D'Addario set of guitar strings i had knocking around, as was the bone nut.

 

 

 

The humbucker was difficult to get back in its slot after i'd glued the neck to the body....should have cut a slightly deeper slot in the neck but after a little judicial scraping and mounting tab bending got it in without too much disturbance...whew! ...or should i say duuuhhh....!

 

Wiring it all up was pretty time consuming, especially trying to puzzle out all the connections with a faulty 3 way switch!   Hours wasted, though now fixed!

 

 

 

 

I used the wrong type of tuners on the headstock  as i was determined to have these old fashioned classical guitar ones,  had to cut away some of the wood to get them to fit, there are no rules building CBG's they keep saying, and i reckon i got away with it (-; Still a bit of varnishing to do on the neck after i've finished messing about with the settings.

 

 

I decided to place the fret markers on the side of the neck instead of the face, they are Mother-of-pearl and shine out like little beacons of light from every angle, even in low light!

 

 

 

More photos going up on my CBN page!

 

 

Decided to include a warts-and-all shot of the innards - a little more tidying up to do but no rattles, hums or buzzes!

I left the out-of-sight areas free of varnish to give the wood some breathing space.

Part of the box edge split due to opening after varnishing but no worries doesn't notice, something to watch out for in the future..

 

Views: 180

Replies to This Discussion

Very nice work!  Congratulations in your first build.  How many more did you plan while building this one? (I planned three while on my first, #2 is almost there, parts for #'s 3 & 4 are on order and I'm thinking about what to do for 5 &6!  This is too addictive,
yes i have a few ideas in the pipeline, learned loads from this project, esp. about electronics. and frets, my next job will probably be a traditional 3 string.
Nice job, looks great! Keep up the good work.
looks great

Thanks guys (-:

Added some brass corners this morning. 

Gorgeous.

 

And a little intimidating, for someone planning his first build. :)

 

Well done!

I changed the tuners for the correct type, and will use those "slot" tuners for another project  (-:

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

Can a box be too shallow?

Started by Sean Murphy. Last reply by Raymond Grimmitt Dec 21, 2021. 3 Replies

Removing box labels

Started by Robert Dawkins. Last reply by Order99 Jul 6, 2020. 8 Replies

Build 2!

Started by Sean Murphy. Last reply by Sean Murphy Oct 28, 2018. 3 Replies

Best/"Easiest " Way to notch out CBG Neck......?????

Started by Brian M Nusser. Last reply by ChickenboneJohn Nov 14, 2017. 16 Replies

First build, not-great results

Started by Sean Murphy. Last reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear Nov 14, 2017. 3 Replies

Neck length

Started by Holly Hodson. Last reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry Nov 9, 2017. 4 Replies

"If you wand to get something done real bad . . ."

Started by Michael Zimmerle. Last reply by Richard Dean Oct 23, 2017. 2 Replies

First build and a broken string.

Started by Dan Mullen. Last reply by Richard Dean Oct 23, 2017. 8 Replies

What type of saw to use?

Started by Anne M. Fridley-Owen. Last reply by Anne M. Fridley-Owen Dec 4, 2016. 3 Replies

*()@%&$! Piezo

Started by Chance. Last reply by Chance Oct 24, 2016. 3 Replies

general

Started by tommy farrar. Last reply by tommy farrar Nov 28, 2015. 2 Replies

Tail - or where the strings are mounted

Started by evanmars. Last reply by Richey Kay Aug 25, 2015. 7 Replies

My fifth build

Started by James A OBrien Apr 7, 2015. 0 Replies

Cardboard Cigar Box

Started by Redbelly. Last reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry Jun 30, 2014. 3 Replies

Just Finished My First CBG. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (The Sequel)

Started by L. W. Carlson. Last reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry Jun 27, 2014. 3 Replies

Scale Length

Started by Wagner Richter. Last reply by Wagner Richter May 7, 2014. 3 Replies

Connecting a Neck

Started by Thumper Apr 18, 2014. 0 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!"
14 hours ago
Southern Ray replied to Timothy Hunter's discussion just came accross this pickup idea on youtube.
" Very interesting. Thank you Timothy!"
14 hours ago
Kent Thurston updated their profile
15 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…
15 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…
16 hours ago
Poorness Studios liked A.D.EKER's video
17 hours ago
BrianQ. left a comment for Rob (Uker) Porras
"Hope this helps?"
18 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…"
20 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 -->