#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Anybody built a "tribute" CBG?

Okay, I'm up to number 3 now....with about 10 people on my wait list for on of those "cool cigar box guitars you're building". I'm making one for my grandfather, using a hardwood floorboard from his old house for the neck, part of a deer antler that he found in his woods as a bridge and nut, and looking for an older cigar box for the body. When he saw the first two I built, he started telling me about how his mom, my great-grandma, used to play a cigar box violin, and seemed really interested in having me build him a CBG. He's an awesome man, so I want to make this one pretty cool and meaningful. He worked at GM/Allison for years, so I think I'm going to try to work some memoribila from that in, as well as his hunting/farming lifestyle.

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by stan bryars on August 26, 2009 at 5:16pm

Haven't built it yet
But have one in he planning stages for an old high school sweetheart's father who was a Marine Col that passed away

Planning on using an ancient finger worn 1911 grip somehow with a piece of brass cleaning rod for the bridge, a piece of the cleaning rod for the nut, 223 brass for the fret markers and 45 brass inletted into the head stock
Also with all brass (gold) hardware and frets, topped off with a Marine logo or Col. insignia in the head stock
I'm hoping to send it to one of the requests that come in from overseas or maybe to his old unit

As far as your grandfather's hunting
You could cut the primer ends of his favorite cartridge off to use as fret markers or simply as a concho in the head stock
.22 brass could be used as side markers

They are a little bigger than normal, but would work I think

I also have been working with the decoupaging that Paul is talking about
I am using Poly as the sealer for a hard tough finish
I use a couple layers of spray poly seal any ink in before using a foam brush to layer on the poly
Sand the coats of spray on with a gym sock between apps

The photos are poor and the boxes are not finnished but you get the idea

Attachments:

DSCF0582.JPG, 444 KB
DSCF0583.JPG, 441 KB

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jason Renn on August 27, 2009 at 2:31am

I think it's awesome that so many of us are doing this sort of thing. Lots of good ideas being generated here. Thanks for the inspirations, keep 'em rolling.