Posted by Casey jones on September 18, 2009 at 7:46pm
So im just getting into cigar box guitars and ive been told by many people to go to this website, hopefully i can get some help...a friend of mine just got ahold of 6 cigar box's for me, so i went down to home depo today an bought three "3 foot, 1x2 red oak wood peices"... some "Gorilla Wood glue"... some sand paper "220 and 150"... a small can of "minwax, PolyShades (stain & poly in 1 step) classic oak stain"... some "50 cent sponge brushes" and i bought some types of bolts/screws to use for the "nut" (that goes in between the top of the neck an the head of the guitar)...so..question #1 am i doing good so far? ha.....im gonna wait till im done sanding till i go out an get machine heads an maybe frets (i have a sam ash a few miles up the street from me)...question #2 ok so i plan on buying strings also within the next couple days and i know a pack of strings comes with 6 strings and i plan on making either a 3 or 4 strings (not 100% sure on my decision yet) so do i use the thickest strings that come in the package? (for instance E,A,D if 3 and E,A,D,G, if 4 string).....and question #3 im not to sure about the string part down by the bridge (Not up top with the machine heads)..do i just drill 3/4 holes and put the guitar strings through up to the machine heads and start tuning?..also ive seen in picture people using old skeleton keys an screws/bolts for bridges, thats works fine right?............This is going to be my frist cigar box guitar any help/tips are appreciated....*im aiming for a nice cigar box guitar but not too nice yet, like real guitar strings not just reg. string like ive seen in some videos*
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i have one wal-mart near me that used to sell drum skins, guitars, strings, picks...etc. but they got rid-of thier whole little music section they had, it just vanished one day...but ill go ahead an just buy strings at best buy in the new music center they have or sam ash or guitar center...thanks for the tip though, i knew what you were talkin about
Wes Yates said:
ghs Jammers at WallyWorld and they cost somewhere ~ $4.00 - $4.50 depending on where you are. They are better than the First Act, IMHO, but according to ghs "GHS Jammers are a standard Nickel Plated steel electric guitar string with the same core to wrap ratio as Boomers. The string sets were designed for Walmart as an educational set, to teach beginning players the basics of strings. The main difference is in the manufacturing QC processes. ".
yea im not to much of a patient person but i just dont wanna have to buy two different things, then mix, then paint it on.....im just lookin for an easy 1 step, with a nice look/shine and doesnt come out sticky...but thanks for the tip on the spray-can acrylic, ill have to look into that
Jkevn said:
If you're not a really patient person...like me....spray-can acrylic can be found in both satin and gloss. It dries in minutes, is very durable, and doesnt raise the grain like the water based polycrylic can. Use the stain of your choice, let dry, and spray bomb it with the can. A light buffing with a fine scotch-brite pad slicks it right up.
ghs Jammers at WallyWorld and they cost somewhere ~ $4.00 - $4.50 depending on where you are. They are better than the First Act, IMHO, but according to ghs "GHS Jammers are a standard Nickel Plated steel electric guitar string with the same core to wrap ratio as Boomers. The string sets were designed for Walmart as an educational set, to teach beginning players the basics of strings. The main difference is in the manufacturing QC processes. ".
If you're not a really patient person...like me....spray-can acrylic can be found in both satin and gloss. It dries in minutes, is very durable, and doesnt raise the grain like the water based polycrylic can. Use the stain of your choice, let dry, and spray bomb it with the can. A light buffing with a fine scotch-brite pad slicks it right up.
Ditto on the polyurethane, but I have use polycylic on my last two guitars and like it better than poly. I'll give the shellac a try. Ditto on the G.G. also in regard to expanding, but it seems to hold well. I'll go with Titebond when the G.G. runs out. Thanks for mentioning Walmart strings. I'm not a big fan of Walmart, but I did find some bathtub screens for about a buck-fifty to use on a guitar. Looks neat in there.
RR
Wes Yates said:
I'm with Ted on the Gorilla Glue. I Hate it. Titebond or hide/gelatine glue. I used to use minwax polyurethane but I found that it makes the neck a little sticky. Shellac is my fave now. Nice and smoooooth.
Have you installed frets? Read up. The first fretted I did went ok, but there are a lot of things I needed to learn. Hey, why not fretless? With a nice slide, they can sound really great.
hey thanks, that "tailpeice" search came in pretty handy ive got some good ideas, i found a bounch of rivits in my house i can slide my strings through...i also like the idea of drill three holes through a strike plate for a door, i might use that too
Jkevn said:
First tip....read, search, read some more. When you get tired of reading....look at pictures, over 12,000 of them for your viewing pleasure. Every question you've asked is on here somewhere, and alot that you haven't thought of yet.
As for those questions:
Yes you are doing fine so far...
Walmart strings are 4 bucks, I use the 3,4,5 strings and tune them G,D,g
try searching for "tailpiece" in the photos...lots of ideas for terminating the strings
your imagination is the only limiting factor for bridges.
Get out there and make some sawdust, we'll be here when you need something...
Thanks everyone so much, i haven't done much yet just still sanding, getting ready to drill holes soon...Ive got some great ideas, im definitely going to return my gorilla glue and purchase either some Elmer's wood glue or Titebond...and i plan on returning the "minwax, PolyShades (stain & poly in 1 step) classic oak stain"....does anyone know a good 1 step stain & poly that comes out smooth and where i can get it?...i have a home depo and lowe's near me*........Ive also decided im going with a fretless 3 string for my first CBG, again thanks, this websites great
I agree with the others. You are doing good except for the Gorilla Glue. It is messy. AND, I'll say it again. This Video was worth every penny to get me off on the right foot:
I'm with Ted on the Gorilla Glue. I Hate it. Titebond or hide/gelatine glue. I used to use minwax polyurethane but I found that it makes the neck a little sticky. Shellac is my fave now. Nice and smoooooth.
Have you installed frets? Read up. The first fretted I did went ok, but there are a lot of things I needed to learn. Hey, why not fretless? With a nice slide, they can sound really great.
Replies
Wes Yates said:
Jkevn said:
Either way, they work really well.
-Wes
Ronnie Retherford said:
RR
Wes Yates said:
Jkevn said:
http://cgi.ebay.com/How-to-Make-Your-Own-Cigar-Box-Guitar-Region-Fr...
Have you installed frets? Read up. The first fretted I did went ok, but there are a lot of things I needed to learn. Hey, why not fretless? With a nice slide, they can sound really great.
Again, same as Ted -- 3 string configuration.
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